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.
Betty Ellis, a grandmother and first female to officiate a U.S. professional game in 1980, coaches Tahoma girls to state AA title, 2-0 over Edmonds after upsetting undefeated Mountlake Terrace, 5-1, in the semifinal. Stephanie Johnson scores both Bears goals in the final.
Mary Etter makes two saves in the tiebreaker, enabling Snohomish to claim the state 4A crown over Mead, 1-1 (5-4) in Federal Way. In a battle of Panthers, Snohomish's Amy Auckland ties with three minutes remaining in regulation, just three minutes after Stacey Drollinger gave Mead the lead from 22 yards. George Fowler's three-decade run as Snohomish coach ends with the win. His 1984-85 team also won a title.
On the final day of the season, Washington State pulls level with Western Washington atop the NCSC women's table, winning 1-0 at Martin Stadium. Lorene Pearson chips the onrushing WWU keeper for the lone goal, and Cougs keeper Nancy Vetter, playing with a cast on her right hand, posts the shutout. Both sides finish 7-2-1.
Washington makes a smashing NCAA women's tournament debut by blanking No. 15 Oregon State, 3-0, in rainy Corvallis. The No. 18 Huskies get Emily Thompson's record 10th goal just before halftime. Thompson had missed a 1-0 loss to the Beavers three weeks earlier. Melanie Brennan scores in the 58th minute, then Jeanie Rain tacks on another in the 74th.
Nik Besagno is named Parade Magazine High School Player of the Year. Besagno will graduate from Edison Academy in Florida in a few days. Earlier he attended Kennedy High in Burien.
A scoreless stalemate is finally settled by penalty kicks, with Federal Way taking the girls' AAA championship over Issaquah, 0-0 (4-3), at Renton Stadium. Kerri Coplin and Michelle Dines convert the final two penalties for the Eagles while the Indians see two of their first four attempts sail high and wide. Coplin and Dines had also scored the previous night in a 3-2 comeback semifinal win over Cascade.