Schmetzer Made Permanent
November 2, 2016
Brian Schmetzer is named head coach on a permanent basis after guiding the team to an 8-2-4 record down the stretch to clinch a playoff berth and reaching the Western Conference semifinals. Schmetzer had coached the USL Sounders from 2002-08 and served as Sigi Schmid's top assistant since 2009. Initially, he was named interim successor to Schmid.
Reign's Winters Retires
September 10, 2016
Reign captain and midfield stalwart Keelin Winters announces her retirement, effective at the end of the season. Winters, 27, has anchored Seattle's defensive midfield for four seasons and, before that, the Sounders Women.
Schmid Fired Mid-Season
July 26, 2016
Sigi Schmid's 8-year tenure as the only coach in Sounders FC history comes to an end with his dismissal. Seattle is 6-12-2 and has won just once in seven league games. In the club’s first 7-plus seasons, Schmid had gone 115-79-56 and won four U.S Open Cups and a Supporters’ Shield. He was runner-up for 2014 MLS Coach of the Year. Brian Schmetzer is named interim head coach. It's the first time any Seattle pro club has fired a coach during the season.
Seattle Soccer Icon Denzil Dies
October 26, 2016
For generations his name was synonymous with deals on soccer gear in Seattle, but on this day came news of the untimely passing of Denzil Miskell. For 33 years Denzil was proprietor of Sports Specialties, Puget Sound's original soccer shop, located in Belltown. But he was much, much more than that, sharing stories and sound advice to parents and players alike. Throughout the 70s and 80s, the shop was the hub, the barbershop of the local soccer community.
Vikings Win NCAA D2 Women's Title
December 3, 2016
Three long-range blasts lift Western Washington to a 3-2 victory over three-time defending champion Grand Valley State (Mich.) at Kansas City. Caitlyn Jobanek scores twice for the Vikings, who finished the season with 24 consecutive wins. But it's Emily Webster's 76th-minute free kick that proved the difference. Western becomes the state's second NCAA women's champion Seattle Pacific won in 2008.
Solo Suspended for Olympic Outburst
August 24, 2016
Hope Solo is suspended by U.S. Soccer for six months following her calling Sweden a "bunch of cowards" in the wake of an Olympic Games quarterfinal loss. Three days later Solo, 35, takes indefinite leave from Seattle Reign. Seattle finishes 8-6-6 and misses the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
Lodeiro's Instant Impact Recognized
November 21, 2016
Catalyst to a Seattle resurgence down the stretch, midfielder Nico Lodeiro wins MLS Newcomer of the Year. Lodeiro scored four goals and assisted on eight in 13 games and the Sounders went 7-2-4.
Dempsey Hat Trick Snaps Sounders' Funk
August 7, 2016
Clint Dempsey and the Sounders both snap out of a funk with his three goals supplying all the firepower in a 3-1 win at Orlando City. For Dempsey, who's scored just three times in the first 12 games, it's his second career hat trick. Seattle had gone just 2-8-2 in the previous 14 outings which resulted in a coaching change.
Okoli Voted USL MVP
November 4, 2016
FC Cincinnati forward and Federal Way native Sean Okoli is voted the United Soccer League's Most Valuable Player after leading the USL with 16 goals. Okoli, 23, was recognized with USL Team of the Week honors five times while helping first-year Cincinnati finish 16-8-6. After being signed as a Homegrown by the Sounders, he was traded to New England in 2015, then released.
Gala Launches Youth Foundation
September 9, 2016
Washington Youth Soccer Celebrates its 50th anniversary with a Bellevue gala and auction to support the launch of its foundation. The Soccer for Success program after-school program strives to make the game more accessible to children.
Lutes Ends Loggers' Run, Clinch Berth
November 2, 2016
Takara Mitsui makes two saves to earn her 15th shutout of the season as Pacific Lutheran punches its first ticket to the NCAA Division III women's tournament by beating rival Puget Sound, 2-0, at Parkland. Kaylie Rozell and Machaela Graddy score in the second half to snap the Loggers' string of 14 consecutive Northwest Conference titles. The Lutes proceed to finish the regular season undefeated and Mitsui totals 39 career shutouts.
Western's Shugarts Is Player of Year
December 7, 2016
Western Washington's Sierra Shugarts, a junior from Federal Way, is named NSCAA National Player of the Year, becoming only the second defender to claim the award.
Reign, Crossfire Among Founders of Girls' USDA
June 30, 2016
Reign Academy and Crossfire Premier are selected as two of the 25 founding members of the U.S. Soccer Girls’ Development Academy. They will begin play in the fall of 2017 in age groups for U14/U15, U16/U17, and U18/U19.
Morris Brace Impacts Road Win
September 25, 2016
Jordan Morris scored twice in the second half to bring Seattle from behind for a 4-2 road win over the LA Galaxy. It's the third of four straight wins which put the Sounders firmly back in the playoff hunt.
Central Wins First NCAA Tournament Game
November 10, 2016
Whitney Lowe's two goals power Central Washington to victory in the Wildcats' first-ever national tournament appearance, 2-1 over Seattle Pacific at Bellingham. Lowe, who had scored just twice during the regular season, hits the target in the ninth and 52nd minutes. Scoring in her fifth straight game, Hannah Huesers scores her 13th of the year at 60:05. Huesers finishes her career with 48, one shy of the Falcons' record.
Reign Launches Girls' Academy
January 14, 2016
Seattle Reign FC launches an academy in conjunction with Seattle United. Laura Harvey, head coach and general manager of Reign FC, will also serve as the academy’s executive director. Reign Academy will field teams for 13-18 year-old females.
Morris Clinches MLS Cup Berth
November 27, 2016
Behind Stefan Frei's shutout and second-half strike from Jordan Morris, Sounders clinch berth in MLS Cup final with 1-0 win in Colorado (3-1 aggregate).
Hanson Exits UPS After 20 Seasons
January 22, 2016
Randy Hanson's immensely successful run as Puget Sound women's coach comes to a close with his retirement. Hanson leaves after taking the Loggers to 16 NCAA Division III tournaments and an overall record of 303-74-36. UPS reached the 2004 championship game and advanced to the quarterfinals or beyond four times between 2002-07. His last 13 teams won Northwest Conference crowns. Two months later, Joseph Vari is named Hanson's successor.
Little Leaves for Arsenal
October 17, 2016
Former NWSL MVP Kim Little announces she's leaving the Seattle Reign after three seasons to join Arsenal Ladies. Little, a Scottish international, scored 33 times for Seattle including a club record 17 in 2014 regular season and playoffs.
Lodeiro Leads Way in Upset
October 30, 2016
Nico Lodeiro scores two of the Sounders' three goals in an 8-minute outburst and Seattle takes command of the West semifinal playoff series by beating Supporters Shield winner FC Dallas, 3-0, in the first leg.
Scott Honored for Service
October 23, 2016
Prior to his final regular season game, retiring Sounders defender Zach Scott, 36, is presented the Golden Scarf. Scott, who will go onto make 353 appearances in all competitions since 2002, is also depicted in 20,000 bobbleheads distributed to fans.
Uruguayn Orchestrator Arrives
July 27, 2016
Sounders FC signs Uruguay international and Boca Juniors star midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro, 27, to a DP contract. He helped Boca reach the Copa Libertadores semifinal earlier in the year.
Interlake Repeats in 3A Boys
May 28, 2016
Bellevue's Saints become the first repeat state 3A titleist in 17 years behind Sam Dawson's seven saves and an early goal from Austin Bell to pip Mercer Island, 1-0, at Puyallup's Sparks Stadium. Interlake went 10-2 in its final 12 games. The Islanders had beaten Interlake two times and out-shot Interlake, 19-3 in the final.
Yedlin Moves to Newcastle
August 24, 2016
Seattle's DeAndre Yedlin is transferred from Tottenham to Newcastle of the Championship for £5 million and a five-year contract. Yedlin had spent the previous season on loan to Sunderland in the Premiership.
Legends Screen Bo66y
October 25, 2016
Washington State Legends of Soccer hosts community leaders for a screening of the documentary entitled Bo66y, featuring former Sounders star and England 1966 World Cup captain Bobby Moore at The NINETY.
Seattle United First in Line
February 11, 2016
Seattle United becomes the first youth club to partner with both the Seattle Reign and Sounders academies.
Seattle's Barnes Named Defender of the Year
October 5, 2016
Seattle Reign center back Lauren Barnes, marshal of a defense that led the league with eight shutouts, is voted NWSL Defender of the Year. Barnes has been a fixture in the backline since the Reign's 2013 inaugural season.
Morris Stays Home, Signs Deal
January 21, 2016
Mercer Island's Jordan Morris spurns an opportunity at Werder Bremen to sign a record MLS Homegrown Player contract with the Sounders. Morris, 21, is coming off 23 goals and 16 assists in three seasons with Stanford, winning an NCAA championship and the Hermann Trophy as a junior. He already has seven caps for the USMNT.
Empowering Players, Serving Community
December 16, 2016
Woodinville's Joe Matthews is named 2016 USYSA Girls Recreational Coach of the Year. Matthews stresses player safety, having fun and developing soccer skills while empowering players to make decisions and communicate among themselves during a match. In addition, Matthews and his team volunteer at the local community kitchen.
Witzel's Four Goals End Saints' Woes
October 31, 2016
A four-goal outburst from Kyle Witzel is just what Saint Martin's requires to snap a five-game losing streak, 5-1, versus Concordia. It's Witzel's first hat trick and ties the SMU single game record. He scores twice in each half, with his fourth goal making it 4-0 in the 59th minute. The Saints had scored only four goals in their last five contests.
Morris Wins MLS Rookie of Year
November 10, 2016
After setting an American rookie record for goals (12), Seattle Sounders homegrown forward Jordan Morris is named MLS Rookie of the Year.
Angela Huber Named USYSA Rec Coach of the Year
January 16, 2016
Rochester resident and Tumwater Soccer Club coach Angela Huber is named U.S. Youth Soccer's Girls Recreational Coach of the Year in Baltimore. Huber, who guides a TSC U15 team, emphasizes having fun and her players respond by growing more competitive. She mixes in drills she knows the girls will love, and she has an ability to relate to each individual on her team by understanding how to motivate each player.
Stars Make Playoffs
February 26, 2016
Joey Gjertsen scores twice and Michael Ramos nails the deciding goal as Stars clinch a MASL playoff berth in their first full season by beating Ontario, 5-4, before 3,500 at ShoWare Center. Tacoma's finishes 13-7 and goes on to play San Diego in the first round.
Seattle United, Eastside U17s Win Regionals
June 24, 2016
Seattle United 98 Copa beats LA Premier FC, 2-0, on goals by Brannon Jong and Vincente Aquino Contreras in Boise. Meanwhile, JoJo Harber and Alex Kirton tally for Eastside 98 Red in 2-0 win over Utah's Celtic 99 Premier. Seattle United goes on to take fourth place in U17 USYSA Nationals in Frisco, Texas.
Sounders Win MLS Cup in Shocker
December 10, 2016
Stefan Frei pulls off the save of the season in extra time and Roman Torres applies the finishing touch in penalty kicks for Sounders FC to cap the unlikeliest of comebacks to claim a first MLS Cup in sub-freezing temperatures in Toronto. Frei extends his frame to bat away Jozy Altidore's header in 108th minute of a 0-0 draw. Seattle was out-shot 19-3 with Frei saving seven, plus another in the shootout. After Justin Morrow hit the crossbar, Torres rammed his decisive penalty down the middle for a 5-4 margin.
Seattle United '00s Win Again
February 21, 2016
Seattle United boys 00 Copa win their third straight Washington State Youth Championship, this time at the U15 level, beating Eastside FC 00 Red, 1-0, at Starfire.
Martins Exits to Asia
February 25, 2016
Obafemi Martins is sold to Shanghai Shenhua for a reported $2M. Martins had scored 40 goals in 72 MLS games since joining Seattle in 2013. He was 2014 league MVP runner-up.
Dempsey Secures Passage in Copa America
June 11, 2016
Clint Dempsey's first-half goal allows the USMNT to survive DeAndre Yedlin's red card to score a 1-0 win over Paraguay in Philadelphia and reach the quarterfinal of Copa America Centenario.
US Beats Ecuador at CLink
June 16, 2016
Scoring the opener and setting-up the winner, Clint Dempsey stars in America's 2-1 quarterfinal win over Ecuador before 47,322 at CenturyLink Field. Brad Guzan makes two stops, notably a kick-save in first-half stoppage time. The U.S. goes on to take fourth place in Copa America Centenario.
Dempsey Shut Down
August 26, 2016
Detection of an irregular heartbeat ends Clint Dempsey's season. Dempsey had scored eight goals in 17 games for the Sounders, including a hat trick at Orlando City three weeks earlier.
That's the best save I've ever seen in person. It was unbelievable.
— Chad Marshall, Sounders defender, of Stefan Frei's MLS Cup final save on Jozy Altidore
My players know that everyone isn’t going to win, but that happens in life, and I think the harder you work the farther you are going to get. I don’t want them to just get together and kick the ball around. It is nice in kindergarten, but when you get a little older it’s different. I tell them if they work hard in soccer then they will work hard in other things later in life to become a better co-worker and a better person.
— Tumwater's Angela Huber, U.S. Youth Soccer Rec Coach of the Year
I want to be a club idol. At every club I've been to, I've been a champion. I want to be a champion with Seattle.
— Nicolas Lodeiro, newly-signed Sounders midfielder
It's been a long-term passion of mine for Sounders FC to bring free, accessible soccer to underserved communities in the Seattle area, so we're very excited as an organization to finally launch the RAVE Foundation. Soccer is a game that brings joy and opportunity to so many people around the world. We see it as an obligation to make sure that no one in our community is excluded from experiencing everything that the beautiful game affords.
— Sounders owner Adrian Hanauer in announcing the launch of the club's charitable arm on July 31, 2016
They showed a ton of character, performed well, and every time a very good Grand Valley State team got back into the game, we had an answer. And it's because of the character of this team.
— Travis Connell, Western Washington women's coach, after his team won the NCAA title
It's more than just a player signing. It's someone who has grown up in the Sounders family.
— Adrian Hanauer, Sounders majority owner, on the signing of Jordan Morris
College & High School All-America (USC)
Player (Hometown) |
School (Div/Team/Pos) |
Foster Langsdorf (Vancouver) |
Stanford (D1/2nd/F) |
Ashley Homer (Puyallup) |
Western Washington D2/3rd/G) |
Sierra Shugarts (Federal Way) |
Western Washington (D2/1st/D) |
Emily Webster (Bellingham) |
Western Washington (D2/2nd/M) |
Takara Mitsui (Lynnwood) |
Pacific Lutheran (D3/2nd/G) |
Collegiate Men's Records
Evergreen |
9-2-4 |
Gonzaga |
8-8-2 |
Northwest |
11-8-0 |
Pacific Lutheran |
10-8-2 |
Puget Sound |
11-5-2 |
Saint Martin's |
3-13-1 |
Seattle University |
11-6-2 |
Seattle Pacific |
6-6-5 |
Washington |
14-7-0 |
Western Washington |
10-5-5 |
Whitman |
8-7-5 |
Whitworth |
12-4-3 |
Collegiate Women's Records
Central Washington |
14-6-1 |
Eastern Washington |
13-5-4 |
Evergreen |
3-8-3 |
Gonzaga |
6-10-2 |
Northwest |
12-6-2 |
Pacific Lutheran |
16-1-4 |
Puget Sound |
13-4-3 |
Saint Martin's |
3-14-1 |
Seattle University |
14-6-1 |
Seattle Pacific |
11-5-4 |
Washington |
7-12-1 |
Washington State |
8-9-2 |
Western Washington |
24-0-1 |
Whitman |
3-15-2 |
Whitworth |
10-10-0 |
Founders Cup Winners
Age |
Boys | Girls |
U11 |
BIFC B04 Blue | BYSC Select G11 Robinson |
U12 |
NSC Galaxy B03 | Pacific FC G03 Breakers |
U13 |
Crossfire Select B02-O'Melia | BYSC Select GU13 Robinson |
U14 |
Kent United B01 Green 1 | Crossfire Select G01-Wilkinson |
U15 |
Seattle United West B00 Blue | not awarded |
U16 |
Crossfire Select B99-Taylor | not awarded |
U17 |
Crossfire Select B98-Mele | not awarded |
U19 |
Seattle United NE B97 Blue | not awarded |
PDL, WPSL Records
Issaquah SC Gunners |
6-2-1, 2nd Div. |
Kitsap Pumas |
5-4-5, 4th Div. |
Pac NW-OSA |
5-4-1, 4th Div. |
Seattle Sounders U23s |
8-6-0, 2nd Div. |
Seattle Sounders Women |
10-0-0, 1st Div. |
Washington Crossfire |
5-4-5, 3rd Div. |
Professional All-League
Player (Pos) |
Team (Lg-Tm) |
Lauren Barnes (D) |
Reign (NWSL-1st) |
Jessica Fishlock (M) |
Reign (NWSL-2nd) |
Kim Little (F) |
Reign (NWSL-2nd) |
Nathan Aune (D) |
Crossfire (PDL-NW) |
State Youth Presidents Cup Winners
Age |
Boys | Girls |
U10 6v6 |
Eastside FC 05 Blue | Seattle United 06 Tango B |
U10 |
Crossfire Premier 05 A | Eastside FC 05 Red A |
U11 |
Crossfire Premier 04 A | Crossfire Premier 04 A |
U12 |
Rainier Valley Slammers 03 Orange | Spokane Shadow 03 A |
U13 |
Pac NW 02 Blue B | Crossfire Premier 02 B |
U14 |
Washington Premier FC 01 White B | Eastside FC 01 White B |
U15 |
Snohomish United Black A | Spokane Shadow 00 B |
U16 |
Federal Way FC 99 Blue | Eastside FC 99 White B |
U17 |
Washington Premier FC 98 White | Washington Premier FC 98 Black B |
U18/19 |
Spokane Shadow 97 A | Blackhills FC 97 Black A |
State Youth Recreational Cup Winners
Age |
Boys | Girls |
U11 |
SWYSA VW Ninjas (D5) | LSDSC Flash (D3) |
U12 |
Norpoint Renegades B05 (D3) | VUSA Thunderbirds (D5) |
U13 |
LSDSC Lakewood United 04 (D3) | GHFYSA MYSC Lightning (D7) |
U14 |
CFSC B03 Howard (D3) | LWYSA Kirkland 03 Inferno (D2) |
U15 |
EYSA Redmond The Wolves (D2) | LSDSC Ladybugs (D3) |
U16 |
NCYSA Silver Lake Browne (D1) | SnYSA Snohomish Fox (D1) |
U17 |
WS Fury 00-Fraser (D3) | LWYSA Juanita 00 Breakaway (D2) |
U19 |
Vashon Riptide (D3) | LSDSC Avanti United FC G99 (D3) |
Washington State Youth Champions
Age |
Boys | Girls |
U12 |
Crossfire Premier 03 (LWYSA) | Washington Prem 03 Black (TPCJSA) |
U13 |
FC Alliance 02 (NSYSA)) | Crossfire Premier 02 (LWYSA) |
U14 |
Eastside FC 01 Red (EYSA) | Seattle United 01 Copa (SYSA) |
U15 |
Seattle United 00 Copa (SYSA) | Washington Rush 00 (NCYSA) |
U16 |
Washington Premier 99 Black (TPCJSA) | Crossfire Premier 99 (LWYSA) |
U17 |
Seattle United 98 Copa (SYSA) | Eastside FC 98 Red (EYSA) |
U18 |
Crossfire Premier 97 (LWYSA) | PacNW 97 Maroon (GRJSA) |
WIAA Championship Games
Boys 4A |
Wenatchee 1 | Tahoma 0 |
Boys 3A |
Interlake 1 | Mercer Island 0 |
Boys 2A |
Archbishop Murphy 1 (4-3) | Quincy 1 |
Boys 1A |
Seattle Academy 3 | Connell 2 |
Boys 1B-2B |
St. George's 2 | Crosspoint 0 |
Girls 4A |
Camas 3 | West Valley (Yakima) 0 |
Girls 3A |
Bellevue 1 | Southridge 0 |
Girls 2A |
Columbia River 3 | Liberty 2 |
Girls 1A |
Overlake 3 | La Salle 0 |
Girls 1B-2B |
St. George's 1 | Kalama 0 |
VIDEO: How Seattle Embraced Soccer