Professional soccer arrives in Spokane. The Sounders play San Antonio in a preseason match before 4,400 at Joe Albi Stadium. Pepe Fernandez lashes a free kick from 25 yards but Seattle falls, 2-1. It's one of seven preseason matches played around the state. Games in Renton, Everett, Tacoma and Yakima each attracting 3,000 or more.

Gonzaga wins for the sixth time in the final seven regular season games, edging Portland, 2-1, at Martin Field. Matt Blasdel finds Mike Thompson for a 10-yard header at 36:20, and the Zags strike again just 44 seconds into the second half when Jason Kuska's deflects into the cage. When Santa Clara loses the following day, Gonzaga earns a share of its first West Coast Conference title.

William Miranda-Ortiz scores the go-ahead goal for undefeated Whitman College, clinching their first NCAA Division III tournament berth with a 3-1 victory over Pacific Lutheran in Tacoma. Miranda-Ortiz finishes Spencer Lovell's feed just 53 seconds into the second half for a 2-1 advantage after the Blues trailed early. Whitman wins its first outright Northwest Conference championship and automatic national qualification by finishing the regular season at 14-0-6.

On the eve of Seattle opening play, MLS announces Vancouver will become the 17th team in 2011. Two days later, Portland is admitted, recreating the Cascadia Cup rivalry.

West Seattle's Sportsland Lady Bugs rightly complete an unbeaten season as Washington State Women's Soccer Association champions. Josie Cacchione and Barb Burns score for the Lady Bugs in a 2-0 title match win over Lake Washington Shamrocks at Lower Woodland. The Lady Bugs were 9-0-1 during league play and unscathed in the postseason as well.

Kit Zell’s overtime goal gives the Seattle Pacific its first on-field postseason victory, 3-2, in a first round NCAA game at muddy Cal State Hayward. The Falcons were 1-3-0 over the past three postseasons, with their sole victory a forfeit. Daudi Abe finds Jose Reyes for the game’s opening goal. The Pioneers grab the lead early in the second period before Zell begins his third multi-goal game of the year with an equalizer at 70'. His winner comes 12 minutes into extra time when he knocks in the rebound of his own header. Abe and Gordy Isaac score as SPC takes its first regional title at Cal State Fullerton, 2-1, on Nov. 18.