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.
Bryan McNiel ends a scoreless stalemate 53 seconds into overtime and gives Washington a 1-0 victory over Stanford for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championship at Husky Stadium. Dusty Hudock makes seven saves for the Huskies. It's his 11th shutout. McNiel heads in a free kick from Paul Hurme. With the MPSF title comes an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. UW beat Cal State Fullerton, 3-1, in overtime, in the semifinals. Stanford eliminated UCLA on penalties.
Ward Forrest's hat trick propelled Washington to a 3-2 victory over Western Washington, extending the Huskies' conference lead over Seattle Pacific to an almost insurmountable seven points.
Gibson Bardsley closes out his career with a record-tying goal in a 2-0 win over Seattle Pacific at Whatcom Community College. Bardsley doubles the Vikings' lead from 17 yards in the 35th minute. His 41st career goal, it ties him with Peter LaBarge and he becomes the program's first player to reach 100 total points.
A record crowd of nearly 10,000 watches star-studded West Ham United draw, 2-2, with West Germany's Rot Weiss Essen at Memorial Stadium. The attendance of 9,710 surpasses a 1926 mark of 8,000 for a state league match and West Ham's 1969 visit which pulled 7,764. The proceeds, less the guarantee of $10,500, will be directed for the Washington State Junior Soccer Association. The Hammers feature 1966 English World Cup heroes Geoff Hurst, who scores the game's opener, and Bobby Moore. Rolland Pietsch ties it by intermission for Rot Weiss Essen. Clyde Best restores the lead yet Willie Lippens equalizes.
Annelise Sittauer scores in the 10th minute and Emily Hurd puts the match away with two second-half goals, leading Crossfire Premier to a 3-0 victory over Real So Cal in the girls' U17 Far West Regional final at Lancaster, Ca. Crossfire, the only Washington team to win a regional title, goes 0-2-1 in group play at the USYSA Nationals in July.
OL Reign's quest to send Megan Rapinoe into retirement with a first NWSL championship goes awry from the outset in a 2-1 loss to Gotham FC before 25,011 in San Diego. Three minutes into the match, Rapinoe goes to ground without any contact. It's later diagnosed as a torn right Achilles. In the 24th minute, Gotham goes in front as Lynn Williams takes Midge Purce's cross and tucks it past Reign keeper Claudia Dickey. Five minutes later, Rose Lavelle scores to level it at 1-1 on a breakaway. However, in first-half stoppage time Purce finds Esther González Rodríguez for a header. Veronica Latsko forces a diving save at 60' from Mandy Haught, and Elysse Bennett nearly beats Haught with a looping header seven minutes into stoppage time, with the Gotham keeper committing a handball outside the box to deny it. Haught is sent off but the Reign cannot capitalize in the remaining time, losing its third final.