The Wash is David Falk’s take on the world of soccer in The WA.

Read previous columns here.

by David Falk

“Great” has been downgraded to “very good.” Now the rest is up to the Sounders.

Seattle Reign FC won the NWSL Shield for best record and completed a stunning turn-around in 2014. Their 2-1 loss in the NWSL Final on Sunday at Starfire is the first big blemish on a great year for soccer in Washington.

Sounders FC lead Major League Soccer in points and are headed towards the playoffs. They are also in another US Open Cup Final. “Very good” can only turn to “great” if the Sounders win their first MLS Cup.

Meanwhile, the state has seen a new men’s outdoor league spring up and provide roster spots for 200 guys at the elite level. The Evergreen Premier League stretched the imagination of players and fans and the reach of soccer culture and opportunity all around Washington.

The Kitsap Pumas also advanced to a final – making it to the PDL’s championship match before falling to the Michigan Bucks.

The NPSL brought new playing chances for two Seattle-area clubs: Seattle Sporting FC and Inter United FC.

This fall and winter powerhouse indoor soccer clubs in Tacoma, Wenatchee, Bellingham and Arlington are founding a new league called the Western Indoor Soccer League.

Seattle Impact FC arrives to make a go of national indoor action in Kent.

Seattle Freestyle Soccer held national championships in the Emerald City.

Local players on the rise include DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham) and Jordan Morris (US Nats) among others.

We’ll also have our eye on the colleges where the Washington Husky Men are national title contenders.

Western Washington University has moved to a new on-campus venue. There have been upgrades to other college soccer facilities.

Sunday’s Reign delay is a setback for this year of soccer, but I think most of us will take “very good” any chance we’d get.

Should the Sounders win MLS Cup 2014 (and perhaps even throw in a USOC trophy) then 2014 will be remembered as one of the greatest years in Washington soccer history.

goalWA.net Local Soccer News is sponsored by Pro Roofing Northwest, Kirkland, Bellevue, Seattle, Redmond, Woodinville, Federal Way, Everett, Snohomish, Issaquah, Renton, Kent, Bothell, Edmonds Washington roofing company.