Seattle caps a furious four-month comeback by earning a first-round playoff bye on Decision Day. Before 42,617, red-hot Raul Ruidiaz scores twice in the final 11 minutes for a 2-1 victory over San Jose. An own goal spots the Quakes the lead, but Ruidiaz responds. He redirects a cross from Cristian Roldan in the 79th minute to tie it, then finishes a three-way passing movement with Nico Lodeiro and Victor Rodriguez in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Seattle's 14-2-1 mark in the second half is the best in MLS history. Ruidiaz finishes with 10 goals in his first 14 appearances.

Acme Tyee denies Matheny's Builders a fourth trophy by winning the Puget Sound Power & Light trophy, 3-0, at White Center. Acme becomes the first Scandinavian entry in 25 years to win a state title. Einar Eliasson scores a goal in each half.

Washington's late-season scoreless string finally ends and unfortunately the Huskies cannot muster a reply. Second-ranked North Carolina ousts UW from the NCAA tournament, 1-0, at the Sweet Sixteen phase in Cary, N.C. Washington, in its first season under Nicole Van Dyke, does not allow a shot in the first half and has a 13-7 shot advantage overall. Yet the 653-minute defensive shutout streak ends midway through the second half on Tori Hansen's header off a Tar Heels corner. It's the second-longest shutout streak in Husky history.

Preston Burpo makes three impressive saves and assists on Roger Levesque's clinching second goal for the Sounders' 2-0 victory at Portland. Seattle earns only its second win in seven matches and avenges a home defeat to the Timbers a week earlier. Levesque puts the visitors on the board in the 42nd minute, following a corner kick from Jonathan Bolanos. Burpo's long distribution in the 80th minute catches Portland keeper Josh Saunders out of position, and Levesque calmly chips over his head and into the empty net.

Andy Rose finds the winner four minutes into stoppage time, and Seattle wins its fourth in a row, 3-2 over Real Salt Lake. It's the seventh time the Sounders have tied or won on a goal scored in the final 10 minutes. Lamar Neagle and Obafemi Martins, on his 13th goal, put the hosts in front 2-1, before halftime. Rose collects a loose ball in the box and fires it past Nick Rimando.

Washington joins four other teams leaving the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation to form the Pac-10 men's conference. The five schools - Washington, UCLA, Stanford, California and Oregon State - will not qualify as an NCAA-sanctioned conference because six teams are required. The move, prompted by weakened strength-of-schedule and poor geographic layout, is approved during Pac-10 winter meetings in San Francisco. There has been Pac-10 women's play since 1993.