Opportunity Awaits Americans, Canadians
December 24, 1975
New NASL rules in 1976 stipulate squads reduced from 18 to 16 players and each team must have six North Americans.
Rivalry Attracts SI Spotlight
August 2, 1975
Sports Illustrated features the Sounders-Timbers series as it moves to Memorial Stadium and the second meeting in eight days. Barry Powell equalizes in the 90th minute, but Seattle wins it in the 93rd on a golden goal by John Rowlands.
Newport Huskies: Joy of Six
March 1, 1975
Eastside YSA’s U17 Newport Huskies win their sixth straight state championship convincingly, 9-2, over Seattle’s Hillwood Kickers, at Memorial Stadium. Steve Moore nets a hat trick and Ron Dorn adds two goals for Fred Conner’s squad.
Fans Pack Sounders Preseason Games
April 5, 1975
A pent-up demand to see the Sounders is obvious as big crowds turn-out for preseason games in various communities. Attendance is 6,614 at Everett Memorial Stadium for Seattle's 1-0 win over L.A. Altogether, over 19,000 watch exhibitions in Everett, Yakima, Burien and Tacoma.
Huskies Hoist First Sounders Cup
November 12, 1975
Washington clinches the Sounders Cup series by hammering Seattle Pacific, 4-0, in front of a record attendance for college soccer in the state – 5,200 at Husky Stadium. Doug Buck scored a brace on two long-distance strikes and twin brother Denny Buck posts the shutout.
USMNT Makes Itself at Home
June 24, 1975
For the first time the United States National Team hosts a match in the Pacific Northwest. The USMNT faces Poland, winner of the 1972 Olympic Games and third in the 1974 World Cup. Seattle’s Hank Liotart starts in midfield and both Dave D’Errico and Tim Logush feature in the 4-0 defeat before 13,195.
Play in the Snow? You Bet!
January 26, 1975
Bremerton’s Peewee Association postpones games due to fresh dumping of snow. Disappointed kids bombarded the league office with calls, so the games were played, with the parents marking out the lines on the snow-covered pitches with sand.
Pepe's Triumphant Return
June 14, 1975
After breaking his leg 13 months earlier, Pepe Fernandez returns and in his sixth game back comes off the bench to deliver a 95th minute Sounders winner, 2-1, versus Denver.
City Championship Created
September 30, 1975
An intracity competition to be known as Sounders Cup is introduced, with Seattle Pacific, Seattle University and Washington vying for trophy in existing home-and-home regular season series between teams.
NCAA Brings Finals to Seattle
June 4, 1975
NCAA accepts Seattle Pacific’s bid to host Division II semifinals, consolation and final at Memorial Stadium. Bid includes Nile Temple Shriners committing to buy 6,000 tickets each day.
Best Is First But Fourth
January 9, 1975
Sounders coach John Best becomes the first soccer personality nominated for “Post-Intelligencer” Sports Man of the Year award at the Olympic Hotel. Best finishes fourth in the voting, which is topped by bowler Earl Anthony.
Fire Claims Trophies, Shop
October 3, 1975
Fire destroys the original Sports Specialties soccer shop at 1530 1st Avenue South, Seattle. More than a uniform and equipment supplier Denzil Miskell’s store was the de facto hub of soccer activity and discussion. In addition to the shop’s inventory, also lost were four State League trophies, including the Eddie Craggs Memorial Cup.
Seattle Pacific Advances to Final
November 28, 1975
Ken Hall’s five saves secure the shutout and Daudi Abe gets the goal that avenges previous year’s championship game defeat to Adelphi as Falcons win semifinal before 5,000 at Memorial Stadium.
Match 1: Sounders v Timbers
May 2, 1975
Seattle and Portland meet for the first time at the professional level, with the Sounders getting a penalty kick from Jimmy Gabriel and a penalty save by Barry Watling to claim a 1-nil victory in soggy Civic Stadium.
Tacoma Boys Win at Home
June 7, 1975
Tacoma Strikers win the first USYSA U16 boys West Regional at Steilacoom, Wash., blasting the Valley Eagles of Van Nuys, Calif., 7-3, on two goals each from John Graves and Mark Peterson.
SPC Stopped Short of Title
December 9, 1975
The largest crowd in 41 years to see an amateur game in Seattle – 7,000 fans – witnesses Seattle Pacific scoring first but then falling in the NCAA Division II final, 3-1 to Baltimore in windy, near-freezing temperatures. Runner-up for a second year in a row, SPC coach Cliff McCrath said, “I’m proud of all my boys. Remember, a lot of gals had to go to more than two weddings before they caught the bouquet.”
Jack Daley, Sounders GM, on NASL rules requiring at least one North American player on the field, beginning in 1976
I don’t believe the fans are interested only in something stamped ‘Made in America.’ I think they want to see the best players available. The way to upgrade American soccer players is through experience and talent, not through legislation.
Sounders Seek Bigger Home
December 9, 1975
Sounders announce that after two seasons and 17 consecutive sellouts at Memorial Stadium, they are moving to the soon-to-be-completed Kingdome. Awaiting them are modern amenities such as parking, replay screens and protection from the elements, not to mention a larger, uncrowned playing surface. There will be no increase in ticket prices.
Steelers No Match for San Jose
April 20, 1975
Seattle United Steelers equalize in the 11th minute, through assists from Thor Tollefson and Steve Newman to Bruce Walyor, but the San Jose Portuguese pull away to win the U.S. Challenge Cup West region semifinal, 4-1, at West Seattle Stadium.
Huge Crowd, Pitch Invasion in Portland
August 12, 1975
Seattle reaches the NASL playoffs for the first time and although owning the third-highest point total in the league is pitted against points leader Portland in the first round. Before 31,523 (including an estimated 2,000 from Puget Sound), John Rowlands gives the visitors a lead early in the second half before Barry Powell answers. A pitch invasion ensues after Tony Betts gets the winner in the 97th minute.
It's Official: MT Wins
May 31, 1975
Mountlake Terrace claims the first official state high school championship, 3-2, over Bellevue’s Newport, on a Dale Buske volley with 3:22 remaining at Memorial Stadium. The Hawks come from two goals down in the final 12 minutes despite losing an ejected player. Attendance for the WIAA final is 1,247.
Auburn's McKeown Scores in NCAA Final
December 7, 1975
Greg McKeown of Auburn scores San Francisco's first goal as the Dons win the NCAA championship with a 4-0 blowout of SIU Edwardsville. McKeown, one of only three Americans in the lineup, had also assisted on the USF overtime game-winner versus Brown in the semifinals. Greg's brother Brad is a freshman playing for Washington and Darren, 13, won a state youth skills test during the summer.
Indoor Exposure
February 21, 1975
Sounders play indoor, 6-a-side version for the first time, in NASL regional tournament at San Francisco’s Cow Palace. Seattle is drubbed by San Jose, 14-4.
Pele´Pays First Visit
July 5, 1975
A national TV audience descends upon Seattle for the first time as newly-signed Pele´ visits with his New York Cosmos. The Sounders bring in additional bleachers, boosting capacity to 17,925 at Memorial Stadium. Hank Liotart scores from the spot and Tommy Baldwin seals the 2-0 win.
I never had an opportunity to be terribly physical when I was younger. I never competed in sports or in a team situation with women. I am in better physical condition now than I have been in 10 years.
— Mary Hunter, player in Washington State Women’s Soccer Association
We’ve been happy in Memorial. We averaged 16,830 a game. But interest indicates we need a larger place. Memorial has only 12,000 seats between the penalty areas. In the Kingdome, we will have 18,000.
— Jack Daley, Sounders GM
We’d be here – even if Pele´ wasn’t.
— Seattle fan’s banner at Memorial Stadium for Brazilian star’s first Seattle visit
Collegiate Men's Records
Central Washington (club) |
4-4-0 |
Gonzaga (club) |
n/a |
Pacific Lutheran |
3-7-2 |
Puget Sound |
4-5-2 |
Seattle University |
6-6-1 |
Seattle Pacific |
14-4-5 |
Washington |
16-5-2 |
Washington State (club) |
n/a |
Western Washington (club) |
2-7-1 |
Washington State Youth Cup Winners
Age |
Boys | Girls |
U9 |
Lake Hills Satellites (EYSA) | West Highline Little Kicks (HAS) |
U10 |
McGilvra Donover Devils (SYSA) | Skyway Reds (GRJSA) |
U11 |
Totem Trappers (FWSA) | Highline Good Guys (HAS) |
U12 |
Totem Tornado (FWSA) | Fircrest Sweetfoots (TPCJSA) |
U13 |
Totem Jets (FWSA) | Midway Demons (HAS) |
U14 |
Hillwood Hawks (SYSA) | Shorelake Roadrunners (SYSA) |
U15 |
South Lakes Hydros (FWSA) | Kiwanis Killers (TPCJSA) |
U16 |
Walt's Hotspurs (TPCJSA) | Swiftkickers (TPCJSA) |
U17 |
Newport Huskies (EYSA) | Ed-Lyn Hyster (SSCJSA) |
U19 |
Sunset Huskies (EYSA) | Newport Hills Bombers (EYSA) |