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.
Jodie Taylor notches her third game-winning goal of the season in the first half and rookie Bethany Balcer adds a late insurance goal, allowing the Reign to sweep all three matches against Portland with a 2-0 home win over the Thorns. The victory clinches a playoff berth for the second year in a row under Vlatko Andonovski with one game remaining in the regular season. A crowd of 7,370 roars as Taylor puts RFC in front in the 27th minute with her fourth goal of the season and second in as many games. Balcer enters in the 74th minute and gets her team-leading sixth goal seven minutes later. It is the first season sweep of Portland.
Ten days after being named new Sounders GM, John Best shortens Kingdome field by 10 yards (to 100) and moves pitch closer to western stands and adds 2,500 bleacher seats installed on east sideline. The new configuration is dubbed Soccerdome and debuts June 30. Best believes the changes can produce more action around each goal.
Tommy Jenkins announces his intention to resign as FC Seattle Storm head coach following the season. Jenkins has coached the Storm for the past three seasons and four altogether. Jenkins, whose son has cystic fibrosis, wants to spend more time with his family.
The NASL champion New York Cosmos select Jeff Durgan of Tacoma 's Stadium High School with the No. 4 overall draft pick. The Cosmos trade away all their draft choices but make the deal with Houston. Durgan, a center back, was a member of the famed Norpoint Royals, where he was a teammate of Sounders rookies Jeff Stock and Mark Peterson. Seattle, which had traded away its top pick a year earlier, drafts Mike Hoag of Fort Steilacoom Community College in the second round.
An early goal holds up as Washington State bumps off No. 2-ranked UCLA, 1-0, in Pullman. Maegan O'Neill taps home a loose ball in the fourth minute, dealing the Bruins their first loss in 15 games. Ella Dederick makes five saves to earn the shutout. It's the Cougars' biggest upset since beating No. 2 Washington in 2000.
Fred Hamel, 17, is the only Washington native selected in the 1980 NASL draft, going to the Sounders in the fourth round. Hamel attends Blanchet High School and plays for the Lake City Hawks. The Sounders' other two selections are collegians, including Seattle Pacific's Ric Miller in the third round.