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.
Strasburg Chosen for Eastern Washington
June 23, 2021

Missy Strasburg is introduced as the fourth head coach in Eastern Washington program history and the first female to guide the program in 22 years. Strasburg takes over following a five-year assistant coach stint at the Air Force Academy. She started her coaching career in the Spokane area as a youth and high school coach at Spokane Shadow and Riverside High. Strasburg played collegiately at Gonzaga from 1997-2001, ending No. 3 in career assists.

After 27 Years, Seattle U Returns to Division I
May 10, 2007

Seattle University's Board of Trustees votes for a return to NCAA Division I athletics, which the Redhawks left in 1980. Seattle U will continue to participate in Div. II as a member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and become a Div. I member as an independent in 2009-10. The fall of 2012 is the earliest the Redhawks would be eligible for D-I postseason play.

Peterson, Seattle Shock Man United
May 20, 1982

Mark Peterson scores twice, in the 8th and 45th minute in 3-0 win over England's storied Manchester United. Sounders go on to win EuroPac tournament by tying Vancouver away to win the $35,000 prize. Seattle is missing injured starters Alan Hudson and Ian Bridge. United are without four starters.

WIAA: Girls Tournament Coming Soon
November 21, 1979

WIAA officials indicate that sponsorship of a girls' championship could come as soon as 1981. In 1978, 67 schools fields teams. If a minimum of 80 is reached in 1980, the tournament would begin the following year.

St. Louis Ends Tacoma's Strong Season
October 2, 2022

Tacoma Defiance are unable to complete a second straight playoff comeback as they are held off by St. Louis City 2, 2-1, in the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference final in Edwardsville, Illinois. Down two goals, Abdoulaye Cissoko's penalty pulls the visitors within striking distance in the 76th minute. Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez had hit the post for Tacoma (14-6-5) in the first half.

Buchan Denied the Double
March 22, 1953

Green Lake Bowl denies Buchan Bakers a double by coming from 2-nil down to score three second-half goals to win the George Washington Knockout Cup, 3-2, at Catholic Memorial Stadium.

Gio Miglietti tears away after scoring for Washington in an NCAA quarterfinal win over St. Louis. (Courtesy Scott Eklund/Red Box Pictures)
2021
Everett's Chris Henderson began his MLS career with Colorado (Courtesy Major League Soccer)
1996
Snohomish United won the USYSA Region IV U14 girls championship at Boise. (Courtesy USYSA)
2019
Sam Rogers had a busy 2017. Rogers graduated from Ballard High School, received a call-in from the U.S. Under-18 National Team, signed with Sounders FC 2 and was named among 20 top U20 prospects in the USL Championship. (Courtesy Tacoma Defiance)
2017
Sounders coach John Best was popular with his players and fans alike during the first seasons of NASL play. (Frank MacDonald Collection)
1974
Denise Bender, a forward for the Washington women's club program, became the state's first female collegiate All-American in 1980. (Courtesy Denise Bender)
1980
DeAndre Yedlin moved from Tottenham to newly-relegated Newcastle for 2016/17. Yedlin helped the Magpies win the Championship and return to the Premiership. (Courtesy Newcastle United FC)
2016
The Seattle Host City poster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was unveiled April 3, 2025. Artist Shogo Ota's design features black fins of an orca in Puget Sound, their edges resembling the Lumen Field roof. Sports Illustrated later ranks it as the top poster among the 16 venues.
(Courtesy SEA2026)
2025
Rhonda Klein is part of the first Washington women's team.
1991
Saint Martin's coach Rob Walker goes over instructions with Xan Nixon. The Saints won a GNAC championship in just the program's third season. (Courtesy Saint Martin's Athletics)
2009