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.
First & Goal Recommends Switch to Turf
July 26, 2001

Four years after a statewide referendum votes to fund a new soccer/football stadium in Seattle. Paul Allen's First & Goal recommends a FieldTurf playing surface instead of the initially-proposed grass. As operator of the stadium and the Seahawks, F&G contends that FieldTurf would require less maintenance, hold up longer than grass and prevent injuries associated with other artificial surfaces. Soccer community leaders are concerned that an MLS team or international play would bypass Seattle because of the artificial surface.

Brothers Score Six-Pack
January 15, 1951

Brothers Gene and Merle Mjelde score three goals apiece in Seattle Soccer Club’s seventh straight league win, 6-1 win over Black Diamond.

Soldiers Disqualified from Amateur Cup
January 30, 1965

Two months after playing their protested U.S. Amateur Cup match, Fort Lewis and its opponent in that match, Denver Kickers, are disqualified from the tournament. The Soldiers, who lost but initially won a protest because Denver used an ineligible player, are discovered to have themselves used 17 non-registered foreign nationals.

Whittemore Leads SDSU to NCAA Final
November 15, 1987

Seattle's Kyle Whittemore scores both goals in San Diego State’s 2-1 road upset of St. Louis in an NCAA first round match. The brace takes Whittemore, a junior, to the top of the Aztecs’ career list 58 goals. He converts a penalty in the shootout win over No. 5 SMU the next week, and although he is slowed by a hamstring strain, SDSU eventually reaches the championship game before falling, 2-0, at Clemson.

Vancouver Knocks-Out Sounders Early
September 15, 2002

Seattle is stunned by Vancouver, crashing out of the playoffs in the quarterfinals after being beaten, 6-2, in the second leg. The Whitecaps, who go up 3-0 by halftime, sweep the two legs accruing an 8-2 aggregate scoreline. The Sounders struggled down the stretch, winning just once in their final six regular season and playoff matches.

Seattle U Wins NCAA Opener On Road
November 22, 2019

Seattle University wins its NCAA men's first-round match again, knocking off Loyola Marymount, 3-1, on the road. Connor Noblat, Jesse Ortiz, and Harrison Kurtz score as the Redhawks advance. SU settles into the game early and goes in front when Hamish Ritchie, finds the streaking Noblat in the 41st minute. Loyola pulls even in the 53rd minute, but just over a minute later, Declan McGlynn is fouled, and Ortiz bends in a 22-yard free kick to regain the lead. In the 79th minute, Noe Meza picks out Kurtz at the back post for the 3-1 advantage. Seattle U later succumbs at No. 7 Stanford in penalties, 1-1 (2-1).

(Courtesy Walter Schmetzer)
1974
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
1983
Action from a Washington-Portland women's match. (Courtesy Washington archives)
1993
Mount Rainier High School won an unprecedented third straight state AA championship in 1989. (Courtesy Mount Rainier HS)
1989
Gio Miglietti tears away after scoring for Washington in an NCAA quarterfinal win over St. Louis. (Courtesy Scott Eklund/Red Box Pictures)
2021
Sounders forward Eddie Johnson scores the second USMNT goal in 2-0 World Cup Qualifier win over Panama before over 40,000 at CenturyLink Field. (Courtesy Joe Nuxoll / ISI Photos)
2013
Six months after guiding the Puyallup boys to a state championship, Matt White coached the Vikings girls to a 4A crown. (Courtesy WIAA)
2019
1963
Highline won a protracted 1985 state 3A girls' tournament, finishing 16-0-1. Snowfall twice postponed the semifinals and eventually forced the final indoors to the Tacoma Dome. (Courtesy Highline High School)
1985