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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Sounders, State Youth Create RTC Program
August 4, 2009

Seattle Sounders FC and Washington Youth Soccer announce a partnership to integrate new programs into the youth soccer development system throughout the state. New programs will begin in September 2009 and will bring the MLS Youth Initiative program to Washington, creating additional levels and avenues to elite play for local youth soccer players. Five Regional Training Centers will bring the top players together once a week to train under elite coaches., and the RTC system is designed to identity the very best players across all leagues, affiliations and geographic locations.

Thompson Comes Off Bench to Score Four
September 3, 1994

Emily Thompson comes off the bench to supply instant offense in Washington's 8-0 demolition of Gonzaga at Husky Soccer Field. Thompson enters the match in the 29th minutes and proceeds to score the first of her record four goals in the 35th. She assists Amy Hamamoto, then scores her second goal just 26 seconds apart in the 42nd minute. Thompson's hat trick is achieved in the 47th and her fourth is in the 74th minute. Tara Bilanski scores three first-half goals for the No. 17 Huskies.

Falcons Test Drive vs. Charles Wright
October 9, 1968

Three days prior to their official varsity opener, Seattle Pacific plays a test mach against Charles Wright Academy. The Falcons come away with a 4-0 win over the Terriers at Interbay. Thandi Manzini scores two goals.

Henderson's Late Winner Sends Rapids to Final
October 15, 1997

Everett's Chris Henderson scores with three minutes remaining to give the Colorado Rapids a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Burn and a sweep of the best-of-three MLS Western Conference finals at Mile High Stadium in Denver. Henderson totals two goals and three assists as Colorado wins it first four playoff matches. Marcus Hahnemann makes three saves against the Burn, who feature Wade Webber. Sean Henderson got the game-winner vs. Dallas in Game 1 at the Cotton Bowl. The Rapids advance to face defending champion DC United.

Nixon Smashes Saints Goal Mark
October 25, 2008

Xan Nixon bursts on the scene with a four-goal performance in 5-0 win for Saint Martin's over Northwest Nazarene in Olympia. Nixon becomes the first Saints player to score a hat trick, accumulating three goals in the second half alone. All of his team-leading eight goals come during a seven-game stretch during the second half of the season.

Sounders Onward Timbers Exit
September 5, 2004

Welton Melo's overtime goal pushes the Sounders on to the Western Conference finals with an aggregate goals victory over Portland. The Timbers entered the postseason as the A-League's top seed and had won four of the five previous meetings, including a 2-1 first-leg win at PGE Park. Welton scores in the 10th minute of overtime at Qwest Field after his 5th-minute opener had leveled the series score, 2-2. Extra time substitute Darren Sawatzky puts Welton behind the defense, and the Brazilian beats Josh Saunders with a shot off the underside of the crossbar and into the right corner. It's his 12th goal in all competitions.

Tommy Jenkins gives pregame instruction to FC Seattle players during the 1987 U.K. tour. (Courtesy John Hamel)
1987
FA Cup holders Chelsea visited the Sounders in 2012, their fifth Seattle visit over the years. (Courtesy Sounders FC)
2012
Ballard FC and the professional Spokane Velocity met in the U.S. Open Cup’s first round, before nearly 2,500 at Memorial Stadium. (Ballard FC/Blake Dahlin)
2024
Megan Rapinoe acknowledges a standing ovation from the record crowd at Lumen Field following her final regular season match in Seattle on Oct. 6, 2023, after 11 years with the Reign. (Courtesy Seattle Reign FC/Jane Gershovich)
2023
Sounders players and fans salute one another to close-out a magical night in Seattle's inaugural home match. (Frank MacDonald Collection)
1974
Washington Youth Soccer unveils its 50th anniversary banner at CenturyLink Field prior to the Sounders'  3-1 win over Portland, 8/21/2016.
2016
Craig Waibel of Washington vies for possession with with Portland. (Courtesy Washington archives)
1996
Tacoma North End Wanderers
1963
President Joe Biden presents OL Reign and U.S. National Team player Megan Rapinoe with the Medal of Freedom at The White House (Courtesy OL Reign/Josh Morgan, USA Today)
2022
Whitman College (white jerseys) battle Western Washington. (Whitman archives)
1978