Washington State
Legends of Soccer

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.

What are you looking for?
Donate Now!
Explore our history. Click on any of the panels below to learn what happened that year.
Hungarians Win Challenge Cup Opener
December 6, 1964

Seattle's Hungarians return home with a 3-2 victory over Bay Area league leader Teutonia DC in a U.S. Challenge Cup first round match at Balboa Park. Les Mueller comes off the bench and almost immediately scores what proves to be the winner, beating four defenders in the process. Tommy Major's penalty and Steve Furjesi give the Magyars a 2-nil lead. Teutonia files a protest immediately afterward, claiming referee John McFarlane ended the game five minutes early. The protest is disallowed.

State Threatens to Expel LWYSA
November 12, 2004

Washington Youth Soccer Association suspends and will expel Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association, effective Dec. 7, leaving the future of 6,500 young player from Kirkland, Redmond and Sammamish in question. The move by the state association comes after Crossfire Premier president Jim Harnasch questioned LWYSA finances and the LWYSA board retaliated by suspending Harnasch’s 15-year-old son. WSYSA seeks to assure parents that "every one of our members will continue to play on their teams as we replace the previous association with a new one."

Keeper Shines in Highline Championship Win
May 27, 1995

Johann Noetzel makes five saves during a scoreless regulation and two overtime periods, then another in the decisive fifth round of penalties as Highline takes the 2A state crown at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup. Prior to Noetzel's save, Tony Pyle converted. The Pirates (18-3-0) claim their first state championship since 1981 by beating Mount Rainier (19-2-1) 0-0 5-4.

New League Forms, Begins Play
October 30, 1919

The Northwestern Association Football League is formed. It features seven clubs: Celtics, Rangers, Rainiers, Shamrocks (all from Seattle) and Tacoma, Everett and Port Blakely. In the inaugural matches, Rangers blast Celtics, 5-1, at Woodland Park and Tacoma posts 2-0 home win over Rainiers.

Pac-12 Exodus Sends UW East
September 13, 2024

The Big Ten era for Washington begins with the UW men traveling to Michigan State for their conference opener. It's the first of four regular season games to be played in the eastern time zone. In all the Huskies play in four different time zones before the NCAA tournament. The women's team travels to Maryland and Rutgers (NJ) the following week but has three former Pac-12 opponents in Oregon, USC and UCLA.

Canadians Take Cascadia Duel
February 19, 1961

Molson's Canadians defeat defending state champion Loyal Realty, 4-2, before 5,000 at Vancouver's Powell Street Grounds.

The Sounders captured the 1981 Trans-Atlantic Challenge Cup championship by defeating Southampton and Celtic and drawing at the Cosmos. (Courtesy Frank MacDonald)
1981
Shannon Higgins Cirovski (holding microphone) shares insights into the early years of the U.S. Women's National Team, culminating in a 1991 World Cup championship. The forum, featuring several Washingtonians chosen to the USWNT from 1983-1995, was hosted by Washington State Legends of Soccer. From left: Jan Smisek, Anson Dorrance, Cirovski, Gina Segadelli (née Casella) and Amy Griffin (née Allmann). (Courtesy WA Legends).
2019
As a returning hometown hero, Michelle Akers was the big attraction for the 14,000 attending the U.S. National Team vs. World All-Stars in Tacoma. (Courtesy Harley Soltes/Seattle Times)
1999
Washington State, champions of the NWISL in 1971. (Courtesy WSU archives)
1971
Division II Player of the Year Sierra Shugarts battles for possession in Western Washington's 3-2 championship win over Grand Valley State.
2016
Seattle Pacific raises the NCAA trophy after defeating Southern Connecticut, 1-0, in the NCAA Division II Championship game. (Courtesy Seattle Pacific)
1993
1977
Alana Cook earned NWSL Best XI in 2022, in addition to 15 USWNT appearances. (Courtesy Jane Gershovich/OL Reign)
2022
Action from the Seattle Sounders and St. Louis Stars in the Kingdome. (Frank MacDonald Collection)
1976
Western Washington's coaching staff, led by head coach Travis Connell, was named 2016 NSCAA Division II Women’s National Staff of the Year.  Jamie Arthurs, Claire Morgan and Joana Houplin served as the Vikings' assistants. (Courtesy Western Washington Athletics)
2016