Everything But a Championship

1980 – Around the World and Close to Home

President Jimmy Carter calls for a boycott of Olympic Summer Games in Moscow to protest Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Iranian militants take 52 American diplomats and citizens from Tehran’s U.S. Embassy hostage and Michael Jackson’s Thriller album and breakthrough music video are released to wide acclaim. In Washington, Mount St. Helens erupts on May 18, killing 57 and causing widespread destruction, Microsoft earns contract to provide operating system for IBM computers and census data indicates Washington population has grown by 21 percent (700,000) since 1970.

Everything But a Championship

Short of a championship, no summer can come close to creating the colossal number of record-breaking performances and, perhaps more notably, the volume of memories than the magical Sounders of 1980. Decades later, fans will vividly recall glorious goals, saves and signature traits of the key players and the prevailing notion that this team set a standard by which all others will be measured.

This side not only wins an NASL-record 25 matches, it entertains. They score 72 goals and silence foes, with 15 shutouts. Seattle draws over 400,000 fans, with five crowds in excess of 30,000. And no one saw it coming.

Soccer America terms the Sounders a rebuilding project. ABC shuns Seattle from its national telecast schedule. Three days before the regular-season opener, they barely beat Mueller Barons, the state amateur power. Seattle is not expected to make the playoffs, let alone contend for the division title.

There had been a housecleaning since missing the ’79 playoffs and finishing 13-17. A new owner, Vince Coluccio, hires a new coach, Alan Hinton, who, in turn, brings aboard nine new players. Three follow Hinton from his last stop, Tulsa. Two will shatter club records with new, nearly untouchable standards. With rules calling for a third North American in the lineup, Hinton introduces two local players who are just age 19 at the outset.

With so many new pieces, it’s understandable that the season begins with a grind: three goals scored over the first four games. Still, the back four of John Ryan, Ian Bridge, Bruce Rioch and David Nish is stout and goalkeeper Jack Brand does not allow a shot past him. That translates to three wins before the attack slips into gear and the onslaught commences.

Roger Davies, who along with Nish and Rioch was a Hinton teammate for championships at England’s Derby County, is a four-tool striker. Davies is effective as the hold-up target man, and a prolific scorer, able to score with head or either foot. He scores 11 times over seven consecutive matches. Mark Peterson develops into a complementary forward and opportunistic finisher. Pulling the strings from midfield are Alan Hudson and Steve Buttle, and the wild card is winger Tommy Hutchison, breaking down defenses with his piercing runs down the flank or cutting across for outside shots.

The Sounders score three or more goals in 15 of their 25 wins, many of which come in bunches: 11 straight, then nine in a row. Down the stretch, an ACL tear takes out Bridge, and nagging pains to a handful of others also take away some of the luster. Still, Seattle manages to finish with one more win than the Cosmos and ousts defending champion Vancouver to begin the playoffs. All that’s left between a semifinal showdown with the Cosmos is L.A., a team the Sounders swept.

After a season-worst 3-0 drubbing in the first leg, Seattle rallies two days later to pummel the Aztecs, 4-0. Straightaway, the series goes to a 30-minute deciding ‘game.’ Tied, 1-1, it then proceeds to the shootout where four consecutive misses send the Sounders out of the playoffs. The crowd, although, like the players, crushed by the unthinkable, rises to cheer the heroes for one last lap around the Kingdome.

Afterward, Buttle expressed what everyone was thinking. “Anywhere else in the world we’d have won the league because we had the most wins and the least losses. L.A. was supposed to be the third or fourth-best side in the league. and we just annihilated them,” he said. “And we come out losers.”

Davies would be voted league MVP, Brand the North American of the year and Hinton the top coach. Seven players are among the three levels of all-stars. For years and years to come, that would be the prevailing sentiment, the Sounders had done it all and won everything – except a championship.

Year in Review
SEATTLE SOUNDERS
Season Record
25-7, 1st West, Quarterfinals
Coach
Alan Hinton (1st year)
Best XI
Roger Davies (MVP, Bruce Rioch
Top Scorer
Roger Davies (25 goals)
ADULT AMATEUR
Women's Amateur Cup
PCI Sharks, Pizza Peter Blue Angeles O30
COLLEGIATE
Men's Collegiate Postseason
Seattle Pacific D2 1st rnd
NCSC Men's Champion
Seattle Pacific
NWAC Men's Champion
Skagit Valley
Sounders Cup Winner
Seattle Pacific
YOUTH
Girls Regional Champion
Tacoma Sweetfoot Carrera U19
WIAA Boys Champion
Blanchet
Largest Attendance
49,606, Sounders v New York

1980: Everything But a Championship

A high-scoring, entertaining Sounders win many fans and many awards while winning a record 25 games. Still, they fall short of the title.

Cosmos, Sounders Tussle Before 60,000
July 20, 1980

In the season's first battle between the NASL's two top teams, the Cosmos come away from a physical contest as 3-1 winners before 60,812 at Giants Stadium. Four yellow cards and three reds are shown. Roger Davies and Cosmos' Jeff Durgan, a rookie from Tacoma, are sent off after exchanging blows. Bruce Rioch goes off later for a punch. New York remains undefeated at home (13-0).

Peterson Scores in 2nd Game
April 5, 1980

Tacoma's Mark Peterson scores his first professional goal just 124 minutes into his career. It comes from a Steve Buttle corner in the 19th minute vs. California and enables Seattle to win, 1-0. Ian Bridge saves a Craig Allen equalizing attempt off the line in first half.

Will ASL Return to Tacoma?
June 17, 1980

Athletes in Action explores bringing an ASL franchise back to Tacoma. AIA, a worldwide Campus Crusade for Christ organization, would put the team back in the new $28M mini-dome, to open in 1983, but are considering interim sites such as Stadium Bowl, Lincoln Bowl and Baker Stadium. The ASL Tides lasted just the 1976 season at Cheney Stadium. After meeting with Tacoma Mayor Mike Parker, AIA team director Rich Hay says, “We would like to be the first team to put in a farm system, with not just one but a whole series of teams, so that we could hone and develop our own players.”

Tacoma Votes for Dome of Its Own
March 18, 1980

Tacoma voters approve a $28 million bond measure to build a minidome. The “dome of our own” campaign passes with 70 percent approval from city residents. A 20,000-seat stadium will be located along Interstate 5 in the Hawthorne area. Three previous ballot measures failed, including a 1976 bond that was rejected Pierce County-wide.

Davies Scores Four
May 31, 1980

Roger Davies ties Seattle club record with four goals (despite missing a penalty kick) in 5-1 win over Rochester. It completes a month during which Davies scores in each of six games and 11 altogether. Davies also assists on a goal by Derek Smethurst. He missed a penalty kick, however. With 14 goals he has already broken the Seattle record of 13, set by Smethurst in 1979.

WA Women Win Two National Cups
June 27, 1980

Pacific Coast International Sharks of Seattle wins the inaugural National Women's Challenge Cup via penalty kicks while their sister squad, the Pizza Pete Blue Angels of Bellevue claims the Over-30 crown in Miami Beach. Kathy McMahon, who scored the semifinal winner, put PCI ahead but Camps Springs (Md.) equalizes in the final minute. After a scoreless 30 minutes of extra time, Joan Dunlap (playing while five months pregnant) strokes the decisive penalty kick to win (1-1, 3-2). Linda Adams had a hat trick in the semi and the clinching goal in the Blue Angels' 2-0 win over Dallas Texans. Mike Ryan coaches both teams.

Zipp, Hellenkamp Go High
December 15, 1980

Two Washington players are chosen among the NASL top eight in the NASL draft. Robbie Zipp, 17, of O'Dea, is taken seventh by Detroit. Zipp has played for both the U17 and U15 national teams. Selected No. 8 by Portland is Chris Hellenkamp, 19, a sophomore at Seattle Pacific. Seattle was interested in both but chose 20th. The Sounders draft Craig Nicholson (Garfield High School 2nd round), and both Jim McKay and Mike Hiatt of SPU.

Brand, Sounders Extend Shutout Run
May 12, 1980

Seattle returns home from an East Coast trip with two more shutout wins after silencing New England, 2-0. It's the fourth consecutive clean sheet and eighth in nine games to begin the season. Goalkeeper Jack Brand and the back four of John Ryan, Ian Bridge, Bruce Rioch and David Nish own a 405-minute scoreless run. Brand makes a point-blank save on Keita to keep the Tea Men blanked before Roger Davies scores the first goal and his fifth in three games.

Chico State Rallies, Bounces SPU
November 19, 1980

Just when Seattle Pacific seemed destined for its fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II finals, longtime nemesis Chico State pulls off an unlikely comeback in the Far West final at Memorial Stadium. The Wildcats rally from two goals behind and finally eliminate the Falcons in the 129th minute, in the third overtime, 3-2. After outscoring their last six opponents by a combined 26-2, SPU had jumped in front on goal from Brad Elmenhurst and Bruce Raney. It's the fourth time Chico State has bounced the Falcons from the playoffs.

Skagit Valley Wins Third Straight Title
November 29, 1980

Skagit Valley College need penalty kicks to do it, but the Cardinals become the first NWAACC team to win three consecutive championships. After tying Everett, 2-2, Skagit Valley prevails in a tiebreaker shootout. Dave Helms and Gene Lashell score for the Cardinals and Russ Peterson and Abdul Halim for Everett.

Gallo Takes UW Reins
August 15, 1980

Frank Gallo succeeds Mike O’Malley as University of Washington head coach. Gallo is teaching classes and completing a master's degree at UW. He had served as assistant last season and was Puget Sound head coach from 1977-78. O’Malley left May 1 after two seasons to be assistant coach for the MISL Cleveland Force. The Huskies go 17-4-0 under Gallo but do not receive an NCAA berth.

Four WA Players on U20 National Team
July 1, 1980

U.S. coach Walt Chyzowych chooses four Washington players for his team to compete for the CONCACAF U20 Championships, Aug. 1-17. Making the team are Martin Lemon (GK, Bellevue), Carl Bennett (DF, Seattle), Dave McMullan (MK, Seattle) and Jeff Durgan (DF, Tacoma). Bennett and Lemon plays for the Lake City Hawks, and McMullan is with Highline United. Durgan is a rookie with the Cosmos. The U.S. is runner-up to Mexico but qualifies for the 1981 FIFA Championships in Australia.

Stock Strikes Late for Win
June 8, 1980

Jeff Stock fires home the game-winner with 14 seconds left in overtime as the Sounders win their 11th consecutive outright win (two short of NASL record), 3-2 at San Diego. They are 13-1 overall, with the sole loss in a tiebreaker. It’s the first professional goal for Stock, a rookie from Tacoma. Stock: It was fantastic. I didn’t know what to do after I kicked it. Peterson 39’, Bridge 3’ and Stock (all 21 and under) score three goals.

Record Crowd for Sounders-Cosmos
August 9, 1980

The Cosmos defeat Sounders before a record regular season crowd of 49,606 in the Kingdome. Fans increasingly push Seattle for equalizer that never comes, despite 27-17 advantage in shots. New York starts three 19-year-olds, including Tacoma's Jeff Durgan and Roberto Cabanas, who scores only goal when Jack Brand can’t hold a Giorgio Chinaglia shot. At game’s end, Sounders circle the field to applauding fans with the Western Division trophy. It's a costly loss. Ian Bridge is lost for the remainder of season with torn ligaments in his knee, and Tommy Hutchison aggravates a neck strain and misses the second half.

Indoor Play Begins in Portland
November 21, 1980

Seattle plays its inaugural NASL regular season indoor game at Portland, falling 6-4. Clive Charles scores the first two Portland goals. David Nish scores the Sounders’ first goal at 42 seconds of the second quarter and adds another in the fourth period.

SPU Sweeps UW, Sounders Cup
October 29, 1980

Second-half goals from Bruce Raney and Mike Smith and shutout goalkeeping from Mark Thompson enable Seattle Pacific to achieve its first season sweep of Washington, 2-0, and win the Sounders Cup, symbolic of college supremacy in Seattle. The Falcons also go undefeated (7-0-1) to win their first NCSC championship in six years.

Davies Nets 25th
August 2, 1980

Seattle's Roger Davies scores his 25th regular season goal after chesting down John Ryan cross and beating Bruce Grobbelaar from 15 yards, and Jack Brand makes 8 saves, including flying stop of Gerry Gray in first half, to secure his NASL-record 15th shutout. The 1-0 win over Vancouver comes despite absence of Alan Hudson and Bruce Rioch.

Hamel, Zipp Named Prep All-Americans
January 2, 1980

Fred Hamel and Robbie Zipp, both of Seattle are named to the Parade Magazine High School All-America team. Hamel attends Blanchet High School and Zipp goes to O’Dea.

Peterson Hat Trick for 25th Win
August 16, 1980

The Sounders win an NASL-record 25th game at Chicago, 3-1, behind rookie Mark Peterson's hat trick. It gives Peterson seven goals in the last six games. Jack Brand battles rainy conditions and potent Sting attack (28 shots). Seattle also ties the league record for road wins (11) despite playing without Roger Davies, Tommy Hutchison and Ian Bridge.

Set Plays Punish Toronto
July 12, 1980

The largest crowd of the season to date, 34,356, roars its approval as the Sounders blitz Toronto Blizzard, 5-0, for the 13th straight home win. Former Sounder favorite Tony Chursky is shelled by four goals in 7 minutes, all from set plays (penalty, two corner kicks, free kick) before Bruce Rioch's left-footed bomb.

False Start on Fields
August 19, 1980

South Lakes Soccer Association clear and level land just east of Lake Geneva (park just south of Highway 18), with heavy work handled by battalion of Navy Corps of Engineers – all without a permit to create soccer fields on the vacant, King County-owned 5-acre lot. A stop work order is issued but no charges are filed. Says a county representative: “The soccer people had good intentions. They felt they were benefiting the park by putting in the field. Sure, it would’ve gone slower if they worked hand in hand with us. But it would’ve been done properly.”

Sounders Win Handily But Lose
September 5, 1980

Somehow, the Sounders pound Los Angeles yet find themselves eliminated from the playoffs via a mini-game shootout. Seattle, which had lost 3-0 at LA two nights earlier, dazzles the Aztecs during the first 15 minutes, earning 8 corner kicks, but then goals poured forth from Roy Greaves, Steve Buttle and Mark Peterson, all within 8 minutes. Peterson later makes it 4-0. Following an intermission, the team teams come back to settle the series over 30 minutes. Roger Davies brings Seattle level following an early Gary Etherington score, but at 1-1 it proceeds to a shootout, won by LA, 2-1.

Carter Confirms U.S. to Boycott Olympics
March 21, 1980

President Jimmy Carter tells athletes gathered at The White House that the U.S. will boycott the 1980 Summer Games to be hosted by Moscow. It is done in protest of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan three months earlier. Sounders players Jeff Stock and Mark Peterson had represented the Olympic team in 1979.

Seattle Spoils Timbers' Christmas
December 24, 1980

As families and friends begin gathering for the holiday, two rivals are pitted in a Christmas Eve matinee at Portland's Memorial Coliseum. The Sounders turn back the Timbers, 10-5, erupting for four unanswered third-quarter goals. Mark Peterson, whose goal made it 5-3 to begin the flurry, has a hat trick in Seattle’s third win in four. It is a combative game 11 penalties and 29 fouls are called, with Portland's Willie Donachie being sent off and Gary Collier pulling down Seattle's David Nish in the final 10 seconds, causing a knee injury.

Seattle Dethrones Vancouver
August 30, 1980

Off the mark with force, the Sounders oust defending champion Vancouver in first round of playoffs, 3-1, at home. They get goals from David Nish, Mark Peterson and a Tommy Hutchison shot that deflects in during the first 37 minutes. Jack Brand makes 10 saves. Three nights earlier, Peterson’s overtime goal won the first leg, 2-1, at Empire Stadium.

Peterson Debuts for USA
October 5, 1980

Mark Peterson, 20, comes off bench in first appearance for USMNT, a win (2:0) over Luxembourg in Dudelange. It’s the second of five matches during a European tour prior to World Cup qualifying. Peterson, who scored 18 goals in all competitions as a Sounders rookie, is only the third Washington native to play for the national team. Sounders reserve Greg Makowski and Seattle native Tony Crudo are also chosen for the national team.

Blanchet Returns to Throne
May 30, 1980

Mike Quinn’s second-half score proved the difference as Blanchet returned to the prep throne by beating Shorewood, 1-0, in the WIAA boys’ final at Memorial Stadium. Quinn’s goal, his 18th of the year, came with under 15 minutes left. Bob Hewett notched the shutout. It’s the Braves third championship in seven years, including the unofficial title won in 1974. They won their first WIAA crown in 1978.

Sounders Win Wild Affair with Aztecs
July 6, 1980

A physical first 10 minutes turns bizarre when Sounders coach Alan Hinton is sent off, then followed by LA coach Rinus Michels. Hinton gets the hook from referee Robert Evans in 9th minute for abusive language. Hinton first tries taking a seat in stands, then relocates to the press box. Michels storms on the field in the 43rd minute when Evans awards a penalty kick while an LA player is down on field, injured. Mihalj Keri is also red-carded on the play. John Ryan converts the penalty, his second in 2 minutes, 16 seconds, to put the Sounders ahead, 2-1. David Nish and Roger Davies score late to make it 4-1.

Chieftains Opt to Drop to NAIA
May 14, 1980

Seattle University announces all varsity sports will be begin operating as NAIA members beginning in the fall, dropping from NCAA Division I and the West Coast Conference. Initially, SU President Rev. William Sullivan had announced April 3 that the Chieftains would go Division III. Sullivan had questioned pouring “hundreds of thousands of dollars into a programing which 140 students are participating.”

Gonzaga Brings Footy To East Side
September 29, 1980

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.

Lake City Hawks Denied in Regional Final
June 22, 1980

The Lake City Hawks' bid for a national championship ends at the boys' U19 regional final in San Jose. First, they blast Denver's Calamine Diggers, 7-1, behind two goals each from Robbie Zipp, Teddy Mitalas and Anthony De Rocco. However, the next day, under 90-degree heat, California's Fremont Celtic comes out on top after 120 minutes and seven penalty kick rounds, 0-0 (6-5).

England Leaves for Wales
March 18, 1980

After five seasons of anchoring the Sounders' defense, Mike England retires to take over managing the Wales National Team. Capped 46 times for Wales, England will take the reins for eight years.

The Hutch & Barton Effect
June 25, 1980

While the Sounders were already atop their division in the first month of the season, when winger Tommy Hutchison arrived, the attack kicked into gear. In avenging a loss two weeks earlier at Minnesota, Hutchison assists on both the tying and winning goals of a 3-2 overtime win. Seattle is 12-1 and averaging 2.9 goals per game since his arrival from Coventry City. Hutch runs at defenses with flair and purpose. Frank Barton, although now in a substitute role, scores his second overtime winner against the Kicks.

Sweetfoot-Carerra to U19 Nationals
June 22, 1980

Sweetfoot-Carrera United, playing in the first-ever national girls' U19 tournament, finish third in San Jose after defeating the Rochester Rockets, 3-2, in overtime in the consolation final. After the Tacoma juggernaut won its fifth straight state title, it dominated the West Regional, blitzing Oregon (5-0), Arizona (6-0) and Pleasanton of Northern California (3-1). Sue Ray scored twice in the regional final. In the semifinals, Sweetfoot-Carerra fell to eventual champs Dallas Sting, 3-2. Dan Swain's team were 23-2-2 for the year and finish 204-14-11 all-time.

Davies is NASL MVP
September 15, 1980

NASL players vote Seattle’s Roger Davies as Most Valuable Player following his sensational totals of 25 goals, 11 assists and 8 game-winners. Davies did it on a pair of ailing feet. Immediately after the season he underwent surgery for swollen bursa sac. He out-polls Giorgio Chinaglia and Franz Beckenbauer, both of the Cosmos, for MVP. Jack Brand is the league reporters’ choice for North American Player of the Year. The Canadian led the NASL in GAA (0.91) and posts a league-record 15 shutouts while playing every minute. Alan Hinton is Coach of the Year.

Sounders Sign Two Lake City Hawks
June 16, 1980

Fred Hamel of state champion Blanchet and Brian Schmetzer of Nathan Hale, both members of seven-time state club champion Lake City Hawks, sign with the Sounders.

James Breaks Through for Drillers
August 27, 1980

Bellevue's Bernie James moves to Edmonton and starts on defense for the Drillers in their first NASL playoff game in six seasons, 2-0 win over Houston. James, 21, spent the previous two seasons with the Sounders reserves. Elsewhere, Washington residents Tony Crudo (California) and Danny Vaughn (Memphis) are also regular starters.

Almqvist Sparks First Win
November 29, 1980

Seattle registers its first indoor win, 9-5 over San Jose behind four goals from Reine Almqvist in the Kingdome. Almqvist, the Swedish international whose outdoor season was cut short by quadriceps injury, scores at 4:21, then a pair 43 seconds apart of the second period before making it 6-3 early in third. Jeff Bourne adds a brace, and both Alan Hudson and Steve Buttle contribute three assists. George Best has two for the Quakes.

Indoor Comes to Town
November 11, 1980

A crowd of 12,355 watches the first indoor game played in Puget Sound. It's a preseason friendly in the Kingdome, a jamboree with Portland and San Jose. A radio station gives away 7,700 of the tickets. Admission $4 and $2 for kids. It costs $200,000 to make the Dome suitable, including the turf field encircled by fiberglass walls and plexiglass.

We played marvelously well. Nobody can dispute that. This club has come miles and miles this year, but it’s a horrible way to finish the season.
Alan Hinton on Sounders' playoff exit
It’s been a constant process for us to create new fans. We don’t have a built-in audience like football, basketball or baseball. Those are three sports every kid in America grew up playing.
Sounders GM Jack Daley reports 58,000 youth now playing in Seattle area
They are unbelievably good team. The best I’ve seen…Seattle played like Europe’s top teams. We tried our best but it wasn’t enough. Their wings go past everybody. It was really good soccer.
Perti Alaja, Finnish keeper for Edmonton Drillers, after facing the Sounders
The Sounders are now drawing on merit. And a soccer crowd of 25,000 for a game in a season still young takes one back to that first campaign of 1974.
Hy Zimmerman, Seattle Times columnist
Anywhere else in the world we’d have won the league because we had the most wins and least losses. LA was supposed to be the third or fourth-best side in the league, and we just annihilated them. And we come out losers.
Bruce Rioch, Sounders sweeper, on being eliminated via shootout
You win 7-5 and unless someone scored 4, you can’t even remember who scored all the goals. You can never savor the good things. The ball never goes out of play. Things are constantly changing. You don’t have time.
Steve Buttle's view on indoor soccer
They went out like the champions they are, not a whimper and no excuses. The Seattle Sounders didn’t need any as they payed outstanding soccer. They outscored the Los Angeles Aztecs, 5-1, over 120 minutes, then were ousted from the NASL playoffs in a shootout.
Walt Parietti, Seattle Times reporter
If you accept ‘speed soccer’ as appropriate for this game, what do you call the indoor-outdoor soccer of March-September – ‘slow soccer?’
Georg Meyers, Seattle Times columnist
At age 18, Tacoma native Jeff Durgan shines as a stopper in the Cosmos star-studded lineup. Durgan is voted NASL Rookie of the Year after starting 36 of the final 37 regular season and playoff matches en route to a Soccer Bowl championship. Mark Peterson, Durgan youth teammate on Norpoint Royals, finishes third in the balloting, which took place in July, before his late scoring tear.
September 13, 1980
Mark only played two 15-minute periods, once as a left winger, on the European tour and the World Cup qualifying matches. Mark can’t play left wing he ‘s a central striker playing off a target man. To find him fourth choice, I find embarrassing. Mark finishes, the very thing the team can’t do.
Alan Hinton, perplexed by Walt Chyzowych's use of Mark Peterson on U.S. National Team
I like me (sic) night out and I like my drop of beer. Because I like to socialize I have to train hard. I like to eat the best things. I have to train that way. I feel I want to be a harder trainer than anyone on the team.
Alan Hudson, Sounders star midfielder
His play has been super. He’s elegant. I don’t think there’s ever been a player in the league like him, the way he changes pace, goes past players, runs through people.
Alan Hinton, Sounders coach, on Tommy Hutchison, whom he calls the Rolls Royce of wingers
I can’t remember ever being in a game where the coach got sent off. Certainly never two in one game.
Steve Buttle, Sounders midfielder, after both Seattle's Alan Hinton and Rinus Michels of Los Angeles are ejected in same game
Crudo is one of the best man-to-man markers you’ll ever find. Tony may not be the most experienced or the most aggressive player out there, but he does a heck of a job marking his men.
California Surf coach Peter Wall on Seattle native Tony Crudo after marking Minnesota star Alan Willey out of the game
In looking back over the 5-6 years I spent in Seattle, they have been the happiest of my life. What the people in Seattle taught me to do is live. I wanted to stay desperately. But it’s not every day you get the chance to become coach of your national team…I’ve got ever so many friends I’m going to miss.
Four-time all-NASL defender Mike England retires, on leaving Seattle to become manager of the Wales National Team
They are really fine players, skilled and disciplined.
Mike Ryan on his PCI Sharks winning the national championship
I’ve got to run. I’m young. (Franz) Beckenbauer and Bogie (Vladislav Bogicevic) have earned the right to make the brilliant passes and stuff. I’m the workhorse. I want to win the ball and give it back to them.
Jeff Durgan, Tacoma native, on his role for the Cosmos
It’s a stupid way to end a game, especially against a team that’s as good as Seattle.
Bobby Sibbald, LA Aztecs captain
I’ve played professional soccer 17 seasons and no team ever played more brilliantly.
Bruce Rioch, Sounders star sweeper
I talked with my doctor, and he said I could play if I wanted. Most people wouldn’t, but most people haven’t been playing soccer for nine years. It affected me a little bit. I was more careful.
Joan Dunlap, PCI Sharks forward, who plays national tournament while five months pregnant
That was probably the most physical game we’ve played. During the game it was very, very rough.
Sounders acting coach Bobby Howe on the combative Christmas Eve indoor game at Portland
I came (to Seattle) thinking I’d give SPU a go for a year, then try to impress the Huskies. Once I got involved with Cliff McCrath, though, I never wanted to leave. Here was a coach who cared.
Seattle Pacific defender and Sounders draftee Ric Miller on how his college plans changed
College & High School All-America (USC)
Player (Hometown) School (Div/Team/Pos)
Denise Bender (Mercer Island) Washington (D1/3rd/F)
Fred Hamel (Seattle) Blanchet (M)
Robbie Zipp (Seattle) O'Dea (M)
Collegiate Men's Records
Central Washington (club) n/a
Evergreen 10-11-0
Pacific Lutheran 7-4-1
Puget Sound 6-5-2
Seattle University 5-7-1
Seattle Pacific 15-3-5
Washington 17-4-0
Western Washington (club) 4-8-0
Whitman 6-4-5
Collegiate Women's Records
Central Washington n/a
Puget Sound 5-5-0
Washington (club) 9-1-3
Washington State (club) 3-2-2
Western Washington (club) 4-4-4
Whitman 0-7-2
Professional All-League
Player (Pos) Team (Lg-Tm)
Jack Brand (G) Sounders (NASL-1st)
Bruce Rioch (D) Sounders (NASL-1st)
Roger Davies (F) Sounders (NASL-1st)
John Ryan (D) Sounders (NASL-2nd)
Alan Hudson (M) Sounders (NASL-2nd)
David Nish (D) Sounders (NASL-3rd)
Tommy Hutchison (F) Sounders (NASL-3rd)
Washington State Youth Champions
Age BoysGirls
U9 LaSac Wildpack (FWSA)Finn Hill Gallants (LWYSA)
U10 SW United Lions (FWSA)Hot Socks (FWSA)
U11 Olympic Kings (HAS)Renton Skyway Angels (GRJSA)
U12 Terrace Arctic Circle Wildebeast (SSCJSAHighline Pepsi Stompers (HAS)
U13 Federal Way Tigers (FWSA)Renton Renegades (GRJSA)
U14 Newport Invaders (EYSA)Shorelake Thunderbirds (SYSA)
U16 Renton United (GRJSA)Washington Avionic Flyers (SYSA)
U17 Lake Hills Astros (EYSA)Seattle Vultures (SYSA)
U19 Lake City Hawks (SYSA)Tacoma Sounderettes (TPCJSA)
Alan Hinton's Sounders Are Red Hot

VIDEO: Alan Hinton's Sounders Are Red Hot

1980 NASL Goal Highlights

VIDEO: 1980 NASL Goal Highlights

On this Day in History
November 15, 1987
Seattle's Kyle Whittemore scores both goals in San Diego State’s 2-1 road upset of St. Louis in an NCAA first round match. The brace takes Whittemore, a junior, to the top of the Aztecs’ career list 58 goals. He converts a penalty in the shootout win over No. 5 SMU the next week, and although he is slowed by a hamstring strain, SDSU eventually reaches the championship game before falling, 2-0, at Clemson.
More from 1987 ›
April 30, 2007
Marcus Hahnemann makes five saves to earn his 13th Premier League clean sheet in Reading's home 1-0 win over Newcastle. Hahnemann finishes third in EPL shutouts, and the Royals' first season back in the top flight is their best ever league season. Reading (16-15-7) ends eighth in the EPL table, just one place from reaching a UEFA Cup berth.
More from 2007 ›
November 20, 2011
Kaylie Winston finds the net seconds before halftime and Walla Walla go on to win an unprecedented third straight NWAACC women's title, 1-0, over Peninsula at Starfire Sports Stadium. It's the 51st goal in two seasons for Winston, and the Warriors (21-0-1) are 154-6-6 since Chad Bodnar became coach in 2005.
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October 1, 2022
Completing a race that went down to the wire, OL Reign take advantage of a Portland draw to win the NWSL Shield on the regular season's final day, 3-0, over Orlando at Lumen Field. A club stand-alone record crowd of 10,746 sees goals from Megan Rapinoe, Jordyn Huitema and Bethany Balcer in the first 31 minutes quickly put the match to bed. It is the club's third shield and comes after a near-perfect (6-0-1) record down the stretch to finish one point in front of the rival Thorns. Phallon Tullis-Joyce posts her third consecutive shutout, and the defense allows a league-low 19 goals in 22 games. Each roster player receives a $10,000 bonus from sponsor Carmax.
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