Preki Clinches Assist Record, Loses Scoring Race
April 16, 1988
Peter Ward totals four goals and six points, and Preki loses the MISL scoring race but clinches the assist title in a 9-7 Stars victory over Kansas City before 14,357 in the Tacoma Dome. Preki earns three assists to finish with a record 58 for the season, but Wichita's Erik Rasmussen wins the overall scoring title with 112 points to Preki's record 111. Earlier in the day the MISL players union reaches an agreement with owners on a salary cap of $900,000. It also caps individual salaries at $90,000, with Preki and Steve Zungul having been due to make far beyond that.
Preki MVP as West All-Stars Win
February 17, 1988
A Tacoma Dome crowd of 17,251 sees West, behind Preki’s hat trick, beat East, 9-3. Preki scored twice in the first quarter, after which West lead, 4-0. Preki is voted MVP over teammate Steve Zungul, who scored twice. Another Stars representative, Mike Dowler, makes 15 saves. It’s the second-largest crowd in MISL All-Star history.
England, El Salvador Win Amputee WC
September 5, 1988
England rallies from a 3-0 halftime deficit to beat defending champion El Salvador, 4-3, in the indoor final of the Amputee Soccer International World Cup at the Woodinville Soccer Center. In the outdoor final at Shoreline Stadium, El Salvador defeated Seattle, 3-0. Teams from four nations compete in the third annual event. The English national team features three former pros.
Eagles Draw, Go Out on Aggregate
June 2, 1988
In the second leg of their Champions Cup series, Seattle Mitre Eagles hold Mexico’s Cruz Azul to a scoreless draw in a steady rain at Memorial Stadium. The Eagles finish with a 15-5 advantage in shots, 8-1 in corner kicks. Attempts by Paul Retchless and Peter Hattrup hit the post and crossbar, respectively. Most of the estimated 500 fans root for Cruz Azul.
World Cup Coming to America
July 4, 1988
At 4:21 a.m. Pacific Time, FIFA executive vice president Harry Cavan announces from Zurich that the 1994 World Cup will be coming to the U.S. Morocco and Brazil finish second and third in the balloting. A gathering of soccer community leaders and players gather with local media at Seattle Pacific University, where coach Cliff McCrath predicts soccer will take “center stage” in the nation by 2000. Husky Stadium is among 18 stadia in 16 cities under consideration to host matches.
Pacific Lutheran Wins National Title
November 20, 1988
Pacific Lutheran become the state’s first women’s collegiate champions, taking the NAIA title, 2-0, over Hardin-Simmons, in Abilene, Texas. Laura Dutt and Sonya Brandt score for the Lutes – Brandt scoring her record 127th career goal – and Gail Stenzel gets her 15th shutout. Brandt. Who scored her record 127th career goal, is named the tournament’s most outstanding player, goalkeeper Gail Stevens posts her record 42nd career shutout, and PLU’s Colleen Hacker is voted coach of the year.
Hinton Returns to Coach Tacoma
August 9, 1988
Alan Hinton returns to coach born-again Stars, six months after being dismissed by former owners. His contract of $72,000 is nearly $50,000 less than what he was paid the first time around.
Akers Named Collegiate Player of the Year
January 20, 1988
Michelle Akers, who prepped at Shorecrest and now plays for Central Florida, is named the college player of the year by the NCAA and the National Collegiate Soccer Coaches Association of America. Akers scores 11 goals to help UCF reach the NCAA quarterfinals. Also named to the Division I All-America team were Lori Henry of North Carolina (Shorewood), Colorado College's Kerri Tashiro (Interlake) and Shelley Separovich (Shorecrest), and California's Kathy Ridgewell (Evergreen).
After 5 Seasons, Stars Close Shop
July 8, 1988
Following an unsuccessful, last-minute season ticket drive with an objective of 2,000 new sales, the Tacoma Stars fold. They are joined by Chicago and, since the season ended, St. Louis and Minnesota. “The grass-roots support for this team was tremendous,'' said board chairman Lowry Wyatt. ''But the business marketplace was just not able to support this size of an operation.'' 'It's an incredible loss,'' said Nancy Mendoza, a 13-year resident of Tacoma who organized 100 volunteers in an effort to meet the goal of selling 2,000 season tickets. ''The Stars provided the energy that a community needs to move forward. Now we just have to regroup.''
Rams 35th Straight Win is Sweetest
May 28, 1988
Led by Ben Erickson and Todd Haley goals, Mount Rainier runs unbeaten streak to 35 games by winning AA title, 3-0 over Spokane’s West Valley at Memorial Stadium.
Early Goals, Koch's 12 Saves Key Storm road Win
July 16, 1988
Seattle strikes early, getting goals from Eddie Henderson and Peter Hattrup in the first 7 minutes, and Jeff Koch makes a record 12 saves for a 2-1 win over the California Kickers at Tom Bradley Stadium. Both Henderson and Hattrup have scored in three consecutive games.
Terrace Girls First to Repeat
November 19, 1988
Mountlake Terrace becomes the state’s first repeat WIAA girls champion at any level, beating Olympia, 6-0, at Renton Stadium. Janelle King caps her 12-goal postseason with a hat trick in the AA final. Kennedy (20-0-1) defeats Issaquah, 1-0, for AAA girls title. Dee Dee Robertson scores the only goal.
Hinton Out, McAlister In for Stars
February 23, 1988
With a 17-18 start following a runner-up finish the year before, Tacoma Stars fire Alan Hinton and replace him with Jimmy McAlister, 31. The team, reportedly rife with dissension in the locker room, goes 10-11 the remainder of the regular season.
Tournaments Are No Time to Rest
September 9, 1988
Early-season collegiate tournaments provide opportunities for teams to play out-of-state teams yet they are also a test of depth and fitness. The Evergreen State College conducts an invitational men's tourney in Olympia with teams playing twice on the first day, then a third match the following day before cost-conscious visitors return home. The Far West Classic, which has rotated between Washington and California since 1973, involves eight teams playing single games over three consecutive days of Labor Day weekend, often in high heat.
Stars Rise Up Late, Beat Sting
February 19, 1988
Down 4-2, the Tacoma Stars pull their keeper and proceed to score three times in the final 1 minute, 17 seconds to beat Chicago, 5-4, before 9,984. Steve Zungul's 36th goal starts the rally with 77 seconds to go. Eleven ticks later, Peter Ward ties it. Gary Heale completes the comeback victory, scoring with 30 seconds remaining. It snaps a four-game Tacoma (16-18) losing streak.
Goulet Brace Leads Oylmpic-Bound USA
May 25, 1988
Tacoma's Brent Goulet scores twice within 16 minutes, lifting the United States to a 4-1 victory over El Salvador in an Olympic soccer Group A qualifying match in Indianapolis. The U.S. had already clinched a berth in the Seoul Games. Goulet leads the team with six goals during qualifying.
Stars Bring Back Preki
September 20, 1988
Preki, 24, returns to Tacoma, taking a pay cut from his $75,000 salary. Portgual’s Estra De Amdadora had signed him to a three-year contact during the summer but the Stars negotiated his release.
Storm Beats Boro, Former Coach
June 11, 1988
Former Sounders star and FC Seattle coach Bruce Rioch brings recently-promoted Middlesbrough of the English first division to Memorial Stadium to play the Storm as part of a four-match U.S. tour. Seattle wins, 2-1, on goals four minutes apart by Chance Fry and Eddie Henderson.
Promotion/Relegation Comes to NCSC
January 29, 1988
The Northwest Collegiate Soccer Conference votes to adopt a two-division men’s format, with the Olympic Division comprised of the top six teams from 1987 and the Cascade consisting of the remaining six. Following the 1988 season and from thereafter will be promotion and relegation.
WA's Higgins Leads UNC to Threepeat
November 20, 1988
Kent’s Shannon Higgins scores three goals to lead North Carolina to its third straight NCAA title, 4-1 over North Carolina State in Chapel Hill. Higgins, the Tar Heels’ leading scorer with 13 goals and 17 assists, is named the most valuable offensive player after four goals and two assists in the semifinal and final.
FC Seattle Blasts Quakes for Championship
July 30, 1988
After not scoring during the regular season, Bob Bruch scores twice in first eight minutes of the WSA championship match as FC Seattle smashes San Jose, 5-0, before 4,321 at Memorial Stadium. It’s the fifth straight win for the Storm, who leave the following day for a five-match tour of England and Scotland.
Big Crowd Welcomes Back Stars
November 4, 1988
A crowd of 12,218 greets the resurrected Tacoma Stars on opening night. The Stars, featuring Schmetzer brothers, Brian, Andy and Walter, lose to Dallas, 6-5, in triple overtime. Peter Ward scores three goals for Tacoma. Walt Schmetzer is stretchered from the field in the fourth quarter with a season-ending knee injury.
Sounders Beat Timbers in Reunion
July 9, 1988
In the first Sounders reunion game since 1982, the Seattle alums beat their Timbers counterparts, 1-0, behind Roger Davies goal. The game is held prior to the Seattle-Portland Western Soccer Alliance fixture. Among former NASL players returning are Davies, Tommy Hutchison, Jimmy Gabriel, Frank Barton, Steve Buttle, Tony Chursky, Ray Evans, Pepe Fernandez, Dave Gillett, Tommy Jenkins, Jimmy McAlister, Neil Megson, Tommy Ord, Mark Peterson, Roy Sinclair, Mike Ivanow, Adrian Webster, Jack Brand and Peter Ward.
Raiders Reclaim State Title
May 28, 1988
Thomas Jefferson reclaims AAA boys title, beating defending champ Cascade on penalties after drawing, 3-3. The Bruins score three times in the final 13 minutes to lead, 3-2, before the Raiders tie in the final minute. "In the history of high school state championships, this game has to be put down in every book," said Jefferson coach Jim Judson.
Goulet Scores, U.S. Exits Olympics
September 22, 1988
Brent Goulet of Tacoma scores, but the United States is eliminated from the Olympic Games by a 4-2 loss to the Soviet Union in Taegu, South Korea. The U.S. (0-1-2) needed a win in the final group stage match but fell behind 4-0 before Goulet's screamer from a Ricky Davis assist in the 65th minute.
Finnair Supplants Cozars
April 30, 1988
Finnair Mavericks end the four-year reign of Cozars as state women’s champions. Bonnie Broughton scores the only goal in the final.
Cruz Azul Crushes Seattle Amateurs
May 11, 1988
Cruz Azul, featuring five Mexican internationals, drubs Seattle Mitre Eagles, 9-0, in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The Eagles’ flights are delayed and connections missed. Instead of arriving the night before, their bus arrives at the stadium 20 minutes before kickoff, in 100-degree heat.
FIFA Reps Tour Husky Stadium
April 17, 1988
FIFA technical group completes a weeklong inspection of Husky Stadium, which is included in U.S. bid for 1994 World Cup. Paul Stiehl, head of U.S. organizing committee, claims natural turf can be successfully laid over existing artificial surface. UW athletic director Mike Lude wants assurances that the sand, gravel and sod won’t damage the football field.
Storm Clinches First Place
July 17, 1988
John Hamel scores twice in the final 20 minutes at San Jose to clinch the WSA regular season title for FC Seattle, 3-1, and home-field advantage in the championship game.
Sixty Acres Expansion Rejected
July 21, 1988
King County Parks rejects the Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association’s request to construct another 12 fields on county-owned land in Redmond’s undeveloped Sixty Acres Park. LWYSA already has 19 fields for 13,000 youth players.
Stars Are Born Again
August 4, 1988
Tacoma is officially readmitted to MISL. Jim Manza, Fife restauranteur, heads a new group of investors who negotiate with the City of Tacoma for $400,000 in concession revenue, flexible Tacoma Dome scheduling and a waiver of dome rental fees and staffing charges.
Storm Rallies to Beat Portland in OT
July 9, 1988
Peppering Portland with a league-record 33 shots, FC Seattle rallies to win in overtime, 3-2, before its largest crowd in four years – 6,427. Peter Hattrup’s goal in the 13th minute of extra time seals it and clinches a playoff berth.
Touring FC Seattle Draws at Hull City
August 16, 1988
Tad Willoughby scores twice as the Storm’s England tour ends with a 2-2 draw at Second Division Hull City. FC Seattle had lost to Oldham (2-0, 2nd), Middlesbrough (3-0, 1st) and Sunderland (3-0, 2nd) and also drawn, 2-2, at Lincoln City (4th).
Stars Staring at the Brink
June 15, 1988
Tacoma Stars seek $500,000 from new investors by June 30 or they will either fold or suspend operations. The Stars lost $1 million the past season and nearly $9 million since starting in 1983.
Washington-Powered Pilots Reach NCAA Semi
December 3, 1988
Freshman goalkeeper Kasey Keller of Olympia is among several Washington state players who lead the University of Portland to the NCAA Division I finals in Bloomington, Indiana. The undefeated (21-0-0) Pilots, who also feature WA products Garrett Smith, Jason Russ, Wade Webber, Jim Weber and Robb Sakamoto, are the first Northwest program to advance that far. Portland loses to eventual champion Indiana, 1-0, in the semifinal.
I'm sad for the sport, I'm sad for the players and I'm sad for the community.
— Jimmy McAlister, Tacoma Stars coach after the original ownership group folds the club
We want to win this thing, even without the luxury of fans. I don't miss all the pressure the coaches exerted on us. I find amateur soccer really refreshing, playing for the joy of the game, not the money.
— Eddie Krueger, former pro now electrical engineer playing for Seattle Mitre Eagles
The trickery of Preki, the strength of Zungul, the cunning of (Erik) Rasmussen. They put on a super show.
— Alan Hinton, Tacoma Stars and MISL West All-Star coach
Eddie (Henderson)'s been a revelation to us. 'Everybody expects something exciting to happen when he gets the ball.
— Tommy Jenkins, FC Seattle coach, on the Storm’s celebrated new catalyst
This will help the Storm. They need to play this type of soccer when we come in and when they come out to England. They are the best in the Northwest by quite a ways.
— Bruce Rioch, Middlesbrough manager and former FC Seattle coach
We played Cruz Azul to a standstill and dominated the game. If not for some unlucky breaks it could have easily been 4-0, Seattle.
— Mike Mikacenic, Seattle Mitre Eagles manager
We've spent our money on tours instead of salaries.
— Bill Sage, FC Seattle president
It's hard not getting paid, but at least we're going to be around next year.
— Chance Fry, former pro now playing for FC Seattle
(Peter) Hattrup adds another dimension up front. He is a player who loves a one vs. one situation. I think he could become one of the stars of the league.
— FC Seattle coach Tommy Jenkins
We don't draw the biggest turnouts with the Storm, but we have a core of real soccer people. It's nice to get out of the carnival atmosphere of indoor soccer. I guess I'm a purist.
— Jeff Stock, who leaves the Tacoma Stars to play with FC Seattle
We don't have the deep pockets. We've got to run the team like a business and stay within our budget.
— New Stars part-owner Jim Manza after signing Alan Hinton to coach for far smaller figure than his former salary
There’s a great need for quality soccer fields. So many of the fields are simply dirt and gravel.
— Washington Youth Soccer manager Mike Snodgrass
That was the most amazing comeback in my 30 years of being associated with soccer. With 3:02 left, I said, `Dallas did it. Why can't we?'
— Alan Hinton, Stars coach, referring to the Dallas comeback in Game 7 of the 1987 MISL Finals when Stars rally in final 1:17 to beat Chicago, 5-4
Collegiate Men's Records
Central Washington |
6-4-1 |
Evergreen |
8-6-6 |
Gonzaga |
2-9-0 |
Pacific Lutheran |
11-9-2 |
Puget Sound |
5-11-2 |
Seattle University |
3-11-0 |
Seattle Pacific |
16-6-0 |
Washington |
14-4-1 |
Western Washington |
5-9-0 |
Whitman |
10-9-2 |
Whitworth |
17-3-2 |
Collegiate Women's Records
Central Washington |
3-5-2 |
Evergreen |
3-13-4 |
Pacific Lutheran |
21-2-0 |
Puget Sound |
15-5-0 |
Seattle University |
1-8-4 |
Seattle Pacific (club) |
1-5-1 |
Washington (club) |
6-2-3 |
Western Washington |
9-7-2 |
Whitman |
11-4-2 |
State Youth Recreational Cup Winners
Age |
Boys | Girls |
U11 |
Scorpios (CYSF) | Star Shooters (CYSF) |
U12 |
Skyhawks (CYSF) | Scorpions (GRJSA) |
U13 |
Team United (CYSF) | Blazers (GRJSA) |
U14 |
Timbers (CYSF) | Strikers II (CYSF) |
U15 |
Scorpions (CYSF) | Lady Blues (CYSA) |
U16 |
Killerhawks (CYSF) | United (NYSA) |
U17 |
not awarded | Lynnwood Flames (NCYSA) |
U19 |
Raindogs (SSCJSA) | Pride (TPCJSA) |
Washington State Youth Champions
Age |
Boys | Girls |
U11 |
Hotshots (FWSA) |
U12 |
Whalers (FWSA) | Bicentennial Stars (HAS) |
U13 |
Force (SYSA) | Storm (FWSA) |
U14 |
United (KYSA) | Alliance (EYSA) |
U15 |
Royals (SSCJSA) | Nitro (EYSA) |
U16 |
Aviation West (HAS) | FC Royals 72 (TPCJSA) |
U17 |
Sounders (TCYSA) | none |
U19 |
Sting (LWYSA) | FC Royals 69 (TPCJSA) |
WIAA Championship Games
Boys 4A |
Thomas Jefferson 3 4-3) | Mead 3 |
Boys 3A |
Mount Rainier 1 (5-4) | Lakeside 1 |
Boys1A (non WIAA) |
Charles Wright 3 | Bush 0 |
Girls 4A |
Kennedy 1 | Issaquah 0 |
Girls 3A |
Mountlake Terrace 6 | Olympia 0 |