Ship's Log, Oct. 16: We're talking about playoffs

There's something about fall in the Pacific Northwest – crisp air, morning fog, apple cider, pumpkin patches and tens of thousands fans that show out when their local soccer teams are in the playoffs.

It's some of the worst weather for the sport. The rain, nearly constant, is part of our superpower. Out here, wet is a state of being. And, with the results over the weekend each of the three pro soccer teams made the second season. Defiance won and lost already.

Reign host a home match on Friday (SaH has tix for you). The Sounders' schedule is still TBD, their Saturday match will determine how many home games they get to play.

Getting American soccer fans to turn up for the second season is a struggle. The matches come rapidly, with little notice, and they often aren't built into ticket packages. Still, the People of the Sound show and sing. These are the months of our glory.

These are the months of our future memories.

The regular season is a churn. The butter is made via patience and pattern. Little losses, little victories – they repeat weekly.

The irregular season? That's the players' chance to burn moments into the mountains and forests that surround us.

Each minute of the second season is a chance for a staccato moment of glory. The Reign’s second season begins on Friday night with their attempt to capture narrative from Angels.

May they reign for just a few more weeks, finally crowned as the royalty they are on Nov. 11.

Puget Sound Soccer

Reign locked up homefield and Sounders still to determine their seeding after the weekend's results.

Reign with massive 3-0 win

Megan Rapinoe refused to let her career end without another shot at the rare bit of domestic glory she and OL Reign have yet to earn. In the space of minutes, she scored a brace to help Reign down the Chicago Red Stars. The big road win set up Reign for a massive Friday night match against Angel City FC (get discounted tickets via Sounder at Heart).

Light MLS weekend saw two draws in the West

Most MLS sides had the weekend off, but those that did play decided to help Seattle's quest for homefield advantage and their chance of sneaking into the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup.

RSL draws Galaxy 2-2
Dallas draws Rapids 1-1

Andrew Thomas helps New Mexico into playoffs

Since the former Defiance standout joined New Mexico the team is 4-3-1, digging themselves up from 11th to 8th. After the 4-1 win over Memphis on Saturday, United head to Sacramento Republic.

Looking back at the weekend's news

We'll let you know when we're Sharktopus FC news – it's not today.

Cryptids taking over soccer, again

“When we got serious about competing in national tournaments some team members, who will not be named, asked about changing the name – but we held firm,” team manager Leo Ohannesian said to US Soccer. “It embodies who we are as a team: Chaotic, messy, scary, inclusive and fun.”

Sharktopus includes a couple former pros, not just the duo from Love is Blind, plus former Seattle Sounders Academy player Stirling Russell and a Seahawks lawyer. They host San Francisco side Inter SF on Saturday at 10 am PT at Interbay Stadium. That's the penultimate match of 2024 U.S. Open Cup qualifying.