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.
Following a skid of six losses in seven games, the Seattle Sounders score four in the second half to smash Portland, 5-1, before a Boeing Night crowd of 34,012. Derek Smethurst nets only the second hat trick in club history by scoring in the 52nd, 66th and 81st minutes. John Ryan converts a pair of penalties. Seattle had scored only three times in those six losses.
Buchan closes out the campaign by winning 10th annual five-a-side tournament, beating Vancouver juniors Norburn Legion, 3-1. Joe Lane scores four goals in five games and the Bakers finish with a goal-difference of 14-4.
Andrew Gregor converts a penalty kick in the final minute to keep Seattle's slim playoff hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Atlanta in the final regular season match before 8,829 at Qwest Field. The Sounders finish 11-13-4, the first losing season. The following day they are eliminated from playoff contention by Puerto Rico's draw with Miami.
Tacoma lands a Major Indoor Soccer League franchise after securing primary tenant rights away from a bid by the Sounders. Tacoma ownership buys the mothballed Denver Avalanche franchise for an undisclosed price via bankruptcy court just over four months before the season starts. The 13-man ownership group features form Sounders general manager John Best and Tacoma business leaders John Long, Howie Meadowcroft, Gary Milgard, Bill Weyerhaeuser, George Weyerhaeuser, Lowry Wyatt and Dave Young.
The Hungarians (8-1-0) open a three-point lead by pasting Loyal Realty (6-2-1), 4-0, at White Center. Mike Kuczi scrambles in a Steve Furjesi corner at 32 minutes, and Furjesi doubles the lead from Alex Bogdan at 57. A 35-yard Kuczi free kick puts the game out of reach, and he later crosses to Tibor Farkas for the fourth.
Cole Friesen’s third hat trick of the year fuels Whitworth's 6-2 romp over Willamette at Spokane. Friesen scores at 20’, 57’ and 85’, taking his season total to a record 22 goals. He also assists on Beckett Arthur’s two goals in the opening 19 minutes. Karl Muelheims, the Pirates' assistant coach, held the program record of 21 goals. Friesen eventually takes the new record to 25 goals.