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.
After assuring the girls’ 4A ranks of a new champion, Lake Stevens proceeds to reach its first final and wins it, 1-0 over Woodinville at Sparks Stadium. The Vikings ousted two-time defending champion Skyline in the quarterfinals after losing their only game to the Spartans in districts. Noelani Tupua stakes Lake Stevens to a lead after 18 minutes and Tessa Anastasi locks down the goal for her third shutout of the tournament. The Falcons fall in the final for the second year in a row.
Fifteen hours after starting for runner-up Blanchet in the state 3A girls basketball championship game, Katie O'Brien converts the winning shootout goal for Seattle's Emerald City FC '81 Azzurri in the title game of the U-18 Snickers Championship Cup at Renton Stadium. Rebekah Ten Broek of Lynden and Temryss Lane of Sehome also played in state hoops games before playing for ECFC Azzurri. Both girls have Division I scholarships and will play soccer next season, Lane at Arizona State and Ten Broek at Marshall in West Virginia.
FC Seattle president Bill Sage is announced as a consultant to the U.S. Soccer Federation. Sage, who will be unpaid, will work on a five-year business plan for the new U.S. league due to begin play following the 1994 World Cup.
At long last, Seattle Pacific University announces it will add women's soccer as a varsity sport beginning in 2001. The men's program is among the most successful in NCAA Division II. Women had formed a club program at SPU in 1976, however a lack of home facility hindered efforts until Interbay Stadium opened in 1997. Athletic director Tom Box and McCrath have enlisted the expertise of Seattle native and U.S. World Cup star Michelle Akers. She will advise administrators in the further development of the team and hiring of a head coach. President Philip Eaton says plans progressed since then, and women's soccer was designated as the next new sport in the athletic department's five-year plan of 1997. Plans call for the inaugural team to have two full scholarships, with that number to rise incrementally to four by 2004.
In the third and deciding game of the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup series, Seattle's St. Mary's defeats St. Anne's, 3-1, to retain the title at Catholic Memorial Field. St. Anne's was the Parochial School League grade school winner.
Erik Gracey fuels Pacific Lutheran's fast start and second-half surge in a 5-3 defeat of George Fox at Newburg, Or. Gracey finds Mike Ferguson twice and then scores himself in the first 19 minutes. When the Lutes' lead is trimmed to 3-2, Gracey assists on a pair of goals during a three-minute span and his total of four ties a record. Ferguson finishes the year with 14 goals and ties the PLU career record of 49.