Frank MacDonald

Washington women see PK saved, goal scorer Eichenberger sent off but prevail on penalties, 1-1 (5-4), at Virginia to reach NCAA quarters for first time since 2010. UW men move to Sweet 16, winning at SMU, 1-0.

#OTD 2002 – Kennedy becomes 1st WA school to win 5 championships at 3A/4A levels by overpowering Bellingham in 2nd half to triumph 4-0. Vicky Rodriguez breaks 0-0 deadlock in 51st minute, and scores again at 53'. Krystle Jalalian goals at 68' and 70' seal it.

#OTD 1986 – Shoreline freshman Lori Henry plays blanketing defense and Federal Way's Gretchen Gegg gets hutout as North Carolina (24-0-1) defeats Colorado College 2-0 for NCAA championship. Henry holds Tigers' top scorer, Kerri Tashiro of Bellevue, to a single shot.

'My Story Sometimes Feels Like It Wasn't Meant to Happen': Mexican International Obed Vargas Reflects on His Journey - INTERVIEW In an exclusive interview with The Latin Times, 20-year-old Mexican international Obed Vargas discusses his journey in soccer, his Mexican roots, and his ambitions as a player.

"No one had ever left Alaska to play for a national team or even reach the professional level in soccer...We did have our Hispanic community in Alaska. We went to a Spanish church, and I even danced in a mariachi band." www.latintimes.com/my-story-som...

Detroit Lions Rookie Asks For Thanksgiving Off DETROIT—Double-checking that he had approval before finalizing travel plans, Detroit Lions rookie Tate Ratledge reportedly approached head coach Dan Campbell on Monday to see if it might be possible f...

Detroit Lions Rookie Asks For Thanksgiving Off

WA's D2 reps bowed out of NCAAs this afternoon. SPU men lost in overtime at Midwestern State, 1-0, on winner w/15 sec left before penalties. Western Washington women eliminated in shootout by Azusa Pacific, 1-1 (6-5), after allowing equalizer w/66 sec left in regulation.

Bellevue takes girls 3A for 2nd time in 4 years, 1-0 over Liberty. #2 seed West Valley (Spokane) defeats #1 Columbia River 1-0 in 2A.

In 2024, Mount Si boys won state as #10 seed. Wildcats won girls' title today, 2-0 over #2 Tahoma, as #12 seed. First title won by a Reign alum; congrats to MS coach Kate Deines.

When Montlake Missed the Boat The UW women are making a memorable run this season, but the trajectory of this program could be Carolina-like, if only a great club program had been elevated to varsity back in the 1980s.

UW women are making a memorable run this season, but the trajectory of this program could be Carolina-like, if only a great club program had been elevated to varsity back in the 1980s. www.sounderatheart.com/2025/11/when...

And the winner is: The Pitt

#OTD 1997 – Mount Vernon upsets previously perfect Lakeside 1-0 for WA girls' 3A crowny. It is Bulldogs’ (22-1-0) 1st state title and 22nd straight win. Ali Skjei scores AT 56' & Kerie Hughes gets clean sheet against high-scoring & 2x defending champ Lions, unbeaten in 48 games.

#OTD 1987 – Shannon Higgins scores lone goal and Lori Henry leads North Carolina defense as Tar Heels win 5th NCAA D1 championship in 6 years, 1-0 over Massachusetts at Amherst. UNC gets 53' winner on tourney MVP Higgins's 12-yd shot. Henry (pic) is ACC defensive player of year.

#OTD 1981 – Dori Kovanen, frosh sweeper from Tacoma, plays prime role in North Carolina winning its 1st women's national championship. Kovanen, 1st team All-American, is voted to AIAW all-tournament team following Tar Heels' 1-0 victory over Central Florida in title game.

Season ticket bases – in MLS, perhaps Liga MX – are less likely to be in it for flipping. For one reason, except for the odd cup final or Messi visit (or both), there's no secondary market. Those folks are more invested in the game, and one wonders if FIFA really, truly cares about the game.

Only collegiate match being played in WA this weekend will be 3pm today in Bellingham, with Western Washington women hosting Azusa Pacific in NCAA D2 2nd round. Seattle Pacific men play 2nd round D2 game at Midwestern State in Wichita Falls at 1pm PST. Washington men & women back in action Sunday.

Ticket prices suppressing fan excitement for World Cup Fans want to get excited for the World Cup, but sky high costs have people feeling priced out.

If FIFA wanted to curb enthusiasm for a World Cup, they are succeeding.
"The pricing seems extremely counterproductive for the vast majority of fans and I fear that passionate fans will not be able to attend." www.starsandstripesfc.com/usmnt/41471/...

12th seed Mount Si beats top seed Issaquah 2-1 to reach girls' 4A final and meet Tahoma, 2-1 winner vs Skyline. #9 seed Liberty takes shootout vs Eastside Catholic, 2-2 (5-4), and meets Bellevue, which ousted defending champ Roosevelt 1-0 in 3A.

It was not coincidence that today I posted this and 2 other stories on the UW pre-varsity days. That perfect season they printed t-shirts emblazoned with '18 and 0 and Nowhere to Go.' www.frankmacdonald.net/washingtons-...

UW women’s soccer goalkeeper who died of cancer lived to help others Mia Hamant, the UW women’s soccer goalkeeper who died Nov. 6 after a monthslong battle with a rare form of kidney cancer, lived to help others.

“She was kind. Thoughtful. Loving. Caring. She was all the things I could’ve hoped for.”
www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-hu...

The Frank MacDonald Blog Seattle's Soccer Nation: Past, Present & Future

Washington has reached the NCAA women's Sweet Sixteen for the second time in six seasons. But back in the 80s the Huskies had a chance for a Carolina-like trajectory, if only that amazing club had been elevated to varsity early in that decade. A three-part project now up at www.frankmacdonald.net

#OTD 1998 – Behind Hope Solo's 2 goals, Richland wins WA girls' 4A championship over Curtis, 3-1. Solo, U18 YNT's goalkeeper, scores her 37th & 38th goals of her senior season as Bombers finish 20-0-0. Richland, ranked #4 nationally, only 2nd 4A team from 509 to win state.

#OTD 1992 – Justi Baumgardt & Federal Way complete perfect (19-0-0) year with 3-0 triumph over defending champ Sammamish in AAA state final. Baumgardt, playing w/fracture in right arm, sets-up Jill Bruyere's opener and scores her 98th career goal for Eagles, ranked #1 in nation.

#OTD 1983 – Seattle's Joan Dunlap scores and adds assist in North Carolina's convincing 4-0 victory over George Mason for NCAA championship in Orlando. Dunlap figures in two of three UNC goals during 11-minute span. Tar Heels finish 19-1-0.

#OTD 1982 – Washington women's club wins NCSC title and completes season with perfect 18-0-0 record after defeating Washington State 2-0 at Husky Stadium. Huskies finish with GD of 83-7. Traci Cooke scores her 24th and Kathy Ballew her 20th. It's 15th shutout for Arlene Beerman.

State finals for high school girls begin Friday, and Issaquah is back in the 4A semifinals for the fifth year in a row and the top-seeded Eagles seek their first championship since 2017. #TBT

#OTD 1988 – Pacific Lutheran becomes WA’s 1st women’s collegiate champions, taking NAIA title, 2-0, over Hardin-Simmons, in Abilene, Texas. Laura Dutt & Sonya Brandt score in 2nd half – Brandt scoring her record 127th career goal and 32nd of season.

#OTD 1988 – Pacific Lutheran becomes WA’s 1st women’s collegiate champions, taking NAIA title, 2-0, over Hardin-Simmons, in Abilene, Texas. Laura Dutt & Sonya Brandt score in 2nd half – Brandt scoring her record 127th career goal and 32nd of season.

#OTD 1988 – Kent’s Shannon Higgins scores 3 goals to lead North Carolina to its 3rd straight NCAA title, 4-1 over North Carolina State in Chapel Hill. Higgins, the Tar Heels’ leading scorer with 13 goals and 17 assists, had goal+2 assists in semifinal win over Wisconsin.

Non-scientific study while out for neighborhood evening walk: decor is about 50-50 between Halloween and Christmas, including at least a couple places that had both pumpkins and wreaths. Bet that 20 years ago it was neither on this date.

The USMNT closed out its 2019 slate with a 4-0 over Cuba to top Group A in the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League. More info: http://www.ussoccer.com Subscribe to U.S. Soccer on… USA 4-0 CUBA Highlights | Nov. 19, 2019 | George Town, Cayman Islands - Truman Bodden Sports Complex

#OTD 2019 – Jordan Morris scores twice in 4-0 rout of Cuba at George Town, Cayman Islands as USMNT wins 1st place (3-0-1) in group in Concacaf Nations League. Morris totals 5 goals and 6 assists in 14 games for year.