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.
Norselander Vikings get an overtime winner from Larry Peterson to lift the state championship trophy by defeating the Hungarians, 3-2, at Lower Woodland. It's the first overall title for the Scandinavians since 1950, when they were known as Acme Tyee. Ted Wittenberg's brace canceled out Karmen Koteles's two goals during regulation. Peterson was among the Vikings' injured during the second half of the campaign, when they took fourth.
On the verge of beating Brazil for only the second time, the United States allows a late tying goal and then falls, 2-1, in extra time of their Gold Cup semifinal in Miami. It's the first home loss for Kasey Keller in 23 matches. His stretch of 801 scoreless Gold Cup minutes is snapped in the 89th minute when Kaka taps in a rebound. Diego then hits a penalty 10 minutes into overtime. The U.S. and Keller later take third by defeating Costa Rica.
A four-goal outburst from Kyle Witzel is just what Saint Martin's requires to snap a five-game losing streak, 5-1, versus Concordia. It's Witzel's first hat trick and ties the SMU single game record. He scores twice in each half, with his fourth goal making it 4-0 in the 59th minute. The Saints had scored only four goals in their last five contests.
Former U.S. National Team goalkeeper and four-time FIFA World Cup veteran Kasey Keller is elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame as a first-ballot inductee. Joining Keller in the Class of 2015 are former U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team and Major League Soccer head coach Sigi Schmid on the Builder Ballot, and the late Glenn “Mooch” Myernick on the Veteran Ballot. Keller, an Olympia native, completed a 19-year international career in 2011, his final three seasons being played in Seattle. He played 102 games for the United States between 1990 and 2007 and is the USA’s all-time leader in shutouts with 47. After 35 years of coaching soccer in the United States, collecting numerous championships at the collegiate and professional levels. Schmid, 62, is the winningest coach in MLS history, winning championships in L.A. and Columbus before annually guiding the Sounders to playoff berths and four U.S. Open Cup titles since their inception in 2009. He coached UCLA for 19 seasons, winning the first of three NCAA titles in Seattle in 1985.
For the second year in a row, Gonzaga is denied an NCAA tournament bid despite losing only once in the final 12 games. The Bulldogs, WCC co-champions who were edged by San Diego, 2-1, in game deciding the automatic berth nine days earlier, are not granted an at-large bid. Instead, third-place Santa Clara gets the nod with an identical record.
The Northwest Collegiate Soccer Conference votes to adopt a two-division men’s format, with the Olympic Division comprised of the top six teams from 1987 and the Cascade consisting of the remaining six. Following the 1988 season and from thereafter will be promotion and relegation.