An A-League record crowd of 25,515 cheers both the opening of $400 million Seahawks Stadium and a Sounders victory over Vancouver. First kick is delayed 30 minutes for fans filing through the gates, and Andrew Gregor greets them with the first goal after 23 minutes. Gregor’s second goal, in the 72nd, helps Seattle pull away for a 4-1 win. Approximately 5,000 were walk-up ticket buyers. It’s the largest crowd for a Sounders home match in 20 years. In the first seven home dates the average attendance had been 2,328. Soccer was also the opening sporting event for both the Kingdome and Tacoma Dome.

Logan Griffis, 19 and a 2013 King’s HS graduate, is one of seven Washington referees chosen to officiate the USYSA National Championships in Frisco, Tex. Later, Griffis referees the 4A girls state championship game and a 3A semifinal, and the Kirkland resident officiates five matches at the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase. In almost six years, Griffis has officiated approximately 1,500 soccer games.

Fredy Montero and Mauro Rosales score in the 82nd and 84th minutes, spurring Sounders FC to a comeback win over the reigning MLS Cup champion Colorado, 4-3, in front of a national television audience and 36,424 fans. It is the first Seattle home match played on grass (installed for Manchester United friendly).

Washington's club ends Western Washington's 38-game women's win streak by winning, 2-1, at Husky Stadium. Bonnie Broughton scores the winner with 20 minutes to go after Stephanie Yoshino wins the ball and makes the feed. Karla Hossfeld puts UW in front before Nancy Harling equalizes from 30 yards just before halftime. Western, which last lost in 1982, still finishes first in the NCSC for the third straight year, two points ahead of Washington. In the first meeting Sept. 22, a shorthanded UW lost, 4-0.

Joan Dunlap's early breakaway stands as the lone goal in FC Ramlosa's 1-0 victory over River City Kickers of St. Louis in the U.S. Open Division championship game before 2,000 at Memorial Stadium. The Seattle team repeats as champion, as does its sister squad, Bellevue Blue Angels. The Blue Angels come from behind to win the over-30 crown, 2-1, versus the Irving Flash of Texas. Dunlap scorers her third goal of the finals in the 13th minute, breaking free just inside the halfway line. Patty Cox earns the shutout. For the Blue Angels, Linda Adams and Marcia Tampourlos combine for both goals. Adams equalizes in the 38th minute, then crosses to Tampourlos for the 68th-minute winner.

Defending champ Kennedy barely made the tournament field but beats previously perfect Seattle Prep, 4-0, in the girls' AAA championship game at Shoreline Stadium. The Lancers take charge early, with Angie Bourgette latching on to a through ball and scoring. Carie Odegard makes it 2-nil at half from the top of the box. Jeanette Scotti and Shana McReynolds put away the Panthers (20-1-0) in the second half. Kennedy (15-5-3) needed to beat Liberty in a shootout just to get into tournament. It lost to Hazen for the Seamount League championship.