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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Hamel, Zipp Named Prep All-Americans
January 2, 1980

Fred Hamel and Robbie Zipp, both of Seattle are named to the Parade Magazine High School All-America team. Hamel attends Blanchet High School and Zipp goes to O’Dea.

Vermont Denies Ballard Title Bid
August 2, 2025

Ballard FC’s bid for a second USL League Two championship in three years is denied by an added-time goal by the undefeated Vermont Green before a packed stadium of 5,000 in Burlington, Vt. Ballard pulls level at 1-1 when Charlie Kosakoff scores his fifth playoff goal and 12th altogether in the 62nd minute. Max Kissel of Vermont finds the winner seconds into the 91st minute.

Late Goal Beats Sounders U23 in PDL Semi
August 1, 2015

Seattle Sounders U23s cannot parlay home-field advantage into a PDL title, falling to Ontario's Kitchener-Waterloo United, 1-0, at Starfire Stadium. K-W United score off Julian Buescher's free kick in stoppage time. The Canadians had three other chances hit the crossbar, post and get cleared off the line. K-W United proceed to win the championship the following day, 4-3, over New York Red Bulls U23s.

Western's Garguile Hits 100
August 31, 1990

Dominic Garguile reaches 100 career wins at Western Washington with a 2-0 road victory over Regis. Garguile (100-37-11) in his 10th and what proves to be his final season with the Vikings.

French Named to W-League Best XI
August 6, 2004

Six months since returning to her home state, Michelle French is named to the W-League Best XI after leading the Sounders Women back to the playoffs. A former U.S. international, French led the league with 13 assists. She took an instructor role at Starfire Sports in February and trains five girls' and boys' teams. The Kent native had played professionally for three seasons in WUSA before that league's demise. French will also serve as a color analyst for NBC Olympic soccer broadcasts from Athens.

Reign Rewards Record Crowd with Rivalry Win
August 29, 2021

It all seems to come together for OL Reign. Enjoying an extended run of success, playing their arch-rival and finally appearing on a big stage, they show they are ready for the moment. The Reign beats Portland, 2-1, before a record NWSL crowd of 27,248 at Lumen Field. It's the first game of doubleheader, with the Sounders hosting the Timbers in the evening. Megan Rapinoe scores both goals in the first half for the sixth win in eight outings. Rapinoe opens the scoring in the 16th minute after collecting a pass from Jess Fishlock, then connects on a penalty in the 39th minute. Sarah Bouhaddi’s amazing late save against Portland’s Morgan Weaver preserves the victory. The attendance is a state record for women's play and more than three times as large as the club's previous record, set two years earlier in Tacoma.

Gonzaga celebrates winning its first WCC women’s championship after defeating Pepperdine at Malibu. (Courtesy Gonzaga Athletics)
2023
1972
Michelle Akers, winner of FIFA's Silver Ball and Golden Shoe at the Women's World Cup, plus 1991 U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year.
1991
(Courtesy Seattle Times archives)
1984
Referee Sandra Hunt and her crew of Mohammed Zarrabi-Kashani, Mac Pinski and Kevin Boisen worked the inaugural Sounders match in Seahawks Stadium. (Courtesy Sandra Hunt)
2002
Highline Albion Reds, 1982 state U13 girls champions. (Courtesy Washington Youth Soccer)
1982
Sounders keeper Tonny Chursky comes to cut off San Antonio's Harry Hood while Jimmy Gabriel defends. (Courtesy NASL Jerseys)
1976
1967
Five-a-side tournaments took hold during the Forties as an end-of-season ritual. This is Ballard's entry in the 1945 youth tournament. (Courtesy Seattle Times)
1949
Sounders captain Kasey Keller lifts the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup following Seattle's 2-1 victory at D.C. United.  (Courtesy Brad Smith / ISI Photos)
2009