Washington State
Legends of Soccer

Curated by the Washington State Legends of Soccer, providing information and history of the Beautiful Game in Washington State. Just as the game evolves, so will this site. We continuously add new content, so be sure to return often.

What are you looking for?
Donate Now!
Explore our history. Click on any of the panels below to learn what happened that year.
Dempsey Deals Seattle Into Playoffs
October 25, 2015

Clint Dempsey delivers a brace and assist – all in the first 20 minutes – and the Sounders clinch a playoff berth for the seventh straight year with a 3-1 Decision Day home win over Real Salt Lake. A crowd of 55,435 fans at CenturyLink Field breaks the MLS season attendance record again, with an average of 44,245. Dempsey scores in the fifth and 20th minutes, with Marco Pappa striking in the 10th.

Huskies Beat Cougs, Cinch Berth
November 10, 1996

Freshmen Jana Wilson and Katey Ward each score in their first Apple Cup meeting with Washington State, helping the Washington close-out the regular season with a 2-0 victory in Pullman. The Huskies earn their highest finish in the Pac-10, tying for second place, and the NCAA includes them in the tournament field for the third straight year. It's the third straight UW win over WSU in the series. No. 3 Portland eliminates Washington in the first round. Seven of eight losses are inflicted by ranked opponents.

Sixty Acres South Breaks Ground
August 31, 2009

Lake Washington Youth Soccer breaks ground on a $1.6M project that includes nine new fields plus other amenities at Sixty Acres South. By summer 2010, the entire complex will total 25 fields, making it the biggest soccer facility west of the Mississippi. The first 16 fields have been leased and operated by LWYSA since 1984.

UW's Browder Stops 14 in Road Upset
September 23, 1992

Tamara Browder makes a record 14 saves, and Washington upsets Michigan State, 2-1, on Emily Thompson’s goal in the fourth minute of overtime at Lansing. Christine Keeley puts the Huskies in front in the 28th minute before the Spartans tie it before halftime. Keeley assists on Thompson’s score. Browder stops eight first-half shots, five in the second period and another in extra time. MSU out-shoots UW, 24-9.

Costly Opening Win
April 1, 1978

A crowd of 29,105 celebrates the Soccer Bowl ’77 runners-up and while the victory over Colorado, 3-0, is the club’s best season-opening performance, it’s marred by the loss of stalwart center back David Gillett. A four-year starter in his prime, Gillett had scored the game’s first goal sustains compound fracture of his left leg in collision with Matt Bahr and is out for the season.

Ruidiaz Officially Parts with Sounders
December 3, 2024

Sounders scoring king Raul Ruidíaz's departure is made official when the club's season-ending roster determinations are released, making him a free agent. GM Craig Waibel states Ruidíaz “left a lasting legacy.” Since coming to Seattle in June 2018, he scored a record 86 goals across all competitions, including braces in the 2019 MLS Cup semifinal and final as well as the 2022 CONCACAF Champions Cup final. After scoring seven goals through 12 games, he was briefly suspended for a locker room outburst following the June 22 win over Dallas in which he scored his final goal.

FC Olympia became Washington’s first club to win a USL W League playoff game in 2024, upsetting Oakland. Here Maia Tabion maneuvers against the Soul. (Oakland Soul SG)
2024
In advance of the Goodwill Games coming to Seattle in 1990, the Tacoma Stars staged a rare international exhibition with Lokomotiv Moscow. (Courtesy Shanaman Museum)
1989
Every meeting between the Norselander Vikings and Buchan Bakers at Lower Woodland held championship implications. (Courtesy Seattle Times)
1955
FC Seattle Storm's Eddie Henderson breaks upfield vs. the Arizona Condors. (Joanie Komura photo)
1990
Obafemi Martins is a sensation crowd pleaser, scoring 17 goals as Sounders FC achieves the double of a Supporters' Shield and U.S. Open Cup. (Sounders FC photo)
2014
Sounders coach John Best with a young camper named Adrian Hanauer.
1975
1976
Freshman Gabriel Ruiz uncorks the overtime game-winner as Seattle University upsets Washington, 3-2, in the first round of the NCAA tournament. (Courtesy Seattle University Athletics)
2017
Seattle area natives (from left) Lori Henry, Michelle Akers, Shannon Higgins and Amy Allmann celebrate after winning the World Cup.
1991
Triumph Continental sponsored Mike Ryan's state league entry, which was comprised of many members of his UW varsity. (Courtesy Mike Ryan)
1969