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.
Seattle University plays its first match in newly renovated Championship Field and also its first game under a new coach since 1988. Brad Agoos has replaced Peter Fewing, and the Redhawks hand him a 4-3 win over Chico State. Championship Field now features new covered seating and scoreboard and an expanded capacity to 650. A new playing surface is the grass used for the Real Madrid friendly at Qwest Field two weeks earlier.
A past U.S. Soccer vice president and national referee, Bellevue's Tom Webb, 50, is inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs. Besides officiating in the NASL and colleges, Webb served as president of both the state adult and youth associations. He was also one of the early organizers of youth play on the Eastside. From 1977-82 Webb was VP for USSF, and he served as chair of the federation's national referee committee.
Both Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan of Seattle Sounders are among the starters in the first U.S. National Team match of 2018, a 0-0 draw with Bosnia & Herzegovina in Carson, Ca. Federal Way's Kelyn Rowe comes on as a substitute. DeAndre Yedlin leads Washingtonians with five caps for the year, including his 50th international appearance March 27 vs. Paraguay.
Farid Benstiti abruptly resigns as OL Reign head coach, the announcement made just hours before a game in Houston. Assistant coach Sam Laity is named interim coach. Benstiti, hired to succeed Vlatko Andonovski in 2019, was 6-8-6 across all competitions over his year and a half at the helm. It is learned later, in September, that the Frenchman was asked to resign after an allegation of verbal abuse during a team meeting prior to the June 26 home game vs. Gotham FC.
For the first time in 38 years the original U.S. Women's National Team is reunited and honored at halftime of the USL W League match in Asheville, N.C. Seven members of the 1985 team coached by Seattle's Mike Ryan were from Washington. Among those attending are Michelle Akers and Lori Henry, who would go on to win the first World Cup in 1991. Asheville City co-owner Stacey Enos was also a member of that team. Enos led the reunion organizing effort.
John Wedge is hired as first head coach of the Kitsap Pumas. Wedge, a native of England and Bainbridge Island resident, previously coached Federal Way High School, Shoreline Community College and Evergreen State College.