The Everett City Council votes 6-1 to approve $7.25 million of one-time funds toward property acquisition, design and construction of an $82M downtown stadium to host professional baseball and soccer. The rest of the money would come from Snohomish County, the state, the AquaSox, the United Soccer League and bonds. The next step for the city will be to complete lease agreements between the baseball and soccer organizations.

Beginning in 1977 the NASL will use a new tiebreaker format. If the score is still tied after 15 minutes of sudden-death overtime, each team will take five attempts to score from the 35-yard offside line, with the goalkeeper allowed free movement. There will be five seconds for the offensive player to shoot. Studies show this method will be successful 39 percent of the time, compared to 80 percent for penalty kicks.

Lyndsey Patterson's first-half goal enables Seattle Sounders Saints to claim third place in the W-League with a 1-0 consolation win over Charlotte Lady Eagles at Burnaby, B.C. Seattle was coming off a 5-0 semifinal loss to host and eventual champion Vancouver. The Whitecaps, who got three combined goals from U.S. National team member Tiffeny Milbrett and Canadian National teamer Christine Sinclair, completed the season 13-0-1.

Roy Wegerle scores four goals and assists on two more as the Tacoma Stars crush the New York Cosmos, 11-4. Dale Mitchell is catalyst for record score, completing a hat trick in first quarter. Newly-acquired keeper Bob Rigby makes 15 saves and defense blocks a record 22 shots. It proves to be Freddie Goodwin's final win as coach. The Cosmos withdraw from the league and cease operations six days later. Many in the crowd 11,206 stayed for the postgame concert featuring Rail.

Thrice eliminated by L.A., the Sounders turn the tables on the Galaxy by sending them out of the playoffs, 3-2, in a knockout game at CenturyLink Field. Erik Friberg takes advantage of L.A. keeper Donovan Ricketts leaving his line and sends a loose ball into the net with 17 minutes to go. The two sides exchanged four goals in a wild first 22 minutes.

Gonzaga opens its first varsity men’s soccer season by defeating Brigham Young, 4-2, in Spokane. The Bulldogs, coached by Alex Barr, are the state's first program to begin east of the Cascades since 1973 and go 11-2-1 while playing exclusively club programs. The Zags had fielded a club program since 1972. Olympia’s Evergreen State College also fields its first varsity team in 1980, going 10-11-0 under Willie Lippmann.