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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Legislative Bill Seeks to Track Concussions
February 19, 2019

State Senator Reuven Carlyle of Seattle sponsors a bill during the legislative session in Olympia requiring the University of Washington to maintain a website of concussion-related information and resources. This information will include a set of best practices on topics like concussion recognition, parent teacher and coach information, and information on concussions in non-high impact sports such as soccer. The website would be created and maintained in conjunction with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

McCrath Becomes Soccer's First 'Sports Star'
January 12, 1987

Cliff McCrath is voted 1986 Seattle Sports Star of the Year at the Seattle Sheraton’s Grand Ballroom, becoming the first soccer figure to earn the award in its 53-year history. McCrath, up for the award for the fourth time, is coming off the first ever back-to-back NCAA Division II championships at Seattle Pacific. His win is the first in 10 years by a representative coming from other than the Seahawks, Sonics or Washington Huskies football team. Over 1,000 attendees vote and presenting the award are Gov. Booth Gardner, Seattle Post-Intelligencer publisher Virgil Fassio and P-I sports editor Bill Knight.

Pausing to Remember JFK
November 24, 1963

Play is postponed throughout the state league and the Hungarians’ PCL match is also called off as the nation mourns the assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas two days earlier.

Soccer's Friend in Governor's Mansion
January 16, 1985

Booth Gardner, 48, becomes Washington’s 19th governor. Gardner, the former Pierce County Executive, is heavily involved in soccer. He was co-owner of both the ASL Tacoma Tides and NASL Colorado Caribous and has been coaching a female team based in Lakewood, the Cozars, who have graduated from being a state youth champion to 1984 U.S. Women’s Amateur Cup runners-up. His first out-of-state trip as governor is February 14-18 to Las Vegas as the Cozars win all seven games to successfully defend their Silver Mug tournament title.

Western Takes Down No. 3 Simon Fraser
November 3, 2016

Western Washington's resolute defense holds strong, and freshman Christian Rotter delivers the icing to a 1-0 upset of No. 3-ranked Simon Fraser at Harrington Field. The Vikings' fourth straight shutout win raises their postseason chances. Rotter, who hit the crossbar midway throug the second half, hits the winner in the 82nd minute on a cross from Elezar Galvan. Western goes 5-0-1 down the stretch to earn an at-large NCAA berth, its first.

Sounders Open BC Place
June 20, 1983

Mark Peterson of the Sounders scores the first goal at BC Place, but the Vancouver Whitecaps rally to beat Seattle, 2-1, before a record Canadian crowd of 60,342 for the stadium's first event. Peterson's opener comes in the 15th minute. Peter Beardsley brings back the Whitecaps with goals in the 25th and 68th minutes. Since 1974, Vancouver's home had been Empire Stadium.

1977
Nico Lodeiro maneuvers through Al Ahly players in the Sounders’ 2023 FIFA Club World Cup match vs. Egypt’s Al Ahly. (Courtesy Sounders FC/Mike Fiechtner)
2023
Sandy Hunt of Bellingham refereed the opening game of the 2000 Olympic tournament featuring Brazil-Sweden in Melbourne, Australia. (Courtesy Sandra Hunt)
2000
Seattle native Ian Russell shared USL Championship Coach of the Year in 2020 after guiding Reno to first place in the Western Conference. (Courtesy USL)
2020
(Courtesy Seattle Times)
1957
In his debut match, Alan Hudson of the Sounders defends Tulsa's Alan Woodward. (Frank MacDonald Collection
1979
1955
While in England, Tacoma Wanderers players got fitted for some new boots.
1967
Clint Mathis scored two of the USMNT goals in the 4-0 win over Honduras before 38,534 
at Safeco Field. (Courtesy J. Brett Whitesell / ISI Photos)
2002
Preston Burpo posted six shutouts and went 20-4-0 at the Sounders' starter in 2002. (Frank MacDonald Collection)
2002