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.

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Explore our history. Click on any of the panels below to learn what happened that year.
SPU Wins Intracity D2 Matchup
October 15, 2006

Colin Rigby jolts Seattle University in the first minute and 17 minutes later works a give-and-go to assist Andy Willis, propelling 6th-ranked Seattle Pacific past their 15th-ranked rivals, 2-1, before a full house at Interbay Stadium. Jason Cascio brings SU within a goal in the 77th minute but is issued his second yellow card less three minutes later. Rigby’s header from a Brandon Crutchfield cross comes after only 38 seconds.

Loyal Vikings Undefeated in First Half
December 20, 1959

Loyal Realty (formerly Norselander) Vikings complete the first half of the season undefeated (9-0-2), clinching the title with a 3-1 result versus Seattle Rendering. The Hungarians (8-2-0) are runners-up.

WA's Higgins Leads UNC to Threepeat
November 20, 1988

Kent’s Shannon Higgins scores three goals to lead North Carolina to its third straight NCAA title, 4-1 over North Carolina State in Chapel Hill. Higgins, the Tar Heels’ leading scorer with 13 goals and 17 assists, is named the most valuable offensive player. After a goal and two assists in a semifinal win over Wisconsin, Higgins opens the scoring in the 30th minute, then adds two penalty kicks. Meanwhile, defender Lori Henry, another Washingtonian, stifles ACC top scorer Charmaine Hooper to give the Tar Heels their third title in a row. UNC ousted Kerri Coplin and Wisconsin, 3-0, in the semifinals.

Seattle U Opts for Division II
December 11, 1998

Seattle University's Board of Trustees votes unanimously to approve a proposal to apply for membership in NCAA Division II and the Pacific West Conference. Seattle U will maintain its NAIA membership and compete in NAIA postseason events until it becomes a fulltime member of Div. II.

Cruz Azul Snuffs Sounders' Cup Run
March 11, 2025

It's a brief but costly Concacaf Champions Cup run for the Sounders. Cruz Azul sends Seattle home in the second round after winning the home leg, 4-1. The teams drew 0-0 March 5. In Mexico City, Jordan Morris's sprint toward a potential tying goal ends when he pulls up with a hamstring strain. In the first half, Paul Arriola is lost to a torn ACL for the season.

McCrath Honored at WA Legends Event
October 30, 2024

An Evening with Cliff McCrath pays tribute to the longtime Seattle Pacific coach and Northwest Soccer Camp founder for his soccer community leadership over six decades, including 38 seasons at SPU and 50 years of welcoming campers to Camp Casey and Bastyr University. McCrath is honored by speakers Ted Wacker, Dan Milgrom, Marcus Hahnemann, Art Thiel, Peter Hattrup and Anson Dorrance, plus dozens of video tributes. He is presented proclamations by Gov. Inslee and the King County Council, ‘47’ jerseys by SPU, Sounders and Kraken and named an ambassador for the Seattle 2026 World Cup organization. Nearly $47,000 is raised for the Jimmy Gabriel Memorial Scholarship at the Hilton Bellevue.

UCLA players rest and stretch between overtime periods of the NCAA final in the Kingdome. (Courtesy UCLA)
1985
Craig Beeson of Washington rises for a header. (Joanie Komura photo)
1987
Whitman College action. (Courtesy Whitman archives)
1978
Before hundreds of fans and family members, the afternoon after beating N.C. State the Huskies delivered their NCAA championship trophy back home to Husky Stadium. (UW Athletics)
2025
A record soccer attendance  for the Pacific Northwest (67,052) sees the friendly between Sounders FC and Manchester United. (Sounders FC photo)
2011
Sounders forward Peter Ward, NASL MVP, protects the ball from San Jose's Mike Hunter. (Frank MacDonald Collection)
1982
(Courtesy Seattle Times archives)
1968
Seattle University won its third automatic NCAA berth in five seasons by beating San Jose State, 2-1, in the WAC championship game in Las Vegas. (Courtesy Seattle University Athletics)
2017
Mount Rainer became the first 3A boys team to repeat as state champion in 1988. The Rams finished 19-0-1. (Courtesy Mount Rainer High School)
1988
Seattle Pacific coach Cliff McCrath and Kevin O'Keefe raise the NCAA championship trophy as Todd Reichert looks on. (Courtesy Seattle Pacific)
1985