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.

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Explore our history. Click on any of the panels below to learn what happened that year.
Falcons Find Path to NCAA Final
November 30, 1990

Seattle Pacific is credited with only three shots but converts two of them for a 2-1 semifinal victory over host Florida Tech in the NCAA Division II Championships at Melbourne, Fla. Vasco Rubio scores his 12th goal in the first half, and Brad Owens gets the Falcons' game-winner with less than 27 minutes remaining. Freshman goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann turns back seven FIT shots, allowing only a penalty kick. The Panthers average more than four goals per game.

Kneeshaw's Record Performance wins It for TESC
September 12, 2004

Tom Kneeshaw saves 17 Chico State shots as Evergreen wins, 2-1, at Olympia. Joe Gjertsen put the Geoducks in front in the 27th minute. Four minutes after Chris Wondolowski ties it, Greg Preciado restores the lead and Kneeshaw's record performance preserves it.

Washington Wins NW Battle of Vikings
April 24, 1955

Joe Obi scores in each half as the Norselander Vikings pull away from the Portland State Vikings, 5-3, for a second straight Northwest championship at Catholic Memorial. First-half goals by Bob Simonsen, Obi and Thor Aanes put the hosts comfortably ahead at the break. Jimmy McGillivray's two strikes cut the lead before Roy Windsor and Obi respond. In the second part of the doubleheader, Buchan Bakers nip North Burnaby Legion, 4-3, in a Cascadia friendly.

Henderson Further Bolsters Storm
April 18, 1989

On the eve of opening their title defense, FC Seattle Storm add national prep player of the year Chris Henderson, 18, to the roster. Henderson is two months away from graduating from Everett's Cascade High School and will enroll at UCLA later in the summer. He becomes the third big addition, joining Brent Goulet and Ricky Davis, both of the U.S. National Team.

Canadian Kids Rule Cascadia
December 13, 1953

North Shore All-Stars of Vancouver defeat Seattle's St. John’s, 3-2 on aggregate after extra time, to claim the J.R. Oldershaw Trophy at Catholic Memorial Stadium. The first leg ended scoreless.

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.

Washington's U16 girls' state select team all packed for a road trip. (Courtesy Gina Segadelli)
1980
Seattle won its fourth MLS Western Conference championship in five years in 2020. (Courtesy Mike Fiechtner/Sounders FC)
2020
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
(Courtesy The Seattle Times)
1958
Action from Washington vs. Western Washington at Husky Stadium. (Courtesy UW Tyee archives)
1968
Hope Solo was an All-American in goal for Washington in 2000. (Courtesy University of Washington Athletics)
2000
Washington won a record 17 games to claim its first NCSC title and NCAA tournament berth in six years. (Courtesy Frank Gallo)
1982
Because of health guidelines fans could only peek over the Cheney Stadium fences to watch the Tacoma Defiance in 2020. (Courtesy Tacoma Defiance)
2020
Lake City Bobcats, featuring Andy and Walter Schmetzer. (Courtesy Walter Schmetzer)
1978
Marcus Hahnemann makes his competitive return to the state as a USMNT roster member for the Gold Cup.
2005