High Tide in Tacoma

1987 – Around the World and Close to Home

The Iran-Contra hearings in Congress expose the illegal sale of arms to aid Nicaraguan rebels, the summit between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev ends with the signing of a nuclear missile treaty, and Black Monday sees the worldwide stock market crash, resulting in $1.7 trillion in losses. A five-month drought yields only two inches of rain in Puget Sound from June through October with HIV/AIDS deaths rising to over 40,000 nationwide, the University of Washington is granted permission to test a vaccine, Husky Stadium’s new south upper deck, under construction, collapses in February but is completed in time for the opening game in September and Vice President George H.W. Bush cuts the ceremonial ribbon on Tukwila’s new Museum of Flight. In sports, Martina Navratilova reaches all four Grand Slam finals, winning Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, Seattle hosts the NBA All-Star Game before 34,000 in the Kingdome, the Sonics’ Tom Chambers is voted MVP, and Seahawks flashy rookie linebacker Brian Bosworth is run over by the Raiders’ Bo Jackson before a national TV audience.

High Tide in Tacoma

It had been nearly five years since the soccer community had been brought to a boil, but the Tacoma Stars truly took the fans to the brink on the final spring day of 1987. Club owners spared no expense in transforming the team from bottom feeder to man-eating shark. They won the crowd. They killed the kings. But in the end, sadly, it was not to be.

Two years and 27 games into their existence, the Stars had provided the MISL requisite pregame theatrics of fog, lasers and thumping music. However, performance was only so-so and attendance was sagging. The owners then decided to go for broke. (Literally, as it turned out.) Fifteen months later, Tacoma was atop the league, with one hand on the trophy.

Around the Sound, there was a buzz people were talking about the prolific tandem of Steve Zungul and Preki, about the backflips of Gregg Blasingame, and about what coach Alan Hinton just said about this or that. Tacoma went wire-to-wire, winning the West by seven games and claiming the league’s best mark at 35-17. Only San Diego had ever won more games, and in early June those Sockers would meet their match.

The Stars ended San Diego’s run of five straight championships (NASL and MISL). To do so, they won Game 6 in San Diego and Game 7 at home on the strength of Preki’s hat trick. For that deciding game, Tacoma attracted over 16,000. Hinton’s rhetoric went from 10 to 11 on the dial for the finals versus Dallas.

By Game 5, with some fans traveling from two counties away, the crowd swelled to over 20,000, an MISL record. “It was so loud in there,” said captain Neil Megson, “and the atmosphere was absolutely brilliant.”

Tacoma appeared to be on the verge of clinching the title in Dallas. In overtime of Game 6, Preki was 1-on-1 with the keeper with Zungul wide open on the left Preki chose to shoot – and missed. The Sidekicks staved off elimination in double overtime.

For Game 7, another record MISL crowd, now a sellout of 21,728, filled the Tacoma Dome. Two goals from Gary Heale put the Stars in front, 3-1, with 2:48 remaining. It was pandemonium. Foot thunder was rocking The Woodshed as never before.

Desperate, Dallas pulled its keeper and scored. Zungul grumbled about taking his normal shift on defensive power play, and Sidekicks then equalized late, sending it to overtime. In the extra session, the Stars’ Gerry Gray nearly won it when his shot caromed off the frame. Then Dallas countered and scored. Tacoma’s dream of a title had been cruelly dashed. The Stars and their fans were stunned.

“The place was like a morgue it was silent,” Megson remembers. “There’s no way we should’ve lost that championship. It’s the sickest I’ve ever felt on the soccer field.”

As it turned out, that was Tacoma’s moment. Eight months later, with the Stars underperforming and under .500, Hinton was fired. After the season, Zungul was released, and the owners opted out. They had given it their all.

TACOMA STARS
Season Record
35,17, 1st West, MISL runner-up
Coach
Alan Hinton (2nd year)
All-League
Steve Zungul
Top Scorer
Godfrey Ingram (52 goals)
FC SEATTLE
Record
5-5, 2nd WSA
Head Coach
Tommy Jenkins (1st year)
Best XI
Daryl Green, Geoff Wall
Top Scorer
Geoff Wall (4 goals)
COLLEGIATE
Men's Collegiate Postseason
Seattle Pacific, D2 quarterfinals
Women's Collegiate Postseason
Puget Sound, NAIA 3rd place
Men's Conference Champions
Washington (NCSC), Pacific Lutheran (NCIC)
Women's Conference Champions
Pacific Lutheran (NCIC)
NWAC Men's Champion
Green River
YOUTH
Boys Regional Champion
Northshore Specters (U19)
Girls Regional Champion
Snohomish Zodiax (U16)
WIAA Boys Champion
Cascade (AAA), Mount Rainier (AA)
WIAA Girls Champion
Bellarmine (AAA), Mountlake Terrace (AA)
WASHINGTON YOUTH SOCCER
President
Gerald Larson
Member Associations
33
Players
71,282 (b: 51,323, g: 19,959)
Largest Attendance
21,728, Tacoma Stars vs. Dallas Sidekicks, Tacoma Dome
Largest Amateur Attendance
2,700, Seattle Pacific vs. Washington, Memorial Stadium

1987: High Tide in Tacoma

The transformed Stars finish with the best record in MISL but despite strong support cannot grab the trophy with both hands.

No. 4 PLU Upsets No. 1 Western
October 3, 1987

Pacific Lutheran effectively usurps Western Washington atop NAIA women with a 1-0 upset in Bellingham. Sonya Brandt's goal with 15 minutes remaining proves the difference while Gail Stenzel saves 13 Vikings shots for her sixth straight shutout. WWU keeper Trina Angehrn bats down Emilie Portell's cross, but Brandt is there to put away the loose ball. The following week, PLU replaces Western at No. 1 in the national rankings.

Mountlake Terrace is Overpowering in AA Girls
November 21, 1987

Behind Janelle King's early brace, Mountlake Terrace drubs Lakeside, 6-1, in the AA championship game at Renton. King, who had been hobbled by a tender Achilles, strikes twice in the first 14 minutes. Tami Welch also scores two goals for the Hawks, whose only three losses were by forfeit during the teachers' strike. Ending the season on a 12-game win streak, MT outscores postseason opponents by a 16-1 count.

Cozars Are Amateur Cup Runners-Up, Again
June 21, 1987

Despite dominating in possession, FC Seattle Cozars are unable to unlock the winning combination to the U.S. Women's Amateur Cup. The Cozars are edged by Michelob Ladies of Dallas, 1-1 (5-4), in the final at St. Louis. It's their fourth straight national runner-up finish and second in three years to Michelob. The Ladies go in front after 48 minutes on Wendy Greenberg's header. FC Seattle ties it in the 65th. Sandi Gordon completes a long run down the left wing by crossing to Denise Merdich for the goal. After a scoreless extra time, April Heinrichs and the Ladies convert all five of their penalties and keeper Kim Clack saves one of the Cozars' attempts. Seattle had won it's semifinal, 1-0, over the Fairfax (Va.) Wildfire behind Michelle Akers's first-half goal and Amy Allmann's shutout.

SSC Zodiax Denied National Title
July 25, 1987

A prime time performance from goalkeeper Linda Efraimsen enables the Sachem (N.Y.) Tomahawks to defeat the South Snohomish County Zodiax, 3-1, in the USYSA Masotto Cup final at Fife High School. Efraimsen, playing with a broken finger, stops everything but Michelle Thornsbury's second-half penalty kick. Her best save comes off Brigitte Hood with a dive to her left. By then, the Zodiax trail 3-nil. Maria Paradiso, Kelly Maher and Jackie Gebhart put the visitors in front. The U16 Zodiax are the first Washington girls' team to reach a national youth final. In the U19 Athena Cup, Dallas Sting dethrone New York's Massapequa Falcons, 1-0.

Seattle Pacific Record Performance Thrashes Seattle U
October 28, 1987

Danny Machado and Chris McDonald spearhead a record goal onslaught by Seattle Pacific in a 15-0 thrashing of Seattle University at Memorial Stadium. Machado's five assists is a new record, and he also scores three goals. McDonald, a 6-foot-5 center back, becomes the first SPU defender to achieve a hat trick. The 5th-ranked Falcons are now unbeaten in 10 games.

Goulet Scores, Injured in Seoul Qualifier
October 18, 1987

Brent Goulet scores the U.S. opener but then is forced off through injury in a 4-2 Olympic qualifying victory at El Salvador. Goulet takes a feed from Hugo Perez, then beats a defender and the keeper in the fifth minute. He's kneed in the thigh later in the first half and eventually substituted. The win takes the U.S. (3-0-0) to the top of its group.

Lutes Earn First Postseason Win
November 13, 1987

Ruth Frobe and Laura Dutt connect for a pair of first-half goals to help Pacific Lutheran ease to its first NAIA postseason victory, 5-0, over Willamette in Olympia. Senior co-captain Frobe serves a corner kick to Dutt, a freshman, in the 8th minute to get things started. It's the same combination in the 40th minute to make it 4-nil. Frobe finishes her career (1984-87) with a record 43 assists. It's also Gail Stenzel's 16th shutout.

Allmann, Higgins Star for USWNT
July 5, 1987

Federal Way's Amy Allmann, 21, debuts in goal and Kent's Shannon Higgins, 19, scores her first USWNT goal in 3-0 win over Norway in Blaine, Mn.

Whittemore Leads SDSU to NCAA Final
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.

Portsmouth Sends FC Seattle Home Winless
August 6, 1987

Football Club Seattle concludes its tour of Great Britain with a 3-1 loss to Portsmouth before 4,600 at Fratton Park. The Storm finishes its first overseas excursion 0-4-1. Ian Baird heads in a corner kick in the 32nd minute and Pompey double the lead through former Duke All-American John Kerr. In the second half, Seattle pulls back a goal on Brent Goulet's strike, but Paul Birch seals the win with 14 minutes to go.

Hellenkamp, Louisville Win AISA Crown
April 26, 1987

Tacoma's Chris Hellenkamp joins his Louisville Thunder in raising the American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA) championship trophy after defeating the Canton Invaders in the fifth and deciding game of their final series in Canton. Hellenkamp, who played two seasons at Seattle Pacific, finishes with two goals and four assists in the series scoring three times in the semifinal series vs. Chicago. An original member of the Thunder, he was among the AISA top 10 scoring leaders, with 26 goals and 36 assists in the regular season. Louisville folds weeks later.

Stars Stop Sockers in Semifinals
June 4, 1987

Behind the heroics of Preki and Mike Dowler, the Tacoma Stars dethrone five-time defending indoor soccer champion San Diego with an 8-5 thumping in front of 16,074 rollicking Tacoma Dome fans. After trailing the series 3-2, the Stars punch out the Sockers in Game 7 of the West semifinals by taking command early, eventually going up 6-1. Preki's hat trick begins less than two minutes in and is completed in the third period with scores less than three minutes apart. Dowler makes 29 saves. The crowd counts down the final 10 seconds, then went into five minutes of pandemonium fueled by repeated back flips off the glass by Tacoma defender Gregg Blasingame.

West Takes Gold at Olympic Festival
July 24, 1987

Shannon Higgins hits the opening goal and Amy Allmann earns the shutout as the West defeats the South, 2-0, to win the Olympic Festival gold medal in Durham, N.C. Second-half goals by Michelle Akers and Kathy Ridgewell gave the West a 2-0 victory over the North in the first round. Lori Henry also starts for the West, and Maple Valley's Dori Kovanen is in the squad. The West is coached by FC Seattle Cozars coach Berhane Andeberhan. Joan Dunlap of Seattle plays for the South.

Beeson: Huskies' New Scoring King
October 25, 1987

Hunting for records, Craig Beeson wastes little time in reaching his objective. Seventy-five seconds into Washington's 8-0 win over Seattle University, Beeson scores to become the Huskies' career and season scoring king. His 53 career goals surpass Dan Vaughn (1974-77) and with 19 goals on the season he breaks Ken Garrett's 1973 mark. The record-setting shot comes from 18 yards into the far right corner.

Washington Clinches NCSC Over Portland
October 28, 1987

Tom Bialek's hat trick paves the way for Washington to clinch the NCSC title with a convincing 4-0 defeat of Portland at Husky Stadium. It's the second title in three years for the Huskies (10-0-1 in league play) and seventh overall. Bialek now has 12 goals. Greg Shugarts gets the other UW goal, and Jeff Koch earns his seventh shutout.

Stars Clinch MISL Best Record
May 1, 1987

Mike Dowler stops 20 of Wichita's 43 shots in his third start since returning from a serious knee injury as the Tacoma Stars clinch home-field advantage throughout the upcoming MISL playoffs with a 6-4 road win over the Wings. The Stars never trail and get goals from Gary Heale, Steve Zungul, David Norman, Preki, Ricky Davis and Greg Blasingame. Tacoma finishes the regular season 35-17 a night later after winning in St. Louis, 4-3. It is more than double the number of wins (17) in 1984-85. Baltimore has the next-best record at 34-18.

Tacoma Clips Wings in Opening Round
May 14, 1987

Three third-period goals from Steve Zungul give Tacoma a 4-2 win over Wichita in the fifth and deciding game of their MISL opening round playoff series. Zungul, who totals 10 goals and 17 points in the series, puts the Stars in front, 4-1, with Preki assisting on each. Preki had missed Games 3 and 4, both Wings wins, with a thigh contusion.

Zodiax Reach National U16 Girls Final
July 23, 1987

Jennifer Tubbs nicks the winner with eight minutes to go, and South Snohomish County Zodiax advance to the USYSA U16 girls' final with a 1-0 victory over Southeast Cincinnati Cardinals at Fife High School. Following a corner kick, Cosett Huffman shoots, and Tubbs redirects it into the net.

Husky Stadium Among World Cup Proposed Sites
September 30, 1987

The U.S. Soccer Federation proposes 18 potential sites, including Seattle's Husky Stadium, in its bid to stage the 1994 World Cup. A maximum of only 12 stadiums will be used. Brazil, Chile and Morocco are also expected to submit bids to FIFA, which will then conduct on-sight inspections and private hearings on each before announcing its decision in June 1988.

Thomas Jefferson Streak is Tops
April 21, 1987

Federal Way's Thomas Jefferson cruises past Curtis, 4-0, to extend its unbeaten streak to a national record 90 games (86-0-4). The Raiders go in front of Sanderson High in Raleigh, N.C., who were undefeated in 89 outings. The Jefferson run dates to 1982 and a season-ending loss to Federal Way.

Title So Near, Stars Lose MISL Game 7
June 20, 1987

A collapse of epic proportions marks the decisive seventh game of the MISL Finals in the Tacoma Dome. The Stars blow a late 3-1 lead and end up falling to Dallas, 4-3, in overtime before a league record crowd of 21,728. Gary Heale's second goal makes it 3-1 late in the third quarter, but the Sidekicks get a pair of sixth-attack goals in the final two minutes of regulation. They clinch the crown when Mark Karpun taps in Tatu's 35-foot shot 9:23 into overtime. Tacoma outscores Dallas 37-28 in the series.

Goulet Hat Trick Beats T&T in Olympic Qualifying
September 5, 1987

Brent Goulet’s first international hat trick propels the United States past Trinidad & Tobago, 4-1, in the opening game in the final stage of Concacaf Olympic qualifying at St. Louis. Goulet’s opener is a header in the 39th minute. After T&T ties it, the Americans respond with three scores in the next 20 minutes, including two by Goulet off Hugo Perez assists. The first is a cross and header, and the final goal is a breakaway.

Tacoma Wings Win National Indoor
April 5, 1987

Ken Coplin scores the deciding goal as the Tacoma Wings capture the national indoor championship with a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Comets in Arlington, Texas. Coplin's score comes after Dennis Hurlbert tallies the first Wings goal. Tacoma's Mike Getchell is voted the tournament MVP and Hurlbert takes the scoring title. Mark Berry joins them on the all-tournament team. John Wedge's Wings won their portion of the bracket, then proceed to the final with wins over Minnesota (5-1) and Chicago (7-3).

Mount Rainier Convincingly Wins AA Boys
May 30, 1987

On top virtually from the start, Mount Rainier posts a convincing 3-0 victory over O'Dea in the boys' AA championship game at Memorial Stadium. State scoring leader Robin Malmanger scores the first of his two first-half goals in the 9th minute. He finishes the season with 32. Bill Colello adds the Rams' other goal off a Malmanger assist. MR coach Dave Peterson, whose team plays short for the final 21 minutes, celebrated his 100th career win in the quarterfinals. The Rams survived a shootout with North Thurston in the semifinals.

Stars Begin to Fracture
October 29, 1987

Six days before the season opener Alan Hinton conducts a 30-minute team meeting in an effort to calm a volatile atmosphere a day after stars Preki and Steve Zungul storm out of practice. Both players were incensed that fellow Yugoslav Cico had been released. Preki, who initially demanded a trade, relents and says he will make a decision in the coming weeks. Zungul shares that the squad is rife with "misunderstandings and disagreements." Cico's release, claims Hinton, is salary cap related.

Stars' Zungul Scores Six
January 23, 1987

Steve Zungul erupts for six goals, one shy of his MISL record, and adds an assist as the Tacoma Stars complete a 4-game road trip with a 9-7 win over at Kansas City in front of 12,520 at Kemper Arena. The Stars (17-4) pad their Western Division lead to 6 1/2 games over second-place San Diego and Wichita. Zungul, hobbled by groin and hip injuries all season, swells his season totals to 19 goals and 37 points. He had set the old Stars record of five goals last season. Zungul, 32, hits the six-goal mark for the third time in his career. Ironically, the explosion comes just five days after he hinted at retiring at the end of the year because of the nagging injuries.

Seattle's Mitre Eagles Fall in USOC Final
June 21, 1987

A day after scoring five times in the semifinal, Seattle's FC Mitre Eagles cannot find the net, even during the title-determining shootout, as Club Espana of Washington, D.C., lifts the U.S. Open Cup at St. Louis Soccer Park. In a rematch of the 1985 Amateur Cup final, Club Espana prevails after 120 minutes of regulation and extra time, 0-0 (3-0). Both teams finish with 10 men Mitre Eagles' Steve Englebrick and Espana's Abdulwhab Al-Khaldi following a tussle in the 54th minute. Andy Churlin produces the game's best scoring chance, bending a shot from 25 yards off the left post in the 87th minute. Espana keeper Stephen Pfeil saves the Eagles' first two penalty attempts and the third hits the post. All three D.C. penalties go past Craig Christopherson, including the clincher by Daniel Bentancor. Espana transitions into the Washington Diplomats, and wins the 1988 ASL title.

Cascade Competes Perfect Season in AAA
May 30, 1987

Cascade, behind a Chris Henderson winner, caps a perfect season by rallying for a 2-1 victory over Kennedy in the Class AAA championship game at Memorial Stadium. Henderson puts the Bruins ahead in the 58th minute off a corner kick from Clint Carnell. The Lancers' Mike Dennis scores first, off a Jayson Leveich throw-in in the 15th minute. Carnell ties it just two minute before halftime when his penalty kick caroms off the post and in. Cascade finishes 20-0-0.

Stock Overtime Goal Beats Portland
May 9, 1987

Jeff Stock’s goal 12 minutes into sudden-death overtime lifts FC Seattle over FC Portland, 1-0, before 2,427 at Memorial Stadium. The Storm, winless on the road, climb back into playoff contention with their fourth straight home win. Stock, a former Sounder playing his first season with FC Seattle, heads home Don Farler’s long throw. While Seattle out-shot its rivals by 19-8, Todd Strobeck made five saves and Peter Fewing’s early overtime shot was cleared off the goal line.

Stars Deal for Local Favorites
June 30, 1987

Ten days after falling tragically in the MISL Finals, the Tacoma Stars begin reshaping their roster by acquiring a pair of local favorites from Cleveland. Bellevue native Bernie James and former Sounders league MVP Peter Ward come west. James is the MISL's all-time blocks leader. Ward is coming off 26 goals. It brings Tacoma's total of rostered all-stars to nine.

Central Washington Begins Play
September 5, 1987

Central Washington's first venture into varsity men's play comes in Spokane, with a 1-0 loss at Gonzaga. The first goals, from David Smith and Joe Riedeman, come in the next match Sept. 16, a 3-2 loss to Whitman. The Wildcats' first official win is Oct. 17 vs. Seattle University, 1-0, on a Riedeman goal. Central goes on to finish 3-6-3 (2-3-2 versus intercollegiate competition).

Akers, Allmann Take UCF to NCAA Semifinals
November 15, 1987

Michelle Akers and Amy Allmann lead unseeded Central Florida to its first NCAA semifinal advancement in five years with a 3-0 quarterfinal victory at North Carolina State. Allman posts her second straight shutout, and Akers scores the Knights’ second first-half goal. Three of her 13 goals come in the postseason, including the opening score in the 2-1 semifinal loss at frigid (wind chill -25 degrees) at Massachusetts.

Gegg Gets First International Cap
July 9, 1986

Tacoma's Gretchen Gegg makes her first appearance for the U.S. National Team, getting a shutout, 3-0, against Canada in Blaine. Mn. Gegg, 21, had played wit the Cozars and transfer to North Carolina to play in the fall.

Bellarmine Scores First AAA Blowout
November 21, 1987

Mary Rink scores the first and sets up Bellarmine's second goal to spark the Lions to a 5-1 pounding of Evergreen in the girls' state AAA final at Renton. It's the most lopsided title game to date. Rink needs only five minutes to put Bellarmine on the board and in the 30th minute she centers to Susie Manalang to double the lead. Wendy Steiner makes it 3-nil by halftime. Tanya Russ and Kris Lazar counter Evergreen's Nicole Walbaum in the second half. Each of the previous six state AAA finals had been decided by one goal or a shootout.

Storrs Earns SPU Shutout Record
October 30, 1987

Jeff Storrs secures a record 14th shutout in Seattle Pacific's 1-0 win at Chapman in Orange, Calif. Storrs, who also has four consecutive shutouts, surpasses Sergio Soriano's mark of 13 in 1978. Danny Machado converts a rebound of his own shot off the post in the 63rd minute. The defending NCAA Division II champion Falcons are virtually assured of a 16th postseason appearance in 17 years.

Central Women Start Program
September 23, 1987

Central Washington begins women’s intercollegiate play just two weeks after players report to campus by hosting Whitman in Ellensburg. The Missionaries win, 4-1, and Jenny Kremer scores the Wildcats’ first varsity goal. The program’s historic first win comes Oct. 9 against Seattle University, 2-0.

Storm Stuns Norwich City
June 5, 1987

First-half goals by Craig Beeson and Jeff Stock pace FC Seattle to a 2-0 win over Norwich City of the English first division in an exhibition at Memorial Stadium. A month removed from finishing fifth in the top flight, starting six regulars and playing on foreign artificial turf, the Canaries are out-shot 21-10, with Jeff Koch making just three saves. It's one of three home results for Seattle versus European opposition. The Storm draws with Scotland's Hearts, 1-1, and defeat Denmark's Her Folge, 2-1.

Seven Cozars Face Norway
July 11, 1987

Seven members of the FC Seattle Cozars see action for the U.S. National Team in a 1-0 loss to European champion Norway at the North American Cup in Blaine, Minn. Sandi Gordon, Lori Henry, Michelle Akers, Denise Boyer-Merdich and Kathy Ridgewell all start, while Amy Allmann and Shannon Higgins are second-half substitutes. Boyer-Merdich scored in a 4-2 win over Canada four days earlier, and Higgins scored in her USWNT debut, a July 5 1-0 friendly win over Norway. Allmann and Gordon also earn their first caps during the tournament. Bellevue’s Kerri Tashiro and Federal Way’s Keri Coplin play for the U19 national team, joining Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Julie Foudy, during the tournament.

Woodinville Specters Win U19 Boys Regional
July 14, 1987

After dispatching the defending national champion, the Woodinville Specters gain passage to the McGuire Cup finals with a 3-2 win over the Las Vegas Nationals in the USYSA Region IV U19 boys' title match at Albuquerque. The Specters had unseated Southern California's Fram-Culver, 2-1, in the West semifinal. In all, they won six times in three days, in temperatures reaching the 90s. In the girls' U16 final, South Snohomish County Zodiax edge Cal North's Pleasanton Pursuit, 1-0. They swept through the regional by outscoring their opposition by a 17-2 margin.

McCrath Becomes Soccer's First 'Sports Star'
January 12, 1987

Cliff McCrath is voted 1986 Seattle Sports Star of the Year at the Seattle Sheraton’s Grand Ballroom, becoming the first soccer figure to earn the award in its 53-year history. McCrath, up for the award for the fourth time, is coming off the first ever back-to-back NCAA Division II championships at Seattle Pacific. His win is the first in 10 years by a representative coming from other than the Seahawks, Sonics or Washington Huskies football team. Over 1,000 attendees vote and presenting the award are Gov. Booth Gardner, Seattle Post-Intelligencer publisher Virgil Fassio and P-I sports editor Bill Knight.

Quakes Turn Tables, Oust Storm
June 7, 1987

FC Seattle Storm's 10-match home unbeaten streak versus league opposition is obliterated by San Jose in the Western Soccer Alliance playoff, 3-0, at Memorial Stadium. The Earthquakes, who had lost twice during that run, including a 3-nil loss May 17, go in front after just 4:10 through Dave Palic. Seattle manages only two shots on target, and George Pastor and Jadir combine for second-half goals eight minutes apart for the visitors. San Jose moves on and falls to San Diego, 3-1, in the WSA final.

UW's Beeson Busts for Four Goals
October 4, 1987

Craig Beeson gets his second career four-goal game in Washington's 7-0 drubbing of Puget Sound. It's Beeson's second hat trick of the year and the Huskies, who also get a Tom Bialek brace, go to 8-0-1. Beeson's first four-goal performance was in 1985. He finishes 1987 with six multi-goal games.

Loggers Edge Lutes for District Title
November 14, 1987

Wendy Lee of Puget Sound answers Pacific Lutheran's equalizer within a minute, and the Loggers leave Olympia with another NAIA District 1 title, 2-1. Stephanie Somes puts UPS in front in the 58th minute, but Laura Dutt pulls PLU even with five minutes to go. The Lutes have little time to celebrate. Lee latches on to a cross that slices across the box and deposits it in an open net.

FC Seattle Storms into Playoffs
May 17, 1987

With two goals in the first half-hour, FC Seattle Storm climaxes a late-season run by clinching a Western Soccer Alliance playoff berth by beating the San Jose Earthquakes, 3-0, at Memorial Stadium. The Storm's third straight victory levels the regular-season record at 5-5, and by virtue of a tiebreaker they will host the Quakes in the semifinal. Peter Fewing converts two thefts into a goal and an assist. Fewing strips the ball off a San Jose defender and scores in the seventh minute. Mike Enneking's fifth goal of the year makes it 2-nil, and then Fewing, with nine minutes left, breaks up a pass, breaks down the left wing and feeds Craig Beeson for a 25-yard blast.

Henry, Higgins Help UNC Win Another Crown
November 22, 1987

Shannon Higgins scores the lone goal and Lori Henry leads a swarming North Carolina defense as the Tar Heels win their fifth NCAA Division I championship in six years, 1-0, over Massachusetts at Amherst, Mass. Playing in sub-freezing temperatures and before 3,651 fans predominantly backing UMass, UNC gets its winner in the 53rd minute. Higgins fires from a sharp angle 12 yards away. The shot deflects off the keeper and across the line. Higgins, who also scored in the 4-0 semifinal win over Cal and the quarterfinals, is the tournament MVP. Henry, the ACC defensive player of the year, helps hold UMass without a second-half shot.

Akers, Henry Score vs. Australia
December 16, 1987

Lori Henry and Michelle Akers contribute goals in the 6-0 U.S. pummeling of Australia during the Chunghua Cup in Taipei, Taiwan. Henry and Akers join Shannon Higgins in the starting lineup. In all, five Washingtonians, which include Sandi Gordon and Amy Allmann, see action during the tournament as the U.S. goes 3-2-0. All but Gordon are 22 or under and still attending college. Akers finishes the trip with three goals and Henry two.

Webb Inducted to National Hall of Fame
July 4, 1987

A past U.S. Soccer vice president and national referee, Bellevue's Tom Webb, 50, is inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs. Besides officiating in the NASL and colleges, Webb served as president of both the state adult and youth associations. He was also one of the early organizers of youth play on the Eastside. From 1977-82 Webb was VP for USSF, and he served as chair of the federation's national referee committee.

Tacoma Goes Overtime to Take Seventh Straight
April 22, 1987

Tacoma wins a record ninth overtime game, a 6-5 victory over Los Angeles, to extend its winning streak to seven games at home. It's the third Stars-Lazers meeting in 10 days, and all are one-goal decisions. Joe Waters scores the OT winner. Rookie Peter Hattrup, in his first game for the Stars, ties the score on a breakaway 5:06 into the second quarter on his first MISL shot.

Mitre Eagles Win Two Regionals in One Day
June 7, 1987

Seattle Mitre Eagles win both the Open Cup and Amateur Cup regional finals in Denver. John Klein scores three times, including overtime winner vs. San Francisco Greek Americans, 2-1, in regional final. In all, Seattle plays five games in two days. The Eagles defeat Denver Kickers, 1-0, in the Amateur final but commit to playing the Open Cup at nationals. FC Seattle Cozars claim their fifth straight women’s regional title, 4-3, over the San Jose Bobcats.

Preki's Four-Goal Performance Opens Finals
June 9, 1987

Preki scores on a power play to put Tacoma ahead to stay and touches off a spree of seven unanswered Stars goals in a 10-4 victory over Dallas to open the MISL Finals. Preki also adds four assists, and his eight total points fall just one shy of teammate Steve Zungul's league single-game record. Zungul scored his 99th career playoff goal. Preki pulls the trigger just 34 seconds into the power play for a 3-2 halftime lead. He blows it open in the third period with the third of his four goals, plus two assists.

Goulet Makes First Start
December 1, 1987

Brent Goulet makes his first start for Bournemouth and goes 63 minutes in a 2-0 home Second Division loss to Manchester City. Goulet has been climbing into contention for the role since signing, first scoring in a pair of appearances for the reserves, then after recovering from an injury he made his first team debut Nov. 21 versus Huddersfield.

Mitre Eagles Reach Open Cup Final
June 20, 1987

John Klein scores two goals, including the game-winner in the final 30 seconds of overtime, to lead the Seattle's FC Mitre Eagles to a 5-4 overtime triumph against Busch of hometown St. Louis in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal. Club Espana eliminates Mean Green of Dallas, 3-0, in the other semifinal. Klein cracks a 25-yard blast in the 120th minute the caroms off the underside of the crossbar and into the net. First-half goals by captain Eddie Kruger and Peter Klein, John's brother, give the Eagles a 2-1 lead at intermission. Busch's Steve Trittschuh ties it in the 87th minute. Mitre moves back in front, 4-2, through Andy Churlin and John Klein in the first 15 minutes of overtime. St. Louis rallies to pull even at 4-4 in the 113th minute.

Northridge Ends SPU Championship Run
November 21, 1987

Seattle Pacific's two-year reign as NCAA Division II men's champion is ended at the quarterfinal stage by top-ranked Cal State Northridge, 1-0, before a CSUN stadium-record crowd of 3,841. The Falcons silence 30-goal scorer Joey Kirk, but Juan Florez slices between defenders and evades onrushing SPU keeper Jeff Storrs for the game's only goal in the 27th minute. It snaps a 13-game unbeaten run, eight-game win streak and four national finals in a row. Seattle Pacific had beaten Northridge in the playoffs en route to its past two championships.

Specters Take Fourth in U19
July 25, 1987

It's the end of an era for the Woodinville Specters as they fall, 3-1, to Ohio's East-West SC in the consolation match of the McGuire Cup finals in St. Louis. Coach Jim Schultz has been with the team since the boys were 12. This was their first venture outside the state. Mill Creek's Clint Carnell is with the U.S. U19 national team. Leading scorer Jeremy Smith of Woodinville, Kenmore's Paul Holocher and Phil Bartlow of Everett Cascade have all committed to play at Santa Clara. Woodinville had fallen to eventual champion Union (N.J.) Lancers, 5-1, in the semifinals.

Kentwood Stops Jefferson Juggernaut
May 18, 1987

Goals from Mike Gosselin, Chris Dube and Brad Owens fuel Kentwood's 3-2 shocker over Thomas Jefferson in the first round of the state AAA tournament at Federal Way Stadium. Four-time defending state champion Jefferson has won 69 straight games and is unbeaten in 94 (90-0-4). The Conquerors, coming off their first loss of the season, 5-1, to Kennedy in the NPSL title game, build a 2-0 halftime lead on goals by Dube and Gosselin. After TJ's Lawrence Buckley cuts the margin to 2-1, Owens scored the eventual game-winner in the 62nd minute.

Gardner's Cozars Join FC Seattle
January 16, 1987

The Tacoma-based Cozars, four-time national finalist, are brought into FC Seattle’s organization. Founded and initially coached by Governor Booth Gardner, the Cozars are coached by Berhane Andeberhan and feature several members of the U.S. National Team. They effectively merge with the club’s existing team comprised of top players from the FCS City League. On May 17, FC Seattle hosts a Western Soccer Alliance women’s tournament which the Cozars win. Shannon Higgins scores twice in a 3-1 win over San Jose.

Goulet Named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year
December 21, 1987

Tacoma’s own Brent Goulet is named U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year at the end of a globetrotting year. Goulet, 23, makes Washington the first state to have both a male and female winner. Sharon McMurtry won in 1985. While Goulet did not represent the senior national team, he flourished for the U.S. in Olympic qualifying, scoring four times. He was voted MVP of the Western Soccer Alliance despite playing only a portion of the season for FC Portland and later scored twice as a guest player for FC Seattle during a postseason tour of the United Kingdom. In early November, following multiple tryouts in West Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Scotland and England, he became the first U.S. citizen granted a work permit to play professionally in Great Britain, and he signed for a reported $35,000 with Bournemouth of the Second Division.

Goulet, Lurie Drafted Among Top 11
June 23, 1987

Brent Goulet is chosen fifth overall by the Minnesota Strikers in the MISL draft. Goulet scored 108 goals in his career at Warner Pacific. Glenn Lurie of Seattle Pacific is taken 11th by Tacoma. Lurie, who had three goals and two assists at the Budweiser Classic college all-star event, is packaged with three Stars draft picks and traded to Cleveland for all-stars Peter Ward and Bernie James.

State Court Rules Women Discriminated Against
August 6, 1987

Washington's Supreme Court rules that Washington State University has unconstitutionally discriminated against women's athletic programs. The 8-1 decision affirms most of a Whitman County Superior Court decision in January 1983. Justice James Dolliver, writing for the Supreme Court majority, says football should be allowed only a partial exemption. Effectively, it leads to the addition of additional varsity women's programs and support, including increased scholarship and the formation of varsity soccer at WSU, Washington and Eastern Washington. Women athletes and coaches at Washington State filed a class action lawsuit in 1983.

Falcons Take Another Step Toward Threepeat
November 14, 1987

Seattle Pacific takes another step toward an unprecedented third straight NCAA soccer title by beating Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 2-1, in a first round game before 800 at Memorial Stadium. Bobby McLaughlin's goal in the 28th minute proves to be the winner. Danny Machado, scoring in his fifth straight game, opens the scoring in the 23rd minute.

We've come a long ways here. We always seemed to find a way to lose before. Now we seem to find a way to win.
Ralph Black, one of the original Tacoma Stars, on the club's newfound success
We weren't a bunch of stars (at Seattle Pacific, in 1986). We've just got a whole lot of ordinary people. Maybe the thing that's been passed on to them is that we don't let them accept themselves as ordinary.
Cliff McCrath after being voted Seattle Sports Star of the Year following the Falcons’ second straight national title
Since the late Royal Brougham conceived Seattle’s Sports Star of the Year banquet in 1935, he could hardly have chosen a more suitable winner for 1986 than Cliff McCrath, the SPU soccer coach who represents the kind of Christian commitment that guided the P-I writer and editor’s life.
John Owen, Seattle P-I columnist
We can play a controlled game, we can put the ball on the ground, we can pretty much cut teams to ribbons with our overlapping and weak-side play. Any time we do that, I defy a team to catch up with us. When we don't do it, then we're just a bunch of guys running after the ball.
Cliff McCrath on his two-time defending champion Seattle Pacific's play
I'm stunned, absolutely stunned. I just can't believe we lost it. The fans thought - and rightfully so - that we were going to win it. We won it everywhere but the last couple minutes (of regulation). We had one hand on the trophy - and had it snatched away from us.
Alan Hinton, summing up Tacoma's near-miss of an MISL championship
We had a full weekend of action when we played for the regional championships. We played four games in two days and won them all.
Eddie Krueger, Mitre Eagles captain, after winning both Open and Amateur Cup regional championships
There is no better feeling for a soccer player than representing your country. I never thought I would get this opportunity. I just play for fun, but maybe that’s how I’ve gotten this far.
Amy Allmann on earning her first U.S. National Team caps in 1987
I quoted them some Winston Churchill. I said, 'Gentlemen, this isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning.'
Stars coach Alan Hinton's warning to his players after dethroning San Diego
The Z-Man is back in business. Zungul almost didn't play tonight, but he started the first few shifts and completely destroyed Kansas City.
Stars coach Alan Hinton on Steve Zungul's six-goal game
We went after him because he is the ideal one to be the first to play here. He has a natural talent, a real talent, with an eye for the goal. It's something you just haven't seen in an American up to now…now maybe Brent will open the doors for Americans to play in England.
Brian Tiler, managing director of AFC Bournemouth, on why he signed Brent Goulet
She is the best marking back in America. She can shut anyone down. Add that with her experience, and you get a player who makes an enormous impact.
North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance on stopper Lori Henry, the ACC Player of the Year
He’s nuts, but his teams play loose. Cliff is the No. 1 soccer coach in the country and could have any job.
Walt Bowman, former Wheaton player under Cliff McCrath and athletic director at Chapman College
The fans made all the difference. Both teams were tired, but having that constant support makes you run a little faster and do that little bit extra.
Tacoma's Godfrey Ingram on the backing of an MISL record crowd of 20,284 for Game 5 win over Dallas
We like to call it rock ‘n’ roll sports.
Jeff Randall, Tacoma Stars public address announcer on the glitz and thumping rock beat soundtrack of home games in the Tacoma Dome
Omigosh, you should see the Tacoma Stars now, your Stars, your Boys, otasight, there it is, on the Tacoma Dome ceiling, all in lasers, real lasers, real smoke, with the hot spotlight, your Tacoma Stars, trotting on the field, to rap and jam and party you straight to an early death, all 12,000 of you each night.
Seattle P-I reporter Bill Plaschke
College & High School All-America (USC)
Player (Hometown) School (Div/Team/Pos)
Amy Allmann (Federal Way) Central Florida (D1/2nd/G)
Lori Henry (Shoreline) North Carolina (D1/1st/D)
Kathy Ridgewell (Seattle) California (D1/1st/F)
Kerri Toshiro (Bellevue) Colorado College (D1/1st/F)
Shelley Separovich (Seattle) Colorado College (D1/2nd/D)
Jeff Storrs (Seattle) Seattle Pacific (D2/1st/G)
Todd Strobeck (Seattle) Warner Pacific (NAIA/3rd/G)
Sonya Brandt (Gresham, Or.) Pacific Lutheran (NAIA/1st/F)
Katia Lewis (Fairfax, Va.) Puget Sound (NIAIA/1st/F)
Shelly Simmons (Des Moines) Puget Sound (NAIA/1st/F)
Dulcey Simpkins (Arvada, Co.) Puget Sound (NAIA/1st/D)
Clint Carnell (Everett) Cascade (F)
Kasey Keller (Olympia) North Thurston (G)
Collegiate Men's Records
Central Washington 3-6-3
Evergreen 9-7-4
Gonzaga 4-15-0
Pacific Lutheran 14-7-0
Puget Sound 8-8-5
Seattle University 3-13-0
Seattle Pacific 18-2-4
Washington 13-5-1
Western Washington 4-5-2
Whitman 11-6-0
Whitworth 8-12-3
Collegiate Women's Records
Central Washington 2-4-2
Evergreen 1-13-1
Pacific Lutheran 18-2-1
Puget Sound 13-5-3
Seattle University 2-11-0
Seattle Pacific n/a (club)
Washington 5-2-3 (club)
Western Washington 10-5-2
Whitman 9-4-3
Professional All-League
Player (Pos) Team (Lg-Tm)
Steve Zungul (F) Stars (MISL-1st)
Daryl Green (D) Storm (WSA-1st)
Geoff Wall (M) Storm (WSA-1st)
John Hamel (M) Storm (WSA-2nd)
State Youth Recreational Cup Winners
Age BoysGirls
U11 Skyhawks (CYSF)Lightning (HSA)
U12 Firehawks (MRSA)Blazers (GRJSA)
U13 CSC United (GRJSA)Team Score (SYSA)
U14 Spitfire (SYSA)Kicks (SYSA)
U15 Pride (SYSA)Goal Rushers (HSA)
U16 Express (AYSA)BC Bombers (TCYSA)
U17 Totem Cobras (FWSA)
U19 Renton United (GRJSA)Outsiders (KYSA)
Washington State Youth Champions
Age BoysGirls
U11 Whalers (FWSA)
U12 FC Scorpions (GRJSA)Chargers (FWSA)
U13 United (LWYSA)Alliance (EYSA)
U14 Cobras (KYSA)Nitro (EYSA)
U15 Aviation West (HSA)Vandals (EYSA)
U16 Team Columbia (CYSF)Zodiax (SSCJSA)
U17 Sting (LWYSA)Hot Sox (FWSA)
U19 Specters FC (NYSA)FC Royals (TPCJSA)
WIAA Championship Games
Boys 4A Cascade 2Kennedy 1
Boys 3A Mount Rainier 3O'Dea 0
Boys 1A (non WIAA) Seattle Christian 2Charles Wright 0
Girls 4A Bellarmine 5Evergreen 1
Girls 3A Mountlake Terrace 6Lakeside 1
On this Day in History
November 15, 1981
Sounders center back scores in Canada's World Cup qualifying match versus Mexico, a 1-1 draw in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Bridge, a Victoria native who had earned his first cap just a month prior, then scores again in the next game, a 2-1 loss to host Honduras.
More from 1981 ›
November 11, 2012
A golden goal from Kristin Maris gives 23rd-ranked Western Washington a 2-1 upset of No. 10 Sonoma State in overtime in Far West semifinal at Rohnert Park, Calif. The Vikings never trail in earning their record 19th win, taking the initial lead in the ninth minute on a Joana Houplin penalty kick. Jamie Arthurs makes eight saves, and in the 13th minute of overtime Catherine Miles cuts it back to set-up Miles for the goal. WWU advances to its first regional final since 2008. UC San Diego wins the regional, 2-1, in overtime Nov. 16 in Denver and goes on to be Division II runner-up.
More from 2012 ›
April 10, 1960
Playing in their third straight Seattle Five-a-Side final, Vancouver's Royal Oaks blanks a weary Hungarians, 3-0, at West Seattle. Bob Babcock scored two goals for Royal. The Hungarians had won the semifinal over defending champion Wallace, 6-2. A record 25 teams take part.
More from 1960 ›
November 12, 2011
Despite a strong start, Puget Sound is eventually caught and then knocked out by Concordia-Moorehead in a first-round NCAA playoff at Thousand Oaks, Ca. Jenny Moore puts UPS ahead after 18 minutes on a solo effort. Yet the Cobbers tie it in the 75th minute and convert their first three penalties, advancing 1-1 (3-1). The Loggers' first two shootout attempts are saved.
More from 2011 ›