Seattle fans account for the largest opening-round crowd (35,807) in MLS history, yet Houston and Seattle are unable to score in the 0-0 first leg at Qwest Field. Former Dynamo Patrick Ianni clips the crossbar with a header off Freddie Ljungberg's free kick in the 43rd minute.

Hope Solo is allocated to St. Louis of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) ahead of the league's inaugural season. Solo is reunited with former UW teammate, forward Tina Frimpong Ellertson, also an allocation from the USWNT. Spokane's Amy LePeilbet is drafted by Boston with the fourth overall pick Oct. 6. Serving as the seven-team WPS Commissioner and CEO is Everett native Tonya Antonucci.

Lisa Fraser is chosen by Washington State as the first women's varsity head coach. Fraser, 31, formerly an assistant at UC Irvine, has only a few weeks to prepare for tryouts and complete the schedule.

Veronica Perez scores the tying goal in the 75th minute then gets the game-winner eight minutes later in Washington's 3-2 victory over No. 13 California at Husky Soccer Field. It's the Huskies' first win over a ranked opponent during a stretch of five such games in a row. In the 83rd minute Perez takes a ball deep in the right corner of Cal's end, dribbles past two defenders and unleashes a shot far post which eludes Golden Bears' keeper.

Seattle acquires 21-year-old Fredy Montero on loan from Deportivo Cali, where he was two-time scoring leader in the Colombian first division. Montero joins the Sounders as they conduct their first training session in frigid temperatures at Virginia Mason Athletic Complex.

FC Seattle Storm break out of a slump and into the Western Soccer League record book with a 10-2 beatdown of the Arizona Condors at Memorial Stadium. Seattle, coming off three straight losses, outshoots Arizona, 33-8. Scott Benedetti leads the way with a hat trick, and Fran O'Brien's three assists ties a Storm mark. Jim Weber has two goals and two assists. Brent Goulet, coming off the bench, scores twice in the final 14 minutes.