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.
Benz Succeeds Watkins at Gonzaga
December 15, 2023

Gonzaga promotes Katie Benz to head coach in the wake of Chris Watkins leaving for Boston College. A day after Watkins departs, his top assistant succeeds him. Watkins had been 79-33-17 in seven seasons. Benz came from Montana in 2021, where she was an assistant on two Big Sky champions.

Bakers Count 5 from Conterio
January 23, 1955

Bill Conterio scores five goals for Buchan Bakers in a 12-3 romp over Harvey’s at White Center while Andy Phillips kicks 4 goals for Scotty’s Fish & Chips in a 4-3 win over Scandia at Woodland Park.

Voiland Halts Stanford, Portland Wins West
November 13, 1994

Portland becomes the first Northwest school to reach the NCAA Division I semifinals as Bellevue's Michelle Voiland makes eight saves in the 8th-ranked Pilots' 2-1 overtime win over No. 4 Stanford for the West Regional championship. Voiland parries a Melinda Minstrell header in the second overtime and moments later Tiffeny Milbrett nets the winner. Jody Dutra and Wynne McIntosh also play in the Pilots' victory.

Hart, Carroll Spur UW to Win at OSU
October 30, 1998

Wes Hart raises his record assist total to 15, scoring once and setting-up Kai Carroll’s second in No. 3-ranked Washington’s 6-0 win at 10-man Oregon State. The Beavers unravel after a handball in the 22nd minute results in a Matt Annis penalty kick and an OSU sending off. It’s the Huskies seventh win in the last eight.

Keller Stops Penalty, U.S. Beats Argentina
June 13, 1999

Kasey Keller stops a penalty kick, opening the door to a 1-0 U.S. National team win over Argentina in Washington, D.C. Keller stutter-steps to his right then goes left to save Gustavo Lopez's penalty attempt in the 42nd minute. He finishes with seven saves. Joe Max-Moore comes off the bench to score the winner in the 88th minute.

NWSL Announces Return to Play Tournament
May 27, 2020

The National Women’s Soccer League announces a return to action for all nine clubs with the NWSL Challenge Cup. The 25-game tournament will kick off on June 27 at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah, with the tournament semifinals and Final presented by Budweiser played at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. No spectators will be in attendance and the teams will live and train in a quarantined environment. Five days prior to the tournament, Orlando withdraws after six players and four staff members test positive for the COVID-19 virus.

Lifting the NCAA championship trophy in Tampa was none other than Seattle Pacific coach Cliff McCrath.
1983
Rhonda Klein is part of the first Washington women's team.
1991
Washington State Legends of Soccer curated a display marking the 50th anniversary of Title IX at Lumen Field on May 16, 2022. (Courtesy Michael Fiechtner/Sounders FC)
2022
Shorelake's Herfy's Thunderbirds, featuring Michelle Akers, back row, third from right. (Courtesy Michelle Akers)
1978
1964
Cindy Gordon of Western Washington is poised to fire away. (Courtesy Western Washington Athletics)
1983
Preki was voted the MISL MVP for the second year in a row in 1989. (Courtesy NASL Jerseys)
1989
Five members of the 1986 U.S. National Team came from Tacoma's Cozars: Gretchen Gegg, Lori Henry, Joan Dunlop, Cindy Gordon and Michelle Akers.
1986
Mireya Grey, a junior at Washington, was a last-minute call-in to the Jamaican national team for the 2019 World Cup. Grey made to start for the Reggae Girlz.(Courtesy Washington Athletics)
2019
Balint Ducz, owner of Seattle Hungarians. (Courtesy Alex Bogdan family)
1964