SeaTac SC makes its Western Canada Soccer League debut with a 3-2 loss at Vancouver Spartans. Player/coach Bobby Hough scores from the spot and Coco DeVettori adds the other goal. A couple of teens account for Vancouver's goals. Bruce Wilson, 18, scores twice and Bob Lenarduzzi, 16, scores a penalty.

Washington State Junior Soccer Association participation continues to surge. WSJSA vice-president Karl Grosch reports says the number of registered teams increased from 610 to 900 since 1969-70, with the total players rising by 50 percent, 10,645 to 15,790. Later in the year, it's noted that Arlington, population 2,400, features five boys teams and one for girls.

Helmut Weiss riddles Leif Erikson Vikings for a hat trick in Croatia's 3-2 National Challenge Cup regional first leg in Los Angeles. The German-born Weiss scores three times at Rancho Cienega Stadium. Geoff McKeown scores for the Viks, who also get an own goal.

Seattle Pacific names Cliff McCrath, 32, as head coach and dean of students, effective July 1. McCrath comes from Spring Arbor in Michigan, where he guided the Cougars to the NAIA semifinals in his third season. He previously coached at Gordon (Mass.) and Wheaton (Ill.), was an All-America player at the latter.

Goals from Ken Kanikeberg and Bruce Walyor are the difference in Sunset Sundowners' 2-0 win over Volkswagen Freeway Wingers in the state cup U17 final at Memorial Stadium. The Bellevue boys take the Lipton Cup before 2,500. All told, 4,500 attend the two days of finals, sponsored by the Seattle P-I. Ward Forrest of U15 champion Olsen's United is voted overall tournament outstanding player, and Jim Rayburn of U16 runner-up Bavarian Tigers is tabbed as top goalkeeper. The Wickman Pie trophy, having been found, refurbished and accessed a value of $6000, is presented to the U14 victors, Ravenna Motors Wheelers.

Jack Goldingay is presented the prestigious Charles E. Sullivan Award by the Puget Sound Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association for his contributions to athletics. Goldingay is recognized as the founding father of youth soccer on the Eastside as well as the Canadian Exchange program. The Birmingham, England native always looked out for the "little guy" and engaging "the odd man out."

Helmut Weiss finishes the series with all six Croatia goals, and Leif Erikson Vikings go out of the National Challenge Cup, 6-4, on aggregate, in the West Region finals. Weiss puts Croatia up a goal midway through the first half, then scores twice within a few minutes of the second period. A Bobby Hough header ties it by halftime, and his corner kick is volleyed home by Reider Olsen late to pull the Viks a goal back in the 3-2 loss before 1,500 at Memorial Stadium. Croatia goes on to finish national runner-up.

Bob Wilds makes a record 15 saves, and Morgan Turner’s early goal lays the foundation of a 3-1 Seattle University win at Washington. Harry Arnold and George Irwin also tally for the Chieftains at Husky Stadium. It pulls Seattle U even with Western Washington atop the Western Washington Soccer Conference.

Undefeated Shorecrest wins the first Metro League championship, defeating Cleveland, 1-0, before 1,500 chilled fans at Memorial Stadium. Marty Ciez finds the corner with his 20-yard free kick with six minutes left in regulation. Ken Horne gets his fifth shutout in seven games for the Highlanders (6-0-1). Shoreline defeats West Seattle, 2-1, for third place.

Harvey Lanman, 58, announces his retirement as Seattle Public Schools/Metro League athletic director after 10 years. Under Lanman's direction varsity athletics has grown from five to 15 activities, including soccer. He negotiated for parking revenue from Memorial Stadium to go toward facility improvements and helped arrange the 1969 West Ham-Kilmarnock game that financed the introduction of soccer to the schools and oversaw installation of the Astroturf.

It's an inauspicious home opener for SeaTac SC at West Seattle Stadium. Just 400 attend the 4-3 loss to Victoria Royals. Les Fabri scores two goals for the hosts, who expected better things after a close game against Newcastle two weeks earlier. It's the second of seven straight WCSL losses to start SeaTac's first season.

Glenn Hindin finds the left corner in the 80th minute, giving Western Washington a 3-2 win over British Columbia Institute of Technology in arctic-type weather at Battersby Field. Dave Asher's Vikings (6-1-3) clinch a third straight Western Washington Soccer Conference championship. BCIT twice lead only to have Bobby Hansen and Hindin bring Western back to level.

Player/coach Bob Hough contributes a brace for Leif Erikson, and the Vikings romp over Rainier SC, 5-1, to take possession of the Roosevelt Trophy for winning the state league's first half at West Seattle. The Vikings (8-1-1) finish two points ahead of Heidelberg (6-1-3).

Leif Erikson Vikings become just the second Washington club to reach the West Regional finals of the National Challenge Cup by dispatching San Francisco Scots, 3-1, on the road at Balboa Park. It's a comprehensive performance, with Geoff McKeown, Reider Olsen and player/coach Bob Hough tallying goals. Johnny Moore's penalty in the final minute averts a shutout for the Scots. Seattle Hungarians made the West finals in 1966.

Longtime historian and publicist Pep Peery unveils the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Washington State All-Time All-Star Team, with selections spanning the previous five decades. First and second teams are created, along with honorable mentions. The selection committee features Peery, Bill Chenowith, Tom Corbett, Eddie Craggs, Jack Goldingay, George Goers Sr., Emmett Brennan and Frank Webb. Webb was also voted the state' top all-time referee. He had officiated England first division matches before coming to the Northwest.

West Germany's Dettmar Cramer opens a series of youth clinics at Federal Way's Kilo Junior High School. Cramer, sponsored by FIFA and U.S. Soccer, is the former national team assistant coach. Cost for the six daily clinics is $5.

While attacking star Geoff McKeown is technically kept off the scoresheet, he assists on both Leif Erikson Vikings goals in first round National Challenge Cup win over Denver Kickers, 2-1, at Bothell's soggy Pop Keeney Field. Closely guarded throughout, in the first half McKeown finds Harold Myrold for the opener and Reidar Olsen for what proves to be the winner before 2,000 fans. Goalkeeper Gary DeVries stymies Denver apart from Gary Elbaum's score in the first half's dying seconds.

The U.S. Soccer Federation grants approval for Johnny Haas to enter his SeaTac SC in the four-team Western Canada Soccer League. Haas and Andrew Goodman will co-sponsor a team featuring top state league players for 18-game season during the spring and summer months. Seven home matches are to be played at West Seattle, two others at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound. The other three WCSL teams are Victoria Royals, Vancouver Spartans and Vancouver Cougars.

Seattle Magyars, second-best to Leif Erikson over the league season, manage to get the best of the Vikings in the Five-a-Side final at West Seattle. Brian Figgins scores the game's only goal in sudden-death overtime. The Magyars ousted Vancouver's Molson, 3-1, in one semifinal while the Norsemen were force to rally to beat Germania, 3-2. B.C. teams account for half of the 32 entries.

The state is experiencing booming growth in youth soccer, reports Washington State Junior Soccer Association president Tom Webb. During the fall, the number of registered players surpassed 10,000 boys on 690 teams. That figure does not include 70 teams in Seattle CYO leagues or high school programs. It is the largest figures in the country according to USSF secretary Joe Barriskill.

Balint Ducz announces he will no longer serve as manager and sponsor of Seattle Hungarians. Under Ducz's 11-year stewardship, the Hungarians won seven state championships, six Northwest championships and became the first Washington club to contend for the National Challenge Cup. Former league commissioner Andrew Goodman takes the reins and rebrands the teams as Seattle Magyars. The league recognizes it as a new entry rather than a continuation.

Sailors from Russian and West German ships moored in Seattle play to a 2-2 tie before their cheering crew mates at Lower Woodland. The local immigration office, shipping agents, a tour bus company and Seattle Parks partner to bring about the match between the supply ship Kulmerland and the Vladimir Mayakovsky. The Kulmerland weighs anchor two hours after the match's completion. Port officials note that seamen from about 60 different nations visit each year.

A screaming volley by defender Per Karlson and last-minute save by Per Ostobo lifts Leif Erikson Vikings to the Northwest championship, 4-3, over Portland's Germania at West Seattle. The Vikings get goals from Gordon Moser, Bob Hough and Harold Myrold for a 3-nil lead. Germania rally behind Ed Schott's brace to bring it level. It's the club's sixth Northwest title but first since 1963.

SeaTac SC manages its first win in the final game of the season, yet there is little satisfaction. They are awarded a forfeit when Vancouver Cougars arrive 1 hour 40 minutes late at Tacoma's Baker Stadium. All 500 fans are given refunds and players attempt to entertain them with a football field-goal kicking exhibition. After the Cougars arrive, they win a non-counting exhibition, 4-1. SeaTac finishes a distant fourth in the WCSL at 1-13-1.

Coco DeVettori's goal and Bob Brandolini's shutout give Seattle Heidelberg a 1-0 victory over Sons of Norway Vikings in the state's National Challenge Cup final. Both teams play stout defense until DeVettori takes a Mike Kuczi pass and shoots past Gary DeVries before 400 at Interbay. The Brewers advance to face a California entry in January.

Puget Sound deals Washington its first shutout in over a year and snaps the Huskies' five-game home win streak, 4-0, at Husky Stadium. The match is taped and later replayed on KSTW TV. Wes Jordan, Clint Scott (a 40-yard free kick), Bali Stefani and Chris Kock score for the Loggers.

Bob Hough scores early and Geoff McKeown strikes late for Leif Erikson Vikings as they secure the state league's second-half title with a 2-1 win against Heidelberg at Lower Woodland. McKeown's winner with five minutes left lands the Puget Sound Navigation trophy. It's the Vikings' first overall league crown since 1963.

Constantine Tagios hits late game-winner for Heidelberg in 2-1 upset of Leif Erikson Vikings, snapping the Norsemen's 24-match league unbeaten streak at Interbay. Looking like player of old, Mike Kuczi smashes 25-yard scorcher to put Brewers up. Reider Olsen equalizes, then speedy, small Greek winger works combination with Coco DeVettori and Roger Goldingay to produce Heidelberg's second and narrow the standings gap to one point.

After being blitzed in the first leg, Seattle CYO champion St. Bernadette's manages a 0-0 draw with the North Shore All-Stars at Lower Woodland. It's far from enough as the B.C. boys claim the Oldershaw trophy on aggregate, 8-0.

Swiss perennial contender FC Zurich impresses an audience of 1,500 at West Seattle by edging a Northwest Selection. Orchestrated by former Swiss player of the year Jacob Kuhn, the visitors win, 3-2, over a team comprised of SeaTac FC and Vancouver Cougars of the WCSL. Zurich, three-time national champions during the 1960s, is coming off a third-place finish.

After two barren seasons at Seattle Pacific, Arnie Aizstrauts resigns as head coach, citing increased demands in his role of Seattle Parks supervisor. The Falcons' first two varsity seasons netted just one victory in 16 intercollegiate outings.

SeaTac SC goalkeeper Martin Balss plays the match of his life, credited with 49 saves in holding touring Newcastle United to a 2-1 exhibition win before 4,000 at Memorial Stadium. Balss, a print press operator for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, saves a penalty attempt by star Bryan Robson. Keith Dyson's opener is canceled out by SeaTacs' Peter Carr seconds before halftime. A deflected shot by Dave Craig proves the difference. The Magpies are coming off a seventh-place finish in the English First Division. Originally, promoter and SeaTac co-owner Johnny Haas had hoped to secure Hertha Berlin as the Newcastle opponent, but the Germans opted not to tour the West Coast.

The Seattle area's Metro High School League begins its first official round of games at Memorial Stadium. Roosevelt beats Ballard, 4-2, in the inaugural match, but the Beavers' Jeff Martins and Hayward Evans score the first goals, before Tim Harvey's second-half brace for the Roughriders. Shoreline and Shorecrest tie, 1-1. Franklin-Cleveland (1-3) and Rainier Beach-West Seattle (0-2). There will be two doubleheaders each Saturday for six weeks. The eight teams will grow to 14 in 1971.