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.
Akers-Stahl Returns Home for Blast
November 28, 1993

Seattle area native Michelle Akers-Stahl and other members of the U.S. National women's and men's soccer teams appear at Soccer Blast USA's tour stop at Seattle's Washington State Convention Center. Events include shooting and long-distance contests, obstacle course, skills clinics, youth soccer programs and a celebrity challenge.

Goulet Powers U.S. to Seoul
May 25, 1988

Brent Goulet scores two goals in the first 24 minutes as the United States fifth successive Olympic Qualifying game, 4-1, over nine-man El Salvador in Indianapolis. It brings Goulet’s qualifying tally to six, and the U.S. is bound for the Summer Games in Seoul. Ricky Davis of the Tacoma Stars hits a 30-yard shot for the Americans’ final goal.

Bennett Extends Reign Challenge Cup run
June 28, 2023

Elysse Bennett's early second-half header is the winner for OL Reign at Portland, 1-0, extending its unbeaten streak in the NWSL Challenge Cup to 13 games. After a late first-half goal was nullified by offside, Bennett heads home Alyssa Malonson's cross in the 56th minute. Laurel Ivory makes two tough saves in stoppage time before 16,252 at Providence Park. Seattle finishes 4-0-2 in Challenge Cup play, but falls to Louisville, 1-0, in the semifinals Sept. 6.

Over 500 Teams Begin Exchange
October 29, 1977

Considered the largest youth soccer exchange in the world, the 17th annual Washington-Canadian Exchange begins at the border. In all, 540 boys’ teams and 35,000 players, coaches and families will be involved. A girls’ exchange is still in its infancy since the stateside program is much larger than in British Columbia.

Lutes Win 200th for Yorke
October 5, 2019

Pacific Lutheran's Keeton Heggerness converts two penalty kicks in a 4-0 home defeat of Linfield, which gives Lutes coach John Yorke his 200th win. Yorke is in his 18th season at PLU, and his teams have won or shared the past two Northwest Conference championships.

Women Ruled by West Seattle Lady Bugs
June 29, 1975

West Seattle's Sportsland Lady Bugs rightly complete an unbeaten season as Washington State Women's Soccer Association champions. Josie Cacchione and Barb Burns score for the Lady Bugs in a 2-0 title match win over Lake Washington Shamrocks at Lower Woodland. The Lady Bugs were 9-0-1 during league play and unscathed in the postseason as well.

Jadon Bowton saves the first of three Seattle University shootout attempts as Washington advances in the NCAA first-round game at Montlake. (UW Athletics/Scott Eklund)
2024
Tacoma and NASL Sounders legends Jeff Stock, left, and Mark Peterson raise their golden scarves prior to the first MLS league match vs. Portland. (Sounders FC photo)
2011
Mike Ryan, far left) and his Lake City Raiders. (Courtesy Mike Ryan)
1969
A U.S. Open Cup record crowd of 31,311 witnessed the Sounders repeat as champions by defeating Columbus, 2-1, at Qwest Field. (Courtesy Tom Hauck / ISI Photos)
2010
Seattle University won its second WAC men's title in three years in 2015 and went on to reach the NCAA third round. (Courtesy Seattle University)
2015
Terry White controls possession for Seattle Pacific at Memorial Stadium. (Seattle Pacific archives)
1976
Seattle University won its third automatic NCAA berth in five seasons by beating San Jose State, 2-1, in the WAC championship game in Las Vegas. (Courtesy Seattle University Athletics)
2017
(Courtesy The Seattle Times)
1960
Michelle Akers and the U.S. on the victory stand at the Olympic Games. (Courtesy Michelle Akers)
1996
Northwest university celebrated winning the Cascade Conference tournament and an NAIA automatic berth in 2018. (Courtesy Northwest Athletics)
2018