Matheny's Builders secure the first half title, strangely, a week after clinching the second stanza. The Builders had won the two games in hand caused by snow postponements to draw level with Acme Tyee and force the playoff. A goal in the final five minutes wins the playoff, 2-1 at White Center. In the other half of the White Center doubleheader, Sunny Jim, the second half's fourth-place side bolstered by the infusion of some guest players, defeats a cast of Portland all-stars, 4-1.

When the Buchan Bakers deal the previously unbeaten Norselander Vikings a 2-0 loss, it's good news for E&E Meats. After the league suspended play for two weekends because of snow-covered fields, the Meatmen take control of the state league first division in emphatic fashion, routing the Greek-Americans, 7-0, at Lower Woodland.

Seattle's Barney Kempton, 59, is among the charter class of inductees to the National Soccer Hall of Fame during ceremonies conducted by the Philadelphia Old-Timers Soccer Association and held at the Rifle Club. The Belfast-born Kempton arrived in Seattle in 1916. He played for various clubs, including the Electro Dentists, Maple Leafs and West Seattle. Since then he's been a state association officer, CYO organizer and soccer columnist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Gabriel Ruiz scores eight minutes into overtime, and No. 22 Seattle University edges Washington, 3-2, in the first round of the NCAA tournament at a chilly Husky Soccer Stadium. Alex Roldan finds Ruiz and the freshman's 15-yard shot takes a deflection and curls into the top right corner. The Huskies score first and last in regulation. Kyle Coffee and Elijah Rice, in the 80th minute, do the honors. Habib Barry and Sergio Rivas also score for SU. In the second round, Akron ousts Seattle U, 3-0.

Hosting an MLS side for the first time in U.S. Open Cup play, the Sounders nearly pull off an upset of the San Jose Earthquakes. A record crowd of 1,275 at Interbay Stadium (plus about 300 more watching from the hillside) sees Seattle push the Earthquakes to the limit before falling, 4-3, in extra time in the tournament's third round. Brian Ching scores for a 3-2 lead in the 60th minute. At that point the Quakes insert stars Landon Donovan and Ariel Graziani, the fourth-leading scorer in MLS. Ronnie Ekelund's second goal, a penalty, forces overtime, where Graziani finishes a rebound after Preston Burpo initially parries Dwayne DeRosario.

Parlaying home-field advantage, Eastern Washington wins its first Big Sky Conference championship, and also its first NCAA tournament berth, with a shootout decision over Northern Arizona, 1-1 (4-3), at Cheney. Jenny Chavez ties it in the 49th minute and later converts the first shootout penalty. Mallory Taylor saves the first NAU attempt, and the Lumberjacks' fifth attempt sails high. EWU had upset top seed Idaho, 1-0, in the semifinals, on an Allison Raniere goal in the 88th minute.