Seattle University's Board of Trustees votes unanimously yesterday to move up from NCAA Division III to II, a switch that will have two primary effects. Seattle U will again offer scholarships, mostly in basketball and soccer, and it will apply for membership in the Pacific West Conference. Administrators weighed adding sport to comply with Div. III requirements or adding scholarships and going Div. II.

Stephanie Verdoia strikes just seconds into Seattle University's 2-0 win at Utah Valley, earning the Redhawks a share of the WAC regular season title at Orem, Ut. Verdoia scores at 40 seconds on a feed from Taylor Ritzman, and Ritzman doubles the lead just two minutes later. It's the sixth straight road win for Seattle U.

State Senator Reuven Carlyle of Seattle sponsors a bill during the legislative session in Olympia requiring the University of Washington to maintain a website of concussion-related information and resources. This information will include a set of best practices on topics like concussion recognition, parent teacher and coach information, and information on concussions in non-high impact sports such as soccer. The website would be created and maintained in conjunction with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

Seattle Mitre Eagles win both the Open Cup and Amateur Cup regional finals in Denver. John Klein scores three times, including overtime winner vs. San Francisco Greek Americans, 2-1, in regional final. In all, Seattle plays five games in two days. The Eagles defeat Denver Kickers, 1-0, in the Amateur final but commit to playing the Open Cup at nationals. FC Seattle Cozars claim their fifth straight women’s regional title, 4-3, over the San Jose Bobcats.

In the season opener for both teams, Seattle University, an NAIA program, topples 19th-ranked Division I Washington, 1-0, at East Field. Sophomore Kurt Swanson scores the only goal in the 7th minute on a deflected shot. The Huskies dominate the game otherwise, out-shooting the Chieftains 30-5. Seattle U had not beaten the Huskies in 17 years, a string of 15 losses in which they had been outscored by 75-3. Since 1988 the programs had played five times, all exhibitions.

A Kingdome international double feature begins with the United States Olympic Team blanking Canada, 2-0, before the USA-USSR main event. Don Ebert and Larry Hulcer score, and Paul Coffee gets the shutout. Hermann Trophy winner Angelo DiBernardo starts and plays the first half, then is a USMNT substitute for the USSR game's final 21 minutes. Sounder defender Jeff Stock, a rookie out of Tacoma, starts and plays the first half. Canada center back Ian Bridge is signed by Seattle on Feb. 20.