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.
Bruce Raney and Sergio Soriano, the goalscorer and goalkeeper, respectively, of Seattle Pacific's first NCAA championship team are inducted into Falcon Legends Hall of Fame. SPU was the state's first national champion in 1978 with Raney scoring the overtime winner and fellow freshman Soriano getting the shutout in 1-0 victory over Alabama A&M. Soriano graduated as the career shutouts leader (42) and Raney still holds career goals record (68).
Cor van der Meer, founder and former longtime coach of men’s and women’s soccer at Community Colleges of Spokane, dies after a lengthy battle with lung cancer at age 74. Van der Meer was regarded as Spokane’s Mr. Soccer. He was CCS men’s coach for 20 years and 11 for the women. He also founded a five-a-side tournament now marking 25 years.
John Best, the first coach and later general manager of the original Seattle Sounders dies while traveling in Ireland. He was 74. Best succumbs to a lung infection after more than two decades of battling kidney disease. He had been visiting family. Best was the face of the Sounders in their formative years, serving as head coach from 1974-76. He returned in 1982 as GM. In 1983 he co-founded the Tacoma Stars, serving as president and director for the MISL club's first five seasons. The Sounders observe a moment of silence and wear black armbands for their home match vs. Vancouver on Oct. 10. Best was the Whitecaps GM during their NASL championship season of 1979.
Between the sale of five players and a dispersal draft of 10 others, the Sounders roster dissolves. Joe Corrigan (Brighton), Peter Ward (Vancouver), John Bain, Tim Bartro and Steve Daley (all Golden Bay) are purchased outright. Among those taken by the remaining nine NASL clubs are homegrown players Chance Fry (Tulsa), Brian Schmetzer (Chicago traded to Tulsa), Mark Peterson (New York), Bill Crook (Ft. Lauderdale) and Jeff Stock (Golden Bay).
Dan Vaughn completes his career as Washington’s scoring leader, getting his 16th of the year and 52nd overall to open the 4-1 victory over Seattle University at Husky Stadium.
With wildfire smoke increasingly plaguing the Pacific Northwest, three women's collegiate contests are canceled across the state. Games at Western Washington, Gonzaga and Whitworth are nixed due to measurements registering above the recommended limit of 150 on the air quality index. None of the games are rescheduled.