Darren Sawatzky of Federal Way becomes the first Washington native to score an MLS brace, scoring twice in the second half of New England's 2-0 home victory over D.C. United. The goals are the first in Sawatzky's rookie season. He finishes with four goals and five assists.

In just its third year, Eastlake emerges as undefeated and state 3A champion following the Wolves' 2-1 victory over Mead at Puyallup. Michael Casale puts away a penalty kick in the 65th minute for the game-winner. Chris Farnsworth had given Eastlake just before halftime. Mark Lupton's free kick in the 62nd minute tied it. Eastlake (19-0-1) goes on to finish 6th nationally and Mead 8th in the NSCAA poll.

Jason Boyce scores in the second overtime and the 146th minute overall to give Washington a 2-1 win over Santa Clara in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before 1,401 at North Creek Complex in Bothell. Boyce takes a pass from Rees Bettinger and chips the ball over Broncos goalie Joe Cannon. Bettinger ties it at 1-1 in the 66th minute. Washington, making back-to-back tournament appearances for the first time in 23 years, is the No. 1 overall seed in the field.

Frank Gorog, one of three Washingtonians among MLS officials in the league's inaugural year, referees his first match at the Rose Bowl. Gorog handles the LA Galaxy-Kansas City Wizards game. Oscar Myre and Mohammed Zarabbi-Kashani are the other MLS officials from Washington.

Spokane sophomore Kim Stiles scores the decisive second-half goal to send unbeaten Portland through to the NCAA finals for the third year in a row. Stiles, netting just her second career goal, breaks the scoreless deadlock vs. Nebraska in the 57th minute and the crowd of 3,960 at Merlo Field erupts.

After graduating 10 seniors from its state runner-up side, Bellarmine Prep rebounds with a 2-1 triumph over Decatur in the girls 3A state final at Shoreline Stadium. Sophomore Julie Butler's 30-yard blast with 30 seconds remaining is the Lions' winner. All three goals came in the final eight minutes, with Bellarmine's Lisa Wilson being answered by the Gators' Kellie Krueger. Bellarmine (17-1-2) was second to Shorecrest in 1995 3A final and champion in both 1987 and '94.

FC Royals of Tacoma-Pierce County prevail over Cincinnati's GSE Cardinals in the USYSA Girls Under-17 final via penalty kicks in Indianapolis. The Royals' Deka DeWitt ties the score, 1-1, with 11 minutes remaining in regulation after the Cardinals had scored in the 11th minute. Tied, 2-2, after five rounds in the tiebreaker, Melissa Parker makes the game-winner in the sixth round. In the semifinal, Meotis Erikson scored two goals and two assists in a 5-3 victory over the Dallas D'Feeters.

Sounders striker Chance Fry, the A-League career and current season scoring leader, suffers a broken leg in a 2-0 loss at Atlanta, ending his season. A collision with Fabian Davis results in a fractured tibia and fibula of his right leg above the ankle. Moments earlier Fry stayed in the game while receiving stitches to close a wound above his left eye. He had scored six goals and two assists in leading Seattle to a 7-1 start. The team would lose six of the next eight starts.

Before the game they release top scorer Mike Castillo, then the Seattle SeaDogs surrender a two-goal lead and spiral to their eighth straight defeat. Following a 5-4 loss to Houston at KeyArena, Seattle's league-worst record is 1-9. Giampaulo Pedroso scores three times - twice on power plays when Seattle is a man short because of penalties.

John Olu Molomo completes his second hat trick of season as the SeaDogs wrap-up their second season by drubbing playoff-bound Detroit, 11-5 before a record crowd of 6,592 at KeyArena. Olu Molomo, a midseason acquisition from San Diego, finishes with 17 goals and eight assists in 12 games. During those 12 games, Seattle is 6-6. The SeaDogs score six straight goals beginning late in the second quarter and extending into the fourth. Local products Tim Bartro, Ben Erickson and Shannon Murray score two goals apiece, and Erickson has team-high 22 goals altogether.

After blowing a chance to win the A-League semifinal series at home, the Sounders stun Colorado, 3-0, on the road to advance to the championship game. The Foxes, fortified by the return of four Jamaican National Team members, including league scoring champ Wolde Harris, fall behind in the rain on Jason Farrell's skipping, 30-yard shot in the 27th minute at Mile High Greyhound Park. Niall Thompson seals the deal with goals in the 63rd and 70th minutes. "The experience of their team showed,'' Foxes coach Lorne Donaldson says. "They were a lot more determined than us.”

Freshmen Jana Wilson and Katey Ward each score in their first Apple Cup meeting with Washington State, helping the Washington close-out the regular season with a 2-0 victory in Pullman. The Huskies earn their highest finish in the Pac-10, tying for second place, and the NCAA includes them in the tournament field for the third straight year. It's the third straight UW win over WSU in the series. No. 3 Portland eliminates Washington in the first round. Seven of eight losses are inflicted by ranked opponents.

Issaquah native and Evergreen State graduate Shawn Medved starts in midfield for D.C. United in the inaugural Major League Soccer match at San Jose's Spartan Stadium. Medved, who played the previous two seasons for the Sounders, becomes the first player substituted in the 71st minute. Eric Wynalda scores the game's only goal for the Clash in 88th. Medved plays 27 games, starting 13 and scoring three goals during the regular season. Seattle's Paul Holocher plays 11 minutes as a substitute for San Jose.

Paul Holocher becomes the first Washingtonian to score in MLS, tallying in his first start for San Jose and also converting the decisive shootout attempt of win, 2-2 (7-6), over Kansas City at Spartan Stadium. In all, seven Washington natives are on MLS rosters, including Jeff Betts (San Jose), Ricci Greenwood (Columbus), Chris Henderson (Colorado), Shawn Medved (SJ), Matt Olson (New York) and Scott Uderitz (Kansas City).

Katey Ward's overtime goal put Washington ahead of Oregon State for good in a 3-1 road win at Corvallis. It's the eighth win in 10 games for the resurgent Huskies, who started 3-4-0. It completes a UW road sweep. Erin Pochman and Jana Wilson scored the game-winner in the first-ever meeting with Oregon two days earlier.

Portland's Justi Baumgardt, a junior from Federal Way, is named first team All-America by the NSCAA after leading the Pilots back to the NCAA finals. Baumgardt, who was earlier voted West Coast Conference Player of the Year, led the league with 13 goals and 13 assists. "She may be the best college midfielder in the country," says her coach, Clive Charles.

Western Washington sets a scoring record in a 12-0 men's victory over Northwest College in Bellingham. Scot Swanson scores three goals in the first 25 minutes, and Jay Harper has four assists.

A monthlong dispute that kept Michelle Akers and eight other U.S. women soccer standouts off the national team and threatened this country's chances for an Olympic gold medal ends when the players and the U.S. Soccer Federation agreed to a new contract. Akers indicated some of the players feel a lingering resentment over the men's team making considerably more money but that it runs runs deeper than money. In addition to salaries of $3,000-$4,000 per month, the federation had initially offered a bonus pool of $250,000 to the 16 women who play on the Olympic team, provided they win the gold.

Bang-bang goals from No. 13 Fresno State early in the second half foil the Huskies' dreams of a deep run in the NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs come from behind to win, 2-1, and again deny the top-seeded UW's bid to reach the quarterfinals at the North Creek Complex. Rees Bettinger heads the Dawgs ahed in the 10th minute and Fresno State went down to 10 men in the 22nd. Early in the second period, however, the visitors scored twice in a span of 1:38 to take the lead. The Huskies finish with a 21-6 advantage in shots.

The Seattle City Council approves Seattle Pacific University's proposal to build a $3.1 million, 900-seat soccer stadium at Interbay, providing the Falcons their first permanent home in the program's 28-year existence. SPU will have priority use of the facility during collegiate season, paying the city $15,000 a year for maintenance. The facility will be available for community use during the offseason.

Joe Bensch's two second-half goals prove the difference as West Valley is victorious over O'Dea, 3-2, in the state 2A championship game at Selah. The Rams never trail, going in front on Jake Sagare's ricochet in the 23rd minute. Bencsh, who sustained a broken bone in his left foot during the semifinal, doubles the lead. After Ryan Robinson pulls the Irish a goal back, Bensch buries another. A WV red card and Jim Skurski's late penalty makes it an exciting ending.

Tami Bennett adds four more goals to her state high school record and completes her prep career unbeaten as well following Seattle Christian's 5-0 victory over Vashon in the state girls' A/B title game at Sammamish High School. Bennett's total reaches 150 goals – 43 as a senior – and the Warriors (16-0-0) go 63-0-1 during her four seasons. She later commits to Washington for her college career.

Renovation work begins at Spokane's Joe Albi Stadium to create a wider field for the Spokane Shadow. Total cost to raise the field by over six feet is #1.9 million. Shadow owner Bobby Brett commits $100,000 toward the improvements.

Michelle Akers converts from the spot to bring the United States level, 1-1, with World Cup champion Norway in the 76th minute and force overtime in the Olympic semifinal at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. Shannon MacMillan delivers the golden goal in 10th minute of extra time, sending the USWNT to the Gold Medal match.

FC Royals capture two national girls' crowns on the same day, with the U18s from Tacoma staving off McLean (Va.) Zephyrs, 1-0, at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis. Jana Wilson scores the game-winner from a corner kick. The Royals, the only club to win multiple USYSA championships this year, had routed Oklahoma City Capital Elite, 5-0, in semifinal.

Kasey Keller, 27, essentially earns a Premier League promotion as Millwall, going down to the Second Division, sells him to newly-promoted Leicester City for a reported $1.5 million. Keller, the first U.S. goalkeeper to play in the EPL, earns a clean sheet in his debut two days later, a 0-0 draw with Sunderland. Millwall had gone into a tailspin during the final two months of the 1995/96 season, dropping from 10th to 22nd.

Sounders captain Neil Megson, 33, is named the new head coach, replacing the retired Alan Hinton. Megson, who was one of Hinton's assistants, will continue to play. Bernie James is retained as assistant coach. Megson was a first team all-star in 1994. Club part-owner Neil Farnsworth states Megson's popularity with teammates weighed heavily in the decision.

Overtime goals from Rees Bettinger and Jason Boyce lift Washington to its ninth straight win, 4-2, at Oregon State. The No. 2-ranked Huskies' skein is the longest in five seasons under Dean Wurzberger, and only two of the victories have come at home.

Portland's postseason arch-nemesis, Notre Dame, stops the Pilots and their Washington-based players short of the NCAA championships game. The Irish come from two goals down to win the semifinal, 3-2, before 8,800 at Santa Clara, Ca. A free kick from Justi Baumgardt of Federal Way creates the first UP goal. Jody Dutra, Wynne McIntosh and Kim Stiles are among the other Washingtonians playing for Portland. Notre Dame had beaten the Pilots in the 1994 semifinals and the 1995 final.

Shoreline Community College dedicates its field as Paul Crossley Memorial Stadium in a tribute to their former men's coach and Sounders winger. Crossley, 48, died March 11, 1996, from a heart attack. He guided SCC to a regional title in 1993 and also was boys coach at Lynnwood High School from 1994-95. Players raised funds for the plaque, mounted on a boulder above the pitch from where Crossley often observed training.

Coming from behind in the second half, the Dallas Burn beat the Sounders, 3-2, in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl. The Burn swiftly wipe-out Joey Leonetti's third-minute opener and take a commanding lead. All three Dallas goals come in 21-minute span, punctuated by Ted Eck in 79th. David Hoggan scores a late penalty for Seattle.

Shawn Medved plays a vital role in D.C. United's miraculous late 2-goal comeback in the MLS Cup Final at Foxboro Stadium. Medved, who comes off the bench in the 70th minute with United trailing 2-nil, first forces a save from LA's Jorge Campos, then converts the rebound for a 2-2 tie in the 81st. D.C. goes on to win, 3-2, on Eddie Pope's golden goal four minutes into extra time.

Sophomore Bryce Weed follows her own shot for the sole goal and Sarah Peterson posts the two-save shutout as Lakeside repeats as state 2A winner, 1-0 over Gig Harbor at Shoreline Stadium. Weed's winner comes four minutes before halftime. Tides keeper Karen Ecklebe blocks the initial shot, but Weed puts home the deflection. Tammy Westinghouse, two-time Metro League MVP, helps the Lions keep Gig Harbor off the scoresheet. Lakeside (19-0-2) extends its unbeaten streak to 28 games. The Tides (19-1-0) are runners-up for a second year running.The Lions' Theresa Wagner caps her career with 120 goals, 38 as a senior.

Everett's Chris Henderson scores his first MLS goal in just his third appearance. Henderson's free kick assists Steve Trittschuh's goal to make it 2-nil for Colorado over Kansas City in the 16th minute. Henderson takes the ball from Preki and makes it 3-0 in the 38th. Roy Wegerle, formerly with the Tacoma Stars, and Scott Benedetti, who once played for FC Seattle, also score for the Rapids and ex-Sounder Dusty Hudock gets the shutout in their 4-0 win at Mile High Stadium.

Kasey Keller keeps Brazil's potent attack (9 goals in first two matches) scoreless, but a Marcelo Balboa own goal is the difference in the Gold Cup semifinal at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Keller makes five first-half saves vs. Brazil Olympic team. He starts all four matches, posting two shutouts, including the third-place victory (3-0) over Guatemala.

A physical, scoreless stalemate is suddenly broken open by two goals from Joey Leonetti as Seattle wins its second straight A-League championship, 2-0, over Rochester before 7,027 at Memorial Stadium. Leonetti's goals come 10 minutes apart and Marcus Hahnemann nails down his 14th shutout of the year and the 34th of his career. The match is marred by five cautions and the sending off of Sounders striker Niall Thompson in the 88th minute. Rhinos goalkeeper Bill Andracki collides with the goalpost in the 11th minute while diving to stop a Jason Farrell shot. Andracki sustains a broken nose, two lost teeth and wounds requires 76 stitches.

Alan Hinton is steps down as Sounders coach after two seasons, citing a desire to pursue other interests, including coaching youth. Hinton, 53, will remain a member of the franchise's board of directors. He leaves as the A-League career leader in winning percentage (.725, 37-14). His state premier league U17 boys, Crossfire Sounders, has won three of the past four Washington youth titles.

Seattle native and former SPU and Sounders star Peter Hattrup, 31, is selected in second round of the inaugural MLS Draft, 17th overall, by Tampa Bay. Issaquah's Shawn Medved, 29, goes 20th overall to D.C. Other state natives drafted include Scott Uderitz (Edmonds Kansas City), Darren Sawatzky (Federal Way New England), Paul Holocher (Seattle San Jose) and Matt Olson (Renton D.C. United). Two months later, on the eve of the Mutiny season opener, Hattrup suffers a ruptured ACL and MCL in his right knee. The reigning A-League MVP will miss the entire season.

Wearing the captain's arm band, Kasey Keller steps between the posts as the U.S. faces Argentina before 83,183 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Al. Keller, one of Bruce Arena's three overage selections, starts all three matches as the Americans, after losing, 3-1, to the eventual gold medalists, finish 1-1-1. He gets a shutout vs. Tunisia.

Following an 18-month study, Seattle University's Board of Trustees votes to change affiliation from NAIA to NCAA Division III with the hope of joining nine other Pacific Northwest private schools in a non-scholarship athletic conference by 2000. The Chieftains stop awarding new athletic scholarships beginning with the 1996-97 school year. The vote translates into a savings of at least $350,000 for Seattle U, which plans to channel the funds into its general aid fund and possibly into the creation of at least two new varsity sports within four years to meet NCIC membership requirements.

Jason Farrell scores in the opening minutes to spur Seattle to its seventh win in eight games, 2-1 over Atlanta in the final regular season match at Memorial Stadium. Joey Leonetti scores what proves to be the winner midway through the second half. The Sounders finish as the A-League's third seed despite being under .500 (9-10) five weeks earlier.

In the season opener for both teams, Seattle University, an NAIA program, topples 19th-ranked Division I Washington, 1-0, at East Field. Sophomore Kurt Swanson scores the only goal in the 7th minute on a deflected shot. The Huskies dominate the game otherwise, out-shooting the Chieftains 30-5. Seattle U had not beaten the Huskies in 17 years, a string of 15 losses in which they had been outscored by 75-3. Since 1988 the programs had played five times, all exhibitions.

Jennifer Mauck and Brooke Hill lead NAIA 13th-ranked Seattle University to the PNWAC championship game by defeating Western Washington, 2-0. It's a record 13th shutout for the Chieftains, who then fall to No. 5 Simon Fraser, 2-0, for the title.

Marcelo Fontana scores three goals as the resurgent Seattle SeaDogs pound the Portland Pride, 8-3, before more than 9,000 at the Rose Garden. It was the second straight victory for the SeaDogs, who have won three of four games after an eight-game losing streak. Bruce Broughton also scores twice for Seattle.

Both the Washington women's and men's programs begin a season of playing far from campus, with the UW women opening Pac-10 play by beating USC, 3-2, at FC Royals Field in Puyallup. All seven home dates are played there while construction on a permanent on-campus facility is completed. Meanwhile, the Husky men opt for North Creek Complex in Bothell.

Completing a home-and-home goodwill series, the Seattle Sounders make their first overseas journey a success on the field, defeating Vissel Kobe, 2-1. Chance Fry brings the visitors from behind with a pair of second-half goals. Vissel Kobe, winner of seven straight J-League matches and operating with a $30 million payroll, had played in Seattle five months earlier. Kobe, the Japanese sister city of Seattle, had been struck by a deadly earthquake in January 1995.

With youth soccer numbers having more than tripled in the past decade, Spokane Valley Junior Soccer Association begins an ambitious public/private partnership to develop a 15-field complex just east of Plante's Ferry Park.

Three Washington teams take USYSA Far West Region championships at Redmond's 60 Acres. Emerald City Fusion wins the boys' U17 title by beating Clovis (Ca.) United Heat, 5-2. Dana Garner scores a total of three goals in the semifinals and finals. Five weeks later, Emerald City wins its semifinal but falls in the national final, 4-2, to Columbia City (Md.) United. Winning two girls' regional championships are FC Royals, 2-0 over Lakewood (Co.) Fury at U17 and 2-1 over Central Valley (Ca.) Express.