May 10, 2009
SEATTLE -- Seattle Pacific midfielder
Meredith Teague, who helped lead the Falcons to the 2008 NCAA Division II national championship, was honored before Sunday's Seattle Sounders FC game as the recipient of the MLS franchise's golden scarf.
The entire championship Falcons team was honored on the field before the Sounders game against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Teague then walked the red carpet to the center circle where she was awarded one of the prestigious Sounders FC gold scarves.
The SPU players and coaching staff then watched the 1-1 tie from a luxury suite.
Teague was interviewed at the game by Tony Ventrella. A video of that interview can be viewed at the
www.SoundersFC.com website.
In the club's inagural season in 2009, Sounders FC established a tradition before the match starts that puts on display the intense passion of Seattle's soccer community.
To honor that passion, the club recognizes an individual before each game with the Golden Scarf.
“We wanted to start a tradition in light of the fact that the Seahawks have the 12th Man flag, which is phenomenal,” Senior Vice President of Business Operations Gary Wright said. “We wanted to do something to honor members of our community who are either part of the soccer scene or have done remarkable things for society in Seattle.”
The club selects a member of the community that is presented with a special gold scarf, which has come to symbolize the game of soccer, which they raise over their heads, signaling to the fans to do the same. Because of the arrangement of the ceremony, the club also has the opportunity to honor a presenter as well.
Teague was the fifth individual honored with a golden scarf ceremony.
A product of Bellevue Christian High School, Teague recorded a team-high 14 goals and distributed 10 assists to pace SPU with 38 points.
The Falcons completed the campaign with a 22-1-2 record and Teague came up big when it mattered most, factoring into 13 of the 22 game-winning scores. She registered seven game-winning goals and assisted on six other game-winners.
SPU finished the 2008 season with a 17-game undefeated streak, capped by a 1-0 double-overtime triumph over previously unbeaten West Florida on Dec. 6 in the championship game at Pepin Stadium in Tampa, Fla. Teague assisted on the opening goal of the Falcons 3-1 semifinal victory over Metro State.
Teague netted a golden goal midway through the second overtime on Nov. 20 against Western Washington, propelling the Falcons into the NCAA quarterfinals.
Her 34 career assists are seven more than any player in SPU history and her 25 goals rank No. 4 on the career charts. Teague completed her career with 84 points, the fourth-highest figure in school history.
Teague competed 96 games in a Falcons jersey, more than any player in the program's eight-year history.
