Let’s Hear It for the Boys

1971 – Around the World and Close to Home

China’s Chairman Mao invites U.S. table tennis team to visit Beijing, and a week later the U.S. ends its trade embargo with China. Congressional passage of 26th Amendment to Constitution lowers legal voting age to 18. Glasgow's Ibrox Park stairway gives way, killing 66 and injuring over 200 at Rangers-Celtic match. Seattle voters approve preserving Pike Place Market as a historic district. Starbucks opens its first coffee shop on Western Avenue, near Pike Place Market. Kirkland native JoAnne Carner becomes the first to win all three U.S. Golf Association titles by earning her first U.S. Open. Lynn and Rick Colella win backstroke and breaststroke gold at the Pan Am Games in Colombia.

Let’s Hear It for the Boys

It’s one thing to have a gut feeling. It’s another step to publicly express that notion, and still a lengthy leap beyond that to outwardly act upon that belief. And that’s exactly what Mike Ryan did in 1971, when he invited the U.S. Olympic Team to get a taste of how Washington amateurs could compete on the pitch.

So convinced was Ryan that he staged a high-profile match (actually a doubleheader) to prove his point, that this state’s best compared favorably with the top players in America. And while he didn’t realize the ultimate objective of placing his players on the ’72 Olympic Team, it was a point proven Ryan’s Triumph Continentals fell, 3-1, to the Olympic Team while his Seattle selects won, 2-1, against the Olympian reserves.

It was the first salvo fired in demonstrative show of support for emerging local talent. Bud Greer’s FC Seattle, stocked almost exclusively with local players, would give the Olympic Team all it could handle in 1984 and go on to win a league championship. Local colleges and senior amateur clubs committed to going all-Northwest, if not all-Washington, in competing for multiple national championships. The NASL Sounders developed a handful of homegrown pros who merited national team call-ins, and that tradition has accelerated in the USL and MLS eras.

The path from expectation to certainty might have been a protracted one for Ryan. He was attracted to the area by reports of passionate displays exhibited by various ethnic squads in Sunday state league tilts. “Immigrant soccer could not sustain itself,” he said later. “Attracting youth was essential to the game’s growth.”

Ryan was soon coaching the CYO team at St. Catherine’s Parish. He was teaching the game in terms of both technique and devotion. “I started getting some really good American kids,” he said.

If you were coached during that era by Ryan, or Robin Chalmers or Geoff Wall or Walter Schmetzer, the style may have differed, yet their craft was common. They might be gruff, they might shout, they might, at times, become animated on the sidelines. But they knew the game, and they all wanted the best for – and from – their players.

Paul Mendes, who came to Bellevue from Brazil, played for Ryan as a youth and again in college and state league. “He was fully dedicated to the game,” said Mendes. “He was an old-school coach, not very complicated. He was all about work ethic and full commitment.”

By 1971, in addition to his day job as a shipyard steel molder, Ryan coached three teams: University of Washington varsity, Triumph Continentals (state league) and Lake City Raiders (youth). Ten years later, he was coaching two women’s teams to multiple regional and national titles, feats leading to his appointment as the first head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team. There he picked a squad with a heavy concentration of Washington women, including Michelle Akers. In earlier days, Akers had desperately wanted to beat Ryan’s teams.

“I loved it and rose to the occasion to play against a top team and impress Mike,” she says. Later on, Akers played under Ryan on the national team. “I enjoyed Mike’s intensity to win, his passion and expectation to be the best.”

Jimmy McAlister, the first of Ryan’s players to reach professional stardom, credits him for building the foundation for more and more success to come.

“It started in the Sixties and with guys like Mike Ryan going door to door, just trying to put together teams of 11 players. They were the cornerstones, people who put in tons and tons of hours without getting paid. Without those guys like Mike, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

ADULT AMATEUR
Northwest Champion
Germania Portland 3:2 aet Sons of Norway Vikings
State Men's Champion
Sons of Norway Vikings 3:1 Triumph Continental
COLLEGIATE
Men's Collegiate Postseason
Seattle Pacific (NCAA, 1st rnd)
Men's Conference Champions
Western Washington (WWSC)
YOUTH
WASHINGTON YOUTH SOCCER
President
Tom Webb
Member Associations
4
Players
11,312 (11,312 boys)
Largest Attendance
9,710, West Ham United v Rot Weiss Essen, Memorial Stadium, 6/11/1971

1971: Let’s Hear It for the Boys

Mike Ryan believes in young local boys, so much so that he challenges the U.S. Olympic Team to a match.

Olympia Vikings Secure First Half Crown
December 5, 1971

Doc Grundy's brace gives the Olympia Brewing Vikings (formerly Sons of Norway) a 3-1 victory over Heidelberg and an insurmountable lead in the state league's first half at Lower Woodland. Reider Olsen sets-up Grundy for both second half goals. Oly eventually finishes with 22 points (11-1-0), three points ahead of Triumph Continental (9-2-1).

Cannon, Chico Blast Falcons
November 20, 1971

Otey Cannon fires all six goals in Chico State's 6-1 demolition of Seattle Pacific in an NCAA first-round tournament game at Chico, Ca. Ken Covell scores his record 12th goal for the Falcons, who then are credited with a forfeit in the regional consolation match the next day, when UC Davis withdraws. SPC had been unbeaten (6-0-2) in its last eight games.

SeaTac SC Can't Beat Austrians
August 15, 1971

SeaTac SC, revived a year after away, drops its second game to Vienna's Sandt FC, 3-2, at Tacoma's Baker Stadium. It's the fifth win in six games for the Austrians during their western U.S. tour. Mike Kuczi and Peter Carr score for SeaTac, which also fell, 2-0, Aug. 13 at West Seattle.

West Seattle, Shorecrest Share Metro Title
March 3, 1971

Still at loggerheads after regulation, West Seattle and Shorecrest share the Metro League championship following a 2-2 draw at Memorial Stadium. West Seattle leads 2-1 at halftime on a header from league scoring leader Ron Knodel. Defending champ Shorecrest ties it with 26 minutes left on a Brad Callan penalty kick. While the referee says international rules allow for 15 minutes of extra time, Metro officials rule the game over after regulation.

Good Crowd, Sloppy Weather for Brewers' Win
March 6, 1971

A cold, steady rain makes for a slick Memorial Stadium surface, but Seattle Heidelberg manages to find a goal in its National Challenge Cup first leg victory over San Pedro Yugoslavs. Following a scoreless, physical first half, Mike Kuczi is fouled in the box. San Pedro players and substitutes rush the field in protest to referee Ron Frick. Once Frick restores order, Kuczi coolly clips his penalty kick off the left post and into the net. Bob Wilds is equal to the Yugoslavs' late pressure in the 1-0 win before 3,100.

Vancouver Side Wins Five-a-Side
April 25, 1971

Mount Pleasant Legion lays claim to the 28th annual Seattle Five-a-Side at West Seattle. The Vancouver side, the first Canadian winners in three years, gets two goals from Steve Morely in a 4-2 win over Heidelberg in the final. Roger Goldingay accounts for both Brewers goals. Sons of Norway Vikings extended Mount Pleasant to overtime in the semifinals before losing on a tiebreaker.

Vikings Win State Championship
April 18, 1971

Sons of Norway Vikings claim the state league crown and Eddie Craggs trophy by defeating Triumph Continental, 3-1, before 1,000 at West Seattle. The first-half winners get two goals from outbound star Bob Hough and another from Mikko Niemela. Bruce Walyor scores for Triumph. Hough, one of the area's top layers for four seasons, is set to join San Francisco Scots the following week. Tacoma wins the Chidgey Cup for the second division, beating American-European Federation, 3-1. Hough is among the massive Boeing layoffs.

Olsen's United Second-Best in West
June 27, 1971

State champion Olsen's United of Bellevue succumbs to Nanaimo's Mount Benson Legionnaires in the Pacific Coast U19 championship final at Kent Meridian High School. Derek Goldingay gets Olsen's level by halftime but the B.C. boys score through Ray Clarke and Gordy Gibbins in the second half before 750 fans. On May 16 in Portland, U13 Newport Huskies are runners-up to Juventus of Redwood City, 3-2, in overtime of the West Coast Invitational.

Hong Kong Club Rips All-Stars
July 14, 1971

In the first visit by a touring club from Asia, Hong Kong's fit and polished Sing Tao pulls away from the State League All-Stars, 7-1, before 2,000 at Bellevue's Newport High School. Woo Kwok Hun starts and finishes the scoring, and Chueng Chi Wai's second-half hat trick enables the visitors to run away from a 2-1 halftime. The Tigers finish their West Coast tour at 5-0-1.

Local Olympic Hopefuls Face U.S. Olympic Team
April 16, 1971

In a remarkable effort to showcase young local talent, the U.S. Olympic Team plays a doubleheader before 3,000 at Memorial Stadium. A more seasoned state league selection defeats the Olympian reserves, 2-1, in the opening game. John Goldingay and Tim Allen score. In the featured second game, a selection of young Triumph Continental players falls, 3-1, to the Olympians. Triumph's Larry Oliver scores from yards past Shep Messing. Ward Forrest, Mac Taylor and Gordy Moser are guest substitutes for the U.S.

Marymoor Park Fields Dedicated
October 30, 1971

Thirteen new fields at Redmond's Marymoor Park are dedicated with a ceremonial kickoff featuring King County Commissioner John Spellman. Some 3,000 attend, including hundreds of players who begin games immediately. Lake Washington Junior Soccer Association volunteers had labored to make the surface playable. Until recently it had been an uneven cow pasture. LWJSA has grown from 55 boys to over 1,600 in five years.

Heidelberg Advances Past San Jose
February 21, 1971

Physicality triumphed over finesse as Seattle’s Heidelberg beat San Jose Grenadiers, 4-2, in advancing to the National Challenge Cup’s West finals at Memorial Stadium. A stout defense stymied the visitors’ diminutive frontrunners. Les Fabri puts the Brewers up in the 10th minute, and he doubles the lead minutes later. Colin Lindores brings the Grenadiers a goal back, but Mike Kuczi’s penalty following a foul on John Goldingay makes it 3-1 at halftime. Coco DeVettori scores in the second half.

Olsen's United Repeat, Win U19 State Cup
April 4, 1971

Ward Forrest's goal with 19 minutes to go draws Olsen's United level, 1-1, with Newport Striders in the U19 state cup final before 1,800 at Memorial Stadium. Three weeks later Washington State Junior Soccer Association s Olsen's the winner, rather than co-champion, upon learning Newport used an ineligible player. U13 Newport Zebras forward Steve Pastornicky earns tourney MVP honors. U14 Cheney Studs' Mike Graham is top the goalie. U13 Newport Huskies join Olsen's as repeat champions.

Tacoma Boys Embark for England
June 19, 1971

Tacoma's Cheney Studs Hustlers, an under-16 boys' team, leave for their three-week, six-game tour of England. A local powerhouse and current state champion with a 65-match win streak, the Hustlers go 0-3-3 in competitive but also take part in many cultural activities and classes.

Falcons No Longer a Doormat
November 4, 1971

Once the doormat of the conference, Seattle Pacific thrusts itself into the title race by shocking defending champion Western Washington, 4-1, on a muddy pitch in Bellingham. Freshman Ken Covell sparks the attack with a brace. Since going winless in the first 14 games under second-year coach Cliff McCrath, the Falcons have won four and tied once. It's just the Vikings' fifth WWSC loss in four seasons.

McKeown Earns NASL Signing
August 20, 1971

Perennial Vikings scoring star Geoff McKeown makes his professional debut with the NASL Washington Darts. The 0-0 draw with Atlanta is the first of three substitute appearances for McKeown.

Oregon Stops Slide, Nips Vikings
May 23, 1971

For the first time in 19 years Oregon's representative wins the Northwest championship at Delta Park. Portland's SC Germania nips Sons of Norway Vikings, 3-2, in overtime on Steve Petaki's winner in the first extra period. Hans Lundquist and Andy Anderson twice put the Vikings in front, only to have Eddie Schott equalize. Germania keeper Dieter Hundt is credited with 25 saves. Not since 1952 (Clan McClay) has the Oregon representative held the title.

Western Washington First Again
November 20, 1971

A forfeit hands Western Washington its third consecutive Western Washington Soccer Conference championship on the final day of the season. British Columbia Institute of Technology fails to appear at Battersby Field, effectively snapping a three-way tie atop the league standings, with the Vikings (8-2-2) finishing two points ahead of Seattle University and Seattle Pacific. Western's 0-0 draw Seattle U a week earlier was the Chieftains' final game, opening the door for WWU to three-peat.

Yugoslavs Comeback Assures Cup Advancement
March 14, 1971

Seattle Heidelberg seems to wilt in the warm southern California sun as San Pedro Yugoslavs win the second of the National Challenge Cup West regional final, 2-0, at Rancho Cienega Stadium in Los Angeles. The Long Beach-based side advances to the national semifinals on aggregate, 2-1. Rade Tutuldgdzija scores in the first period, and Karlo Martisek converts a combination move for the decisive second after the interval. Brewers manager Alex Lennox files a protest, citing use of an ineligible player, but it is denied and San Pedro proceeds to reach the final, where it loses to New York's Hota SC, 6-4, in extra time.

Brewers Bank Knockout Trophy
January 3, 1971

Heidelberg Brewers take the Pacific Coast Coal Cup knockout final, 4-2, over Sons of Norway Vikings at Lower Woodland. It's the Brewers' third win over the vaunted Vikings in three months, across three competitions. John and Roger Goldingay each score in first half, while Heinz Ritter makes a goal line clearance. Bob Hough adds a third before Les Fabri finally pulls the Viks a goal back. Peter Carr's scorching drive makes it 4-1.

Behind McKenna, SPC Crushes BCIT
November 13, 1971

Behind a record four-goal performance by Doug McKenna, Seattle Pacific crushes British Columbia Institute of Technology, 8-3, at Interbay to temporarily take over first place in the Western Washington Soccer Conference. The Falcons, who also get two goals from Ken Covell, receive an NCAA tournament berth two days later, after finishing the regular season 6-2-4 one year after going winless.

Record Crowd Sees West Ham, Rot Weiss Essen
June 11, 1971

A record crowd of nearly 10,000 watches star-studded West Ham United draw, 2-2, with West Germany's Rot Weiss Essen at Memorial Stadium. The attendance of 9,710 surpasses a 1926 mark of 8,000 for a state league match and West Ham's 1969 visit which pulled 7,764. The proceeds, less the guarantee of $10,500, will be directed for the Washington State Junior Soccer Association. The Hammers feature 1966 English World Cup heroes Geoff Hurst, who scores the game's opener, and Bobby Moore. Rolland Pietsch ties it by intermission for Rot Weiss Essen. Clyde Best restores the lead yet Willie Lippens equalizes.

Triumph Continental Rallies to Clinch
April 4, 1971

A strange twist of events combine to clinch the state league second half for Triumph Continental. Rallying from a 3-1 halftime deficit, the Continentals get two goals from Hans Hoerschelman and one from Brian Franklin to pass Rainier Brewing, 5-3. It takes Triumph (8-1-0) to an insurmountable 16 points with one round remaining. Meanwhile, Heidelberg is ruled a forfeit loser to Boeing. Eight Brewers players arrive for the game, and two are sent off with Boeing up, 1-nil. Referee Bill Patterson rules it a forfeit with only six players remaining.

Thanks to Throws, Vikings Vanquish Huskies
November 6, 1971

Throw-ins from Bill Carr lead to three Western Washington goals as the Vikings vanquish Washington, 5-1, at Battersby Field. Joe Peterson heads in two of Carr's long throws, and Glenn Hindin also scores twice and assists Manfred Kuerstan's breakaway. After a 6-1-0 start the Huskies are 0-3-1.

Youth Numbers Continue Surge
January 31, 1971

Washington State Junior Soccer Association participation continue to surge. WSJSA vice-president Karl Grosch reports the number of registered teams increased in the fall 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.

Hitherto, soccer in the United States has been an ethnic group activity...But the grass roots are taking hold and, given normal development, the game will grow into professional stature.
Hy Zimmerman, Seattle Times columnist
The only first-class facilities, for both players and fans, are our two AstroTurfed stadiums, High School Memorial and the University of Washington...Best solution would be for the booters to have their own park. It wouldn’t have to be an elaborate affair – just something modest, say in the $1 million range.
Seattle Times columnist Vince O'Keefe lamenting the dearth of proper soccer venues
The conference has been sadly neglected by the Commissioner, and rules regarding the use of graduate students, exchange students, and in the case of Western Washington...We feel that in the eyes of most people, and especially our students, our team, Seattle Pacific and the UW clubs have not had a fair shake in the league.
Seattle University coach Hugh McArdle on the Western Washington Soccer Conference's lax administration
The primary purpose for the formation of SeaTac Soccer Promotions Inc. was to promote and publicize adult soccer for the benefit of the entire general public of this area. To be frank, we took adult soccer, removed it from the last page, bottom column of the sports section and moved it to the forefront on several occasions. This was achieved only at considerable expense and effort.
Henry Haas, SeaTac SC co-owner, responding to Seattle P-I criticism of semipro team's struggles in 1970
The episode with Andrea has been beneficial, for it started girls’ soccer. When you stop and think, there are all kinds of activities for little boys but not for girls.
Malcolm Carton, whose daughter Andrea was unable to play for a Redmond boys team without parents' complaints.
It’ll either shut my big mouth or make them do a recount. There is still a whole year to finalize the Olympic squad. What I’m really angry about is that I never got an explanation why one of our fellows made it.
Triumph Continental coach Mike Ryan, arguing that no Washington players receive serious consideration for the Olympic Team
It was in 1910. An Englishman named Jack Evans sent to Seattle for some balls and got us started. In the next few years Black Diamond became the soccer capital of the Northwest.
Black Diamond Mayor Vic Weston on the roots of the city's storied soccer history
We can’t take a chance on being rained out or having an official call a game for unplayable conditions with the tightness of our schedule. Furthermore, because Interbay and West Seattle are not properly drained or rolled, it actually is dangerous for players, with sprains and broken legs a definite possibility.
George Craggs on the state association's decision to move all remaining first-half games to Lower Woodland
Here our state, numerically at least, is rated the top soccer sector in the country, so how come it is not represented on the United State Olympic squad?
Seattle Times columnist Hy Zimmerman
Collegiate Men's Records
Pacific Lutheran 0-9-2
Puget Sound 4-5-1
Seattle University 6-2-4
Seattle Pacific 7-3-4
Washington 7-5-1
Western Washington 5-2-2 (club)
Whitman n/a (club)
Washington State Youth Champions
Age Boys
U11 Ansa Quicksilver (TPCJSA)
U12 Lake Hills Strikers (EYSA)
U13 Newport Huskies (EYSA)
U14 Newport Zebras (EYSA)
U16 Cheney Studs Hustlers (TPCJSA)
U17 Olsen's United (EYSA)
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July 25, 2015
Jonathan Campbell's late winner sends Seattle Sounders U23s through to the PDL Finals with a 2-1 victory over host FC Tucson for the Western Conference championship. Seattle never trails, with Kento Sakurai giving the visitors a 1-nil lead after two minutes. With 10 minutes left, Florian Valot's corner finds Troy Peterson, whose shot is cleared off the line. Campbell hits the rebound into the roof netting. Guillermo Delgado had the Sounders U23 semifinal winner over Burlingame, 1-0. Tucson had eliminated Kitsap, 4-1, in the other conference semi.
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June 20, 1987
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For the second time in as many nights Puget Sound works overtime to advance in the NCAA Division III soccer tournament, beating Hardin-Simmons, 1-0, at Thousand Oaks, Calif. Amalia Acorda-Fey nets the winner at 101:47, collecting her own rebound and finding the far post. It's the 15th win in a row for the Loggers and sixth consecutive shutout. They had upset host Cal Lutheran the night before, 1-0, on Jill Shimabuku's golden goal in the 102nd minute. Washington (Mo.) knocks-out UPS in the third round, 3-0.
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