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.

What are you looking for?
Donate Now!
Explore our history. Click on any of the panels below to learn what happened that year.
Bettinger Named Prep Player of the Year
January 27, 1995

Bellevue Christian's Rees Bettinger, who scored 24 goals as a junior, is named Gatorade State Player of the Year. Bettinger later scores in the state 1A/B final victory over Seattle Christian, 2-0. It's Bellevue Christian's third title in five years.

WIAA Shifts Seasons
July 21, 2020

Washington Interscholastic Activities Association announces radical changes to its 2020-21 sports calendar due to the coronavirus pandemic. Girls soccer, among the sports typically played in fall, is now scheduled for spring 2021 in the WIAA’s new Season 3. A seven-week regular season will start March 8, followed by one postseason week. Traditional spring sports such as boys soccer will start later than usual, in Season 4. A seven-week regular season will begin May 3 with postseason events happening the final weekend in June 2021.

Acme Stops Matheny Trophy Haul
April 23, 1950

Acme Tyee denies Matheny's Builders a fourth trophy by winning the Puget Sound Power & Light trophy, 3-0, at White Center. Acme becomes the first Scandinavian entry in 25 years to win a state title. Einar Eliasson scores a goal in each half.

Dunn Wins 100th Game With Lutes
October 25, 1992

Jimmy Dunn becomes the first Pacific Lutheran men's coach to reach 100 victories as the Lutes hammer Evergreen, 6-0. Andy McDirmid scores a brace and adds an assist. Dunn, a former PLU player, is in his ninth year, with a record of 100-63-12.

Huskies Pull Away from SPU
November 7, 1997

Rees Bettinger puts Washington up early, then tacks on one of two late insurance goals in a 3-0 win over Seattle Pacific at Husky Soccer Field. Bettinger stakes UW to the lead in the 21st minute and it stays 1-nil until Ian Russell and Bettinger score in the final 2:33. It is Washington's biggest win margin in the series since 1978.

Newport Crashes Camas Party in 3A Boys
May 31, 2003

An overflow crowd at Doc Harris Stadium is sent home largely stunned as nationally-ranked Newport crushes hometown favorite Camas, 5-0, in the boys' 3A state championship game. Tony Berkau, a senior playing his first season, scores twice in the first 34 minutes, and Pedro Batres adds a brace plus an assist for the Knights, ranked seventh in the nation. Batres totals 28 goals for the year, including six goals and five assists during the playoffs. It's Newport's first unbeaten season (20-0-1) and first title since 1982. Mirza Memic gets the fifth score, making it the largest winning margin for a championship game in 3A or 4A boys' history.

(Courtesy Seattle Times archives)
1979
Scenes from a Western Washington vs. Seattle University women's game. (Courtesy Western Washington archives)
1982
Seattle University's first national championship team, the 1997 Chieftains.
1997
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
Newcastle native Sam Hiatt captained Stanford to an NCAA College Cup championship in 2019. Hiatt marshaled a Cardinal backline that allowed just 12 goals in 25 matches, including only two in six postseason games. (Courtesy Stanford Athletics)
2019
Sounders coach John Best with a young camper named Adrian Hanauer.
1975
Lake City's Sporthaus Bobcats won the 1981 stat cup for U14 boys. (Courtesy Walter Schmetzer)
1981
In 2000, Sounders owners were searching for sites to potentially build in soccer-specific stadium and youth complex. Fife, Marysville and Des Moines were among the cities explored. (Courtesy Frank MacDonald Collection)
2000
(Courtesy Seattle University Spectator archives)
1968
Chris Henderson tracks Jose Alberto Fernandez of Honduras in an Olympic qualifying match at St. Louis on April 5, 1992. (Courtesy Joe Angeles/Soccer America)
1992