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.
The Yakima Reds will play-on after a rescue effort from new owner Perry Piercy. Two months earlier, previous owner Irwin Research & Development announced it could no longer fund the PDL club after 12 seasons in light of the ongoing economic crisis. Attendance had hovered between 300-500 and the annual budget reached $200,000 annually.
The Women's United Soccer Association approves charter teams for eight cities: Atlanta, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Orlando-Tampa, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington. Listed as alternates were: Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Portland, St. Louis and Raleigh-Durham which later replaces the Florida cities. Seattle was not in the running.
Seattle's Lake City Hawks run roughshod at the Pacific Coast International tournament in Vancouver. After routing Oregon's Rockwood Pioneers, 13-0, in the semifinals, the state U11 champions drub Dunbar, 5-2, for the title.
Oscar Jimenez scores Louisville City's first goal as the USL Championship side upsets the New England Revolution, 3-2, in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup in Louisville. Jimenez later assists on the first LouCity goal in a 2-1 quarterfinal win over USL Nashville on June 20. Louisville is eliminated by Chicago in the quarterfinals.
After months of whispers that pro soccer is looking westward, the North American Soccer League awards expansion franchises to Seattle and three other West Coast markets. The ownership group is all local business leaders who have been seeking to secure an NFL team, and they are swayed to consider the NASL by Lamar Hunt, a key owner in both leagues. The franchise cost is a reported $25,000, and the incubation period is brief. In just five months a 20-game schedule will commence and play begins at 13,000-seat Memorial Stadium. Los Angeles, San Jose and Vancouver will join Seattle in the new Western Division.
For the first time players from Washington are selected in the annual NASL college draft. Ward Forrest (UW) and Kit Zell (SPU) are picked in the second round by Seattle and Portland, respectively. Chris Whitworth (UW) is chosen by Tampa Bay in third round, and Tim Allen (SU) goes to Sounders in fourth.