We are honored to be inducting Ben Somoza into the 2024 Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame.
Ben Somoza emerged as a star in the world of soccer, leaving his mark on the collegiate and professional arenas. A product of Edmonds Woodway High School, Somoza’s athletic prowess was evident from the outset, earning him accolades as a three-time varsity letter winner in basketball and a four-year letter winner in soccer. His dominance on the field earned him three consecutive selections to the 1st team All-Wesco and the esteemed titles of Everett Herald All-Area Soccer Player of the Year in 1998 and Seattle Times North End Male Athlete of the Year in the same year.
Transitioning to collegiate soccer at the University of Washington (UW), Somoza continued his meteoric rise, earning two 1st team All-Pac-10 honors and a spot on the national amateur team in 1999. His leadership and skill were instrumental UW’s success, guiding them to three league championships and the inaugural Pac-10 crown in 2000. Somoza’s impact on the field is immortalized in the UW record books, where he ranks 6th all-time in assists with 23.
Post-college, Somoza seamlessly transitioned into the professional ranks, embarking on a five-year career where he spent time with the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers. His tenure culminated in the Sounders’ historic USL First Division Championship title in 2005.
Beyond his playing days, Somoza has remained deeply ingrained in the soccer community, serving as the Washington Rush Executive Director since 2009 and imparting his wealth of knowledge and experience to future generations of athletes.
SCSC: Can you give us a brief look into your time playing for University of Washington?
SOMOZA: UW was the easiest choice for me, and I realize how fortunate and blessed I am to be able to play there and walk into a team that was highly successful. But it was a challenge for me. Moving to each new level is extremely challenging. It took me a while to get going. We were the number one team in the nation when I was a freshman and I only played eight games, and I thought my world had come to an end. It was really tough for me. I looked at transferring, talked with my family, and did some soul searching until I realized how fortunate I was. Even as a freshman, playing eight games, traveling with the team and being a part of that environment and really successful team. I obviously ended up not transferring. Spring is really when you collectively come together as a team and when they allow a lot of opportunities for young players to showcase what they’re able to do. I was able to break into the lineup in the fall of my sophomore year and had a great opportunity and some great friends there as well. It was a really good community. Our team was highly successful. We won three PAC 12 championships, whilst PAC 10 back then and MPSF. That really turned the corner as a player adapting, working hard and putting in time in the offseason. It took me a minute to get going in that environment, but once I got up and running, things were pretty good. I think we won like 58 games. We’re like 58–13 throughout my four years. I had a ton of really good players around me and good coaching. I couldn’t say more about how much I felt about University of Washington and my time there and all that they give athletics.
SCSC: Can you give us a brief look into your time playing professionally with the Sounders and Timbers?
SOMOZA: People always ask, ‘what’s the difference of the level?’. It’s faster. You have to be ready for the mentality of being able to pick yourself up. The amount of adversity you go through as a player from injuries, having to be self-reliant, being away from family, to not having people around you. When I got drafted, I went to Portland Timbers. I was used to having a robust community and people/friends around you and then you get in that environment, and everyone went to practice and went home. When you’re getting paid to play a sport, their expectations are a lot higher on you, and you have to have a real sense of belief in yourself because you’re going to get knocked down a lot. You have to be able to pick yourself up and move on because someone’s not necessarily there like they were when I was 8, 10 or 12 years old. Overall, it was great, I loved my time with Portland. Three weeks into preseason going into my second year, they cut me from the team. It was a real below, I had never had something like that happen to me and I just thought “What do I do now?”. I ended up going back to Seattle playing with the Sounders for the next four years. I loved the community, but I especially loved how their style of play. I adapted well to Brian’s coaching and how he challenged you as a player. I definitely enjoyed my time playing and miss the camaraderie. Competitive nature was a huge part, I was a pretty competitive player, and I definitely miss that. The camaraderie of the locker room and traveling and being around the community, the friends and people I met throughout those times was pretty awesome.
SCSC: What is your favorite memory from this era?
SOMOZA: When I was with the Sounders, we went on tour in Tanzania for three weeks. We played a bunch of games, and we got to go to clinics and camps for kids in that community. That was one of my favorite memories of being a part of the Sounders and that organization. We did some outreach stuff for the kids there and by the time we would leave, we would only be wearing out shorts because we gave the rest of our clothes and shoes away. It was fun to get around kids and a community that was just so passionate about the game.
SCSC: What or who inspired you during your athletic career? What inspires you now?
SOMOZA: I have an older brother that beat me in everything growing up and it was pretty inspiring for me. Anything I’ve gotten into, I’ve gotten into it with him. We would play every single sport in the backyard. Ironically, I was probably a better baseball player, and he was a better soccer player growing up. He veered off and did the baseball thing and I veered off and did soccer. I think my dad went to every one of my games, every one of my practices growing up, he really pushed me. The community of my family being there for me and being supportive was huge. For me now, I’ve realized how important it is to be an advocate for kids and to be around what they’re doing. That was something for me where I had my dad, I had my brother, and I had my mom. You don’t realize at the time how important it is, but that support from my family was pretty special for me.
SCSC: What do you consider to be your career highlight?
SOMOZA: I think you kind of look at that seasonally. Winning some trophies, winning some PAC12 championships, being at the bottom of a big pile after you score a game-winning goal in extra time. It’s all pretty special. You can’t get that back. Being a part of that winning culture is pretty awesome. I had a few of those, where I was on the bottom of the pile. I had that with the Sounders 2005 run. We won PK’s here at home and celebrating with your teammates and being around that kind of culture was awesome.
SCSC: Did you ever deal with any major setbacks in your athletic career and how did you overcome them?
SOMOZA: I don’t think there’s an athlete out there that hasn’t dealt with a setback. When I was 14 and just getting into soccer, I tried out for the ODP team because that’s where all the elite players went, and I got cut. It was really difficult because you think you’re good enough, what kid doesn’t you know? I think at every level I went to, there’s a different level adversity that hit me as a player and I had to overcome. And it’s more of a mentality. If you don’t believe in yourself, it’s really hard to step into that next level, and I dealt with that as a 7th grader, but I overcame it and made that team the next year and got put on more advanced teams. Getting released from Portland Timbers was difficult. It makes you question your talent. I started getting some injuries towards the end of my playing days and when you’re out two months, it’s really hard to come back. I think as long as you’re an athlete and you keep your competitive edge, you can absolutely push forward. Having community and people around you to get through those situations is key.
SCSC: What is one of the biggest life lessons you learned through sports?
SOMOZA: Never say never. I never thought I would get to where I got. I was playing recreational soccer in 6th and 7th grade and I had a dream of playing pro sports. I didn’t know what sport, but I loved sports in general and having that sense of belief helps you do a lot of things. It’s never too late to start something.
SCSC: What’s one piece of advice you have for kids who have a dream of playing pro soccer?
SOMOZA: Love what you’re doing. You’ve got to be passionate about what you’re doing. If it feels like a job, you might be in the in the wrong spot. You must be passionate because you’ve got to put time in.
SCSC: What does life look like today for you? Family? Work?
SOMOZA: I live in Edmonds. I’ve got 3 awesome little boys. I work at a youth soccer club called Washington Rush. We do youth baseball as well. We do a lot of outreach around the community through soccer camps and clinics, with baseball as well. I feel pretty fortunate for this to have something I’m passionate about turn into a job. A sport that gave so me so much, I’m now able to give that to kids and youth.
SCSC: What does this induction to the Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame mean to you?
SOMOZA: I feel honored to be mentioned with a lot of the people I read up on; some of the teams and some of the community and, and to be acknowledged for some of the efforts that I put in years ago. I feel very fortunate to be able to receive this award.
You can honor Ben and the 7 other inductees at the Hall of Fame Banquet on September 25th at Angel Of The Winds Arena. Visit 2024 Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet (auctria.com) to make a donation or purchase tickets.