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.
Jason Boyce scores in the second overtime and the 146th minute overall to give Washington a 2-1 win over Santa Clara in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before 1,401 at North Creek Complex in Bothell. Boyce takes a pass from Rees Bettinger and chips the ball over Broncos goalie Joe Cannon. Bettinger ties it at 1-1 in the 66th minute. Washington, making back-to-back tournament appearances for the first time in 23 years, is the No. 1 overall seed in the field.
A golden goal caps a furious comeback and propels Western Washington past host Concordia, 3-2, in a second-round NCAA women's match in Portland. The Vikings trail 2-nil with less than five minutes remaining in regulation but score twice in 63 seconds to force overtime. The rally begins with senior defender Hattie North connecting with net from 23 yards out at 85:20. With the Vikings pressing after the ensuing kickoff, Gabriela Pelogi gains possession and beats the keeper from 18 yards at 86:23 with her 45th career goal. In the eighth minute of sudden death, Emily Bunnell heads home the improbable winner.
Saint Martin’s plays inaugural men’s and women’s games at Cal State L.A., both falling by identical 5-0 scores. Both Saints teams compete in NCAA Division II and are coached by Rob Walker.
Joe and Sue Shinafelt Waters, the husband-and-wife soccer coaches at Pacific Lutheran, announce they will not return in 2002. Joe Waters coached the men's team for four seasons (25-39-6). Sue coached the PLU women for six years (38-62-6). She had played on two Lutes national championship teams.
Just like the parent club, Tacoma Defiance now has a former Sounder as head coach. Wade Webber is named the USL Championship club's fourth coach. Webber replaces Chris Little, who resigned to take an assistant post with Colorado Rapids. Webber played for the A-League Sounders from 1994-96 before moving to MLS. He was an assistant with Defiance/S2 since 2018, working under both John Hutchinson and Little. Webber also coached for two seasons with the Sounders FC Academy, and he boasts more than two decades of experience working in youth soccer in western Washington.
Evergreen upsets No. 2 seed and defending NAIA champion Rio Grande, ending its 63-game winning streak, 2-1, in the final pool play match at Olathe, Kansas. Nate Ford finishes from 18 yards out in the seventh minute of overtime to advance No. 18 Geoducks to the quarterfinal round. Evergreen strikes first through Jason Gjertsen's free kick just before halftime. Ohio's Rio Grande answers in the 70th minute. Two days later Evergreen is eliminated by Georgia's Berry, 4-2.