Washington State
Legends of Soccer

Curated by the Washington State Legends of Soccer, providing information and history of the Beautiful Game in Washington State. Just as the game evolves, so will this site. We continuously add new content, so be sure to return often.

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Explore our history. Click on any of the panels below to learn what happened that year.
Spokane Welcomes Sounders
April 2, 1976

Professional soccer arrives in Spokane. The Sounders play San Antonio in a preseason match before 4,400 at Joe Albi Stadium. Pepe Fernandez lashes a free kick from 25 yards but Seattle falls, 2-1. It's one of seven preseason matches played around the state. Games in Renton, Everett, Tacoma and Yakima each attracting 3,000 or more.

Lodeiro Confirms Sounders Exit
December 4, 2023

Nicolas Lodeiro, maestro to the top achievements in Sounders history, makes his departure official after seven-plus seasons. Lodeiro, 34, is a free agent following the expiration of his contract. He pulled the strings in midfield but also commanded respect and was a respected captain. During his tenure, Seattle played in four MLS Cup finals (winning two) and became the first MLS club to win the Concacaf Champions League. A month later, on Jan. 4, 2024, Lodeiro signs with Orlando City.

Roy Anderson Field Use Triples
December 31, 2003

Game and training use by varsity and community teams at Peninsula High School's Roy Anderson Field has more than tripled since a $1.3 million improvement project was completed four months ago. Pierce County Parks and Recreation provided more than $1 million to install new artificial surfacing at the field. Youth soccer and football groups used the site for 300 hours from October through December, up from 60 hours for the same span in 2002. Soon, nearby Gig Harbor High School will undergo a $2.6 million expansion and lighting project, leaving the school with two soccer fields and two softball/youth baseball fields.

IOC Adds Women's Soccer for 1996
September 18, 1993

Two years of pressure from proponents in the U.S. and around the world result in the International Olympic Committee adding women's soccer to the Sumer Games, beginning in 1996 at Atlanta. The IOC votes in Monte Carlo to start with an 8-team tournament.

Solo Stars in Algarve Cup
March 11, 2009

Hope Solo is named Best Player of Algarve Cup after allowing only one goal in four USWNT matches. In the tournament's 14 years, Solo becomes the first keeper to win the award. She had a clean sheet vs. Norway in the semifinals, preserving a 1-0 lead by tipping Ingvild Stensland's shot off the crossbar and over the goal in the 83rd minute. Sweden won the Mar. 11 final, 1-1, (4-3), in Faro, Portugal.

Purcell Blanks Mexico in Concacaf Final
March 12, 2022

Neeku Purcell of Seattle posts her fourth tournament shutout as the United States wraps up the Concacaf U20 Women's Championship with a 2-0 win over Mexico in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Purcell pushes a dipping drive over the crossbar in the 86th minute for her most difficult stop of her four outings.

Western Washington women's varsity. (Courtesy Western Washington)
1985
1951
Burien's Michelle French debuts for the U.S. National Team while still a University of Portland sophomore.
1997
Sounders captain Nicolas Lodeiro embraces the 
Philip F. Anschutz Trophy (aka MLS Cup) while riding atop a Rave Green bus during the victory parade to Seattle Center. (Courtesy Leann Johnson)
2019
Tacoma Sweetfoot Carrera United displaying their regional championship trophy at Renton Stadium. (Courtesy Washington Youth Soccer)
1980
Fredy Montero's (r) penalty kick was enough for the Sounders to earn a 1-1 draw at Vancouver to retain the Cascadia Cup, which is lifted by Cristian Roldan. (Courtesy Sounders FC/Jane Gershovich)
2021
Spokane’s new women's USL Super League club celebrates its name, Zephyr FC, at the historic Davenport Grand Hotel. At left is Super League president Amanda Vandervort alongside USL Spokane co-owner and president Katie Harnetiaux. (Courtesy USL Spokane/Jeff Bunch)
2023
George
1979
Western Washington lifts its first NCAA championship trophy after defeating Grand Valley State, 3-2, in Kansas City.
2016
Seattle Greeks of the State League, ca. 1952. (Courtesy Peter Mitalas family)
1952