Denied four times in the past, Mercer Island finally grabs the prize by scoring twice in the final minutes for its first 3A boys' state title at Puyallup. In a rematch of the 2014 final, the Islanders never trail in their 3-1 victory over Lakeside, the holders since 2019 since two tournaments were nixed by the pandemic. All the goals come in the final 20 minutes, with Brady Gilroy staking MI ahead at 62'. The Lions' Jonathan Vonderlage ties it at 74', but Remy Frederick and Kaleb Rawson reply at 78' and 80+3'. MI had also struck late in the semi, scoring twice in the final five minutes vs. Monroe.

Everett native Chris Henderson's next chapter will come at home. Fourteen months in advance of the first match, Henderson, 37, is named Sounders FC technical director by general manager Adrian Hanauer. Henderson earned 79 caps for the U.S. and played 13 professional seasons, the last 11 in MLS. He had been an assistant coach with Kansas City since retiring in 2006.

In the wake of Jimmy Gabriel’s resignation, the Sounders roster is churned, with former captain Adrian Webster released along with Cliff Brown. Webster, the only player to see action in each of the first six seasons, holds the career appearances record of 120, combining regular season and playoffs. He signs with the Pittsburgh Spirit of MISL a week later. Meanwhile, Jimmy McAlister contemplates a move to Europe, MISL or elsewhere in the NASL. Mike England's future is uncertain. He is a candidate for Seattle head coach and Wales National Team manager.

Northwest University claims its first Cascade Collegiate Conference championship double by edging College of Idaho, 2-1, in overtime of the tournament championship game in Eugene. In a match marred by two red and six yellow cards, the Eagles overcome playing a player down for 15 minutes of the second half. Claire Jo Diede's 15' goal from Kayla Soderstrom's record 12th assist puts NU ahead, but CI equalizes with 55 seconds left in regulation. Playing 10v10 in extra time, Northwest gets the winner with 8:19 remaining when Gracie VanAssche scores. NU had clinched the regular season Oct. 28.

Finnish exchange student Oake Forsman and Austin Gunderson each score twice in the opening 30 minutes in the Norselander Vikings' 7-3 romp over E&E Meats at Catholic Memorial. It's a state semifinal replay after the two sides tied, 2-2, a week earlier. Norselander will meet Buchan in the final.

FC Royals capture two national girls' crowns on the same day, with the U18s from Tacoma staving off McLean (Va.) Zephyrs, 1-0, at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis. Jana Wilson scores the game-winner from a corner kick. The Royals, the only club to win multiple USYSA championships this year, had routed Oklahoma City Capital Elite, 5-0, in semifinal.