A pent-up demand to see the Sounders is obvious as big crowds turn-out for preseason games in various communities. Attendance is 6,614 at Everett Memorial Stadium for Seattle's 1-0 win over L.A. Altogether, over 19,000 watch exhibitions in Everett, Yakima, Burien and Tacoma.

Ken Hall’s five saves secure the shutout and Daudi Abe gets the goal that avenges previous year’s championship game defeat to Adelphi as Falcons win semifinal before 5,000 at Memorial Stadium.

The largest crowd in 41 years to see an amateur game in Seattle – 7,000 fans – witnesses Seattle Pacific scoring first but then falling in the NCAA Division II final, 3-1 to Baltimore in windy, near-freezing temperatures. Runner-up for a second year in a row, SPC coach Cliff McCrath said, “I’m proud of all my boys. Remember, a lot of gals had to go to more than two weddings before they caught the bouquet.”

Washington clinches the Sounders Cup series by hammering Seattle Pacific, 4-0, in front of a record attendance for college soccer in the state – 5,200 at Husky Stadium. Doug Buck scored a brace on two long-distance strikes and twin brother Denny Buck posts the shutout.

Sounders announce that after two seasons and 17 consecutive sellouts at Memorial Stadium, they are moving to the soon-to-be-completed Kingdome. Awaiting them are modern amenities such as parking, replay screens and protection from the elements, not to mention a larger, uncrowned playing surface. There will be no increase in ticket prices.

Sounders coach John Best becomes the first soccer personality nominated for “Post-Intelligencer” Sports Man of the Year award at the Olympic Hotel. Best finishes fourth in the voting, which is topped by bowler Earl Anthony.

Sounders begin offering free youth clinics throughout Puget Sound, beginning at the Tacoma Mall, Federal Way, Lacey, Bellevue, Lynnwood and Auburn. Adrian Webster, Alan Stephens, Dave Butler and Dave D’Errico are among the players demonstrating skills.

Mountlake Terrace claims the first official state high school championship, 3-2, over Bellevue’s Newport, on a Dale Buske volley with 3:22 remaining at Memorial Stadium. The Hawks come from two goals down in the final 12 minutes despite losing an ejected player. Attendance for the WIAA final is 1,247.

New NASL rules in 1976 stipulate squads reduced from 18 to 16 players and each team must have six North Americans.

Bremerton’s Peewee Association postpones games due to fresh dumping of snow. Disappointed kids bombarded the league office with calls, so the games were played, with the parents marking out the lines on the snow-covered pitches with sand.

West Seattle's Sportsland Lady Bugs rightly complete an unbeaten season as Washington State Women's Soccer Association champions. Josie Cacchione and Barb Burns score for the Lady Bugs in a 2-0 title match win over Lake Washington Shamrocks at Lower Woodland. The Lady Bugs were 9-0-1 during league play and unscathed in the postseason as well.

Seattle and Portland meet for the first time at the professional level, with the Sounders getting a penalty kick from Jimmy Gabriel and a penalty save by Barry Watling to claim a 1-nil victory in soggy Civic Stadium.

Tacoma Strikers win the first USYSA U16 boys West Regional at Steilacoom, Wash., blasting the Valley Eagles of Van Nuys, Calif., 7-3, on two goals each from John Graves and Mark Peterson.

Seattle United Steelers equalize in the 11th minute, through assists from Thor Tollefson and Steve Newman to Bruce Walyor, but the San Jose Portuguese pull away to win the U.S. Challenge Cup West region semifinal, 4-1, at West Seattle Stadium.

Seattle reaches the NASL playoffs for the first time and although owning the third-highest point total in the league is pitted against points leader Portland in the first round. Before 31,523 (including an estimated 2,000 from Puget Sound), John Rowlands gives the visitors a lead early in the second half before Barry Powell answers. A pitch invasion ensues after Tony Betts gets the winner in the 97th minute.

A convincing victory wraps-up the state league first half title for the young and talented Interlake Porsche Audi. Errol Hickey's Interlake (11-2-1) spanks Mr. Pro, 3-0, to finish a point in front of defending champion Seattle Steelers (10-2-2). The victors are primarily recent high school graduates from the Eastside.

Fire destroys the original Sports Specialties soccer shop at 1530 1st Avenue South, Seattle. More than a uniform and equipment supplier Denzil Miskell’s store was the de facto hub of soccer activity and discussion. In addition to the shop’s inventory, also lost were four State League trophies, including the Eddie Craggs Memorial Cup.

Sounders play indoor, 6-a-side version for the first time, in NASL regional tournament at San Francisco’s Cow Palace. Seattle is drubbed by San Jose, 14-4.

Mike England, a legend at London's Tottenham Hotspur and with the Welsh national team, signs to play full-time for the Sounders. England, 33, won four major trophies in 300 appearances with Spurs and served as Wales captain. A central defender, his arrival enables Jimmy Gabriel to move into defensive midfield.

Paul Crossley sets-up three goals and both Tjeert Van't Land and John Rowlands score twice in Seattle's 5-1 spanking of 10-man San Jose at Memorial Stadium. The Sounders spot the visitors an early goal, but Crossley's cross to Rowlands is flicked on to Van't Land for the equalizer. The English winger then sends crosses onto the heads of Rowlands and Van't Land in the 23rd and 49th minutes, respectively, to make it 3-1. Crossley, on loan from Tranmere, has assisted on seven goals and scored two in his first 11 matches.

The Sounders B team plays its first of six matches, defeating Seattle Pacific, 2-0, at Memorial Stadium. The reserve squad is the first in the NASL and is coached by Jimmy Gabriel. Pepe Fernandez, on his way back from a broken leg in 1974, scores the first of his five goals for the summer season, which finishes 5-1-0 against collegiate, state league and a British Columbia selection.

After over a year of planning and fundraising, Mountlake Terrace’s Volvo Continentals departs for a 15-game tour of Holland, Switzerland and West Germany. Mike Kohary's U18 Continentals feature several state team members, including Jimmy McAlister and Mike Callan.

Eastside YSA’s U17 Newport Huskies win their sixth straight state championship convincingly, 9-2, over Seattle’s Hillwood Kickers, at Memorial Stadium. Steve Moore nets a hat trick and Ron Dorn adds two goals for Fred Conner’s squad.

NCAA accepts Seattle Pacific’s bid to host Division II semifinals, consolation and final at Memorial Stadium. Bid includes Nile Temple Shriners committing to buy 6,000 tickets each day.

Washington's State League opens its second half with the largest enrollment in its long history. There are 37 teams in three division, including 14 in the first flight.

For the first time the United States National Team hosts a match in the Pacific Northwest. The USMNT faces Poland, winner of the 1972 Olympic Games and third in the 1974 World Cup. Seattle’s Hank Liotart starts in midfield and both Dave D’Errico and Tim Logush feature in the 4-0 defeat before 13,195.

After breaking his leg 13 months earlier, Pepe Fernandez returns and in his sixth game back comes off the bench to deliver a 95th minute Sounders winner, 2-1, versus Denver.

Bothell’s Eddie Krueger, a 15-year-old defender who attends Seattle Prep, is selected to the U.S. U18 National Team for a tour of West Germany. Kruger is one of three Washington players to tryout in Dallas, joining Paul Fagerland of Mountlake Terrace and Theron Aller of Federal Way. 8-game series over 3 weeks. Krueger, who plays for VFW Royals U17s, is one of only three West Coast selections for the U.S. that later goes 4-4-0 in West Germany.

Steve Newman’s goal beats host UC Santa Barbara, 1-0, as Seattle Pacific claims its first Far West Classic title. Behind Kit Zell's seven goals, the Falcons (2-0-2) go unbeaten in their first 10 games.

An intracity competition to be known as Sounders Cup is introduced, with Seattle Pacific, Seattle University and Washington vying for trophy in existing home-and-home regular season series between teams.

I don’t believe the fans are interested only in something stamped ‘Made in America.’ I think they want to see the best players available. The way to upgrade American soccer players is through experience and talent, not through legislation.

With temperatures soaring near 90 at kickoff, the Sounders and Timbers take to the Civic Stadium stage to the roar of 27,310 and the unfurling of a banner reading, ‘Portland: Soccer City, U.S.A.’ Peter Withe cancels out Dave Gillett’s opener and then adds another second-half goal in the Timbers' 2-1 win.

Senior Kit Zell lifts his career postseason goal total to nine with a brace in Seattle Pacific's 2-1 overtime comeback victory at Cal State Hayward. It gives the Falcons their second straight NCAA West Region championship. Zell ties it in the 53rd minute and wins in in the 103rd. SPU now advances to the semifinals, which it was already chosen to host.

Greg McKeown of Auburn scores San Francisco's first goal as the Dons win the NCAA championship with a 4-0 blowout of SIU Edwardsville. McKeown, one of only three Americans in the lineup, had also assisted on the USF overtime game-winner versus Brown in the semifinals. Greg's brother Brad is a freshman playing for Washington and Darren, 13, won a state youth skills test during the summer.

On the eve of what would prove to be an epic Apple Cup on the gridiron, the Huskies host Washington State's club with half of gate proceeds going toward scholarship fund. Chris Whitworth scores twice in Washington’s 6-1 romp.

Sports Illustrated features the Sounders-Timbers series as it moves to Memorial Stadium and the second meeting in eight days. Mike England scores from distance, but Barry Powell equalizes in the 90th minute. Seattle wins it, 3-2, in the 93rd on a golden goal by John Rowlands.

Carlsen-Winquist Oilers of West Seattle win the U14 boys' West Regional at West Seattle Stadium. They defeat Scandia Kings of Los Angeles, 1-1 (3-1), in penalties. Clyde George scores for the Oilers in extra time and Roland Schmid for the Kings.

A national TV audience descends upon Seattle for the first time as newly-signed Pele´ visits with his New York Cosmos. The Sounders bring in additional bleachers, boosting capacity to 17,925 at Memorial Stadium. Hank Liotart scores from the spot and Tommy Baldwin seals the 2-0 win.

Seattle United Steelers secure the second half's top spot and with it the overall state league championship by beating Mr. Pro, 2-0, at Lower Woodland. Bobby Smith and Porter Tollefson tally for the Steelers, who were undefeated but closely followed by the Heidelberg Huskies.