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.
Watching the World Cup
May 31, 1986

Mexico's World Cup begins, and Puget Sound area residents are able to watch 42 of 52 games via Group W Cable’s Channel 29, a public access channel. All audio is in Spanish.

San Diego Smashes Sounders
September 18, 1999

Carlos Farias and the San Diego Flash are ruthless in drubbing the 10-man Sounders, 6-0, in a second-round playoff series opener. Farias scores an opponent record four times, and it’s the worst domestic defeat in Seattle’s A-League era. Chugger Adair strikes first for the host Flash, in the third minute. Once Oliver Heald is sent off, San Diego quickly capitalizes on a Farias long-range shot. He adds a second-half hat trick. It’s San Diego’s third convincing win over Seattle, and a week later in Renton comes another shutout, 1-0, to clinch the series.

Triumph Continental Rallies to Clinch
April 4, 1971

A strange twist of events combine to clinch the state league second half for Triumph Continental. Rallying from a 3-1 halftime deficit, the Continentals get two goals from Hans Hoerschelman and one from Brian Franklin to pass Rainier Brewing, 5-3. It takes Triumph (8-1-0) to an insurmountable 16 points with one round remaining. Meanwhile, Heidelberg is ruled a forfeit loser to Boeing. Eight Brewers players arrive for the game, and two are sent off with Boeing up, 1-nil. Referee Bill Patterson rules it a forfeit with only six players remaining.

Cassella Makes History with Sounders
May 10, 1994

Gina Cassella is among six assistants named to Sounders head coach Alan Hinton’s staff. Cassella, 28, becomes the first known female coach for a U.S. professional men’s team. She is a former U.S. National Team member who coaches the girls’ and boys’ teams at Bothell High School. Joining her are former NASL Sounders Tony Chursky, Tommy Jenkins, Frank Barton, Bernie James, plus Dale Baskett.

Downing Named National Prep Player of theYear
March 3, 1998

Nick Downing of Redmond's Eastlake is named Parade Magazine's national high school player of the year, making him the consensus choice. A month earlier, Downing was named Gatorade's top prep player. Downing has led Eastlake to state 4A titles each of the past two years, scoring 20 goals and 14 assists.

French Named to W-League Best XI
August 6, 2004

Six months since returning to her home state, Michelle French is named to the W-League Best XI after leading the Sounders Women back to the playoffs. A former U.S. international, French led the league with 13 assists. She took an instructor role at Starfire Sports in February and trains five girls' and boys' teams. The Kent native had played professionally for three seasons in WUSA before that league's demise. French will also serve as a color analyst for NBC Olympic soccer broadcasts from Athens.

Chuck Sekyra was named NSCAA National Division II Women's Coach of the Year after guiding Seattle Pacific to the NCAA crown. (Courtesy Seattle Pacific)
2008
Lumen Field's Brougham End is awash in color and Emerald City Supporters tifos before the kickoff of Sounders-Pumas for the Concacaf Champions League title. (Courtesy Mike Fiechtner/Sounders FC)
2022
Sounders FC captain Kasey Keller raises the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup following the 2-1 win over D.C. United. (Sounders FC photo)
2009
Opening ceremonies for the 1971 Canadian Exchange. (Courtesy Washington Youth Soccer News)
1971
A top side in the state first division, a young Triumph Continental club flew to Honolulu for the Rainbow Invitational in March, taking second to San Jose, 1-0, in the final.
1972
2006
Snohomish United won the USYSA Region IV U14 girls championship at Boise. (Courtesy USYSA)
2019
Preston Burpo posted six shutouts and went 20-4-0 at the Sounders' starter in 2002. (Frank MacDonald Collection)
2002
Western Washington's coaching staff, led by head coach Travis Connell, was named 2016 NSCAA Division II Women’s National Staff of the Year.  Jamie Arthurs, Claire Morgan and Joana Houplin served as the Vikings' assistants. (Courtesy Western Washington Athletics)
2016
Kasey Keller flings himself at a Costa Rica goal attempt during a 3-0 USA World Cup qualifying win at Salt Lake City. (Courtesy John Todd / ISI Photos)
2005