The News Tribune from Tacoma, Washington • C1

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2009 THENEWSTRIBUNE.COMSPORTS SECTION AREA'S HISTORY Seattle's inaugural season with a Major League Soccer franchise Region had lots of soccer history before Sounders FC Before the Seattle Sounders went from major league to minor league and then back to major league, before Qwest Field replaced the Kingdome, before an indoor soccer attendance record was set in the Tacoma Dome, the sport otherwise known as "The Beautiful Game" took roots in the Puget Sound muck. "Frequently in the game yesterday' the Tacoma Daily News reported on Jan. 17, 1910, "the JOHN MCGRATH Rangers and Tacoma players tangled up and mixed it with their hands when the playing became brisk. The Rangers goalkeeper became so irritated when the Tacoma players worked the ball close up to the goal that he picked up hands of mud and threw it at the players." Although there were a few minor injuries that day a broken nose, a head cut the players survived the mudslinging. So did soccer, which Thursday night, 99 years after two teams with no appar- Mt MCGRATH, paft C6 NIT TOURNAMENT: SAINT MARY'S 68.

WSU 57 7 jr a J) -Z iL ELAINE IHOMPSOKThe Allocated Press fie i battling Washington State Aran Baynat, hai lad the Hmkta back to the NCAA tournament. The competitiveness of Jon Brockman, right, imi 3 Jon Brockman leads Huskies back to NCAA tourney for one last dance case, San Diego. To advance out of the second round, that UW team had to get past a Big Ten school -Illinois, while this team's bracket could match them with No. 5 seed and Big Ten tournament winner Purdue. After Roy's team advanced to the Sweet 16, its first opponent was Connecticut And if this season's bracket holds to form, that's who will be awaiting UW again.

For all the teams have in common, Brockman doesn't hesitate when asked how the teams are different That team had kind of the Brandon Roy factor," he said. "A lot of what we did with that team was get out of the way, give Brandon the ball, and let him go to work. And he got a lot done for us." Brockman said his early exposure to March Madness was good for them and current fellow seniors Justin Dentmon and Ar-tem Wallace. But he said it made him ache all the more BY DON RUIZ doaruiz9thenewstribune.com Once again, Jon Brockman is following the footsteps of Brandon Roy. Three seasons ago, Roy's home court shifted from Washington's Hec Edmundson Pavilion to Portland's Rose Garden, home of the NBA's Trail Blazers.

And today, Brockman and the Huskies are in Portland and will work out at the Rose Garden preparing for their NCAA tournament opener there at around 1:45 p.m. Thursday against Mississippi State. "We were hoping, being so close to home in Brockman said. "For me personally, friends and family get to come down and watch, which will be really special." The careers of Roy and Brockman are linked in several ways, starting with their status as local guys Roy from Seattle, and Brockman from Snohomish who chose to stay close to home at UW. Their college careers overlapped for one season 2005-06 Washington's last NCAA tournament team before this one.

That season, Brockman was a freshman learning about the college game, while Roy was a senior leading UW to a third consecutive NCAA tournament Like this UW team, that one earned a first-round assignment on the West Coast in that UW, page C5 MARCH MADNESS: REGIONAL GAMES IN PORTLAND Thursday: UW vs. Mississippi State. 1:45 Gonzaga vs. Akron. 4:25 pm.

TV: Ch. 7 MARCK) JOSE SANCHEZ The Associated Press Saint Mary's Patrick Mills celebrates after making a 3-pointer against Washington State in the NIT Tuesday. Mills scored 27 points. Saint Mary's steals lopsided win over Cougs Saint Marys Gaeb advance to the second round of the NIT tournament, leaving Washington State finished for the season. BY HOWIE STALWKK For The News Tribune MOMfiA.CAlff.

Unlike the Saint Mary's Gaels, the Washington State Cougars had no illusions that they belonged in the NCAA tournament. For one half Tuesday night, neither team looked like they belonged in the NIT. The Gaels were that good, the Cougars that bad. The Cougars fought their way back into the game with nch-improved play in the second half, but Saint Mary's led from the opening minute in a 68-57 win in the opening round of the NIT. Led by sophomore point guard Patty Mills -who, naturally, was christened "St.

Patty' by his adoring fans on St. Patrick's Day the Gaels (27-6) advanced to the second round against visiting Davidson (26-7). The day of the game will be announced. The Cougars, who tied a school record by making it to the postseason for the third consecutive season, finished 17-16. Mills, displaying the speed, quickness, slick passes and silky jumpers that have attracted NBA scouts, scored 17 of his 27 points in the first half.

"He's as good as advertised," WSU coach Tony Bennett said. "He's a special player." Post play of Zags' Heytvelt climbs to new heights Star-crossed senior Josh Heytvelt developed hii post game to fill a Gonzaga need and may be the key to another NCAA tournament run. BY TOGO Ml LIES toddrniLkes9thenewstribunexorn The job should have come with a warning label: "Smackdown Dead Ahead." Gonzaga's Josh Heytvelt met the task head-on. Last week, the Zags' 6-foot-11 senior spent the better part of two days pushing on, leaning over and blocking out two West Coast Conference behemoths -Santa Clara's John Bryant and Saint Mary's Omar Samhan who total almost 600 pounds of bulk and muscle. By the end of the conference tournament, one the Zags won with relative ease, a worn-out Heytvelt still displayed enough strength to shove a few teammates into the post-tournament celebration at midcourt in the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

This week, the stakes are higher. Tenth-ranked Gonzaga opens the NCAA tournament with a South Regional first-round matchup against Akron at 4:25 p.m. Thursday at Portland's Rose Garden. Heytvelt's impending departure from PtcanM GONZAGA, paft C5 ANDY LYONSGetty Images fie Six-fbot-TI senior Josh Heytvelt has been arnistad, suspended and injured during his Gonzaga carter, and this week will play in his fourth NCAA tournament. WSU, pact C4 BRODEUR WIN KING New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur sets NHL career record for victories, a WANT TO TALK MARINERS? Ryan Divish will field your questions at 2 p.m.

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