Another week of USL action in Thurston County. While the USL Artesians women’s team has a week’s break from action after their scintillating win over United PDX FC, FC Olympia’s men’s team must grab the most out of their two fixtures this week.
Unfortunately, they were given a quick reality check. They can only muster one point out of a possible six. They lost heavily to last year’s national champions Ballard FC in a 5-1 spanking at the Memorial Stadium, before going back home to the South Sound Stadium to draw with league newcomers West Seattle Junction FC, 1-1.
The lone point from this week’s two results led to FC Olympia's decline in the NW table. They slid to 7th place with a 2-2-4 win-loss-draw record, one place above bottom place.
The lads will continue their USL2 season campaign this Friday against bottom-of-the-table Capital FC Atletico as they try to regain confidence in a not-so-inspiring season.
Ballard FC 5, FC Olympia 1: Artesians overwhelmed by league leaders away
It’s not the most ideal way to start a week with a four-goal thumping against your local rivals but FC Olympia just experienced that after a 5-1 pounding from 2023 champions and current division leaders Ballard FC at the Memorial Stadium last June 23, Sunday afternoon.
Surprisingly, it was the underdog Artesians who drew first blood early at the opening salvo as a Chad Sovde cross from the right flank was met by an open header by Connor Lofy in the 3rd minute, scoring past the Ballard keeper Charlie Lanphier, who was last season’s Artesians keeper.
But perhaps it’s not the best idea to poke a bear just to run away as the Bridges responded with loads of attempts to equalize while having the huge chunk of possession, testing the backline and Jackson Ozburn in goal.
They finally equalized later in the 25th minute, when a Khai Brisco volley smashed the back of the net. Ballard continued to hunt for the lead while the Artesians held ground using their physicality and intensity. Still, the Bridges finally took the lead from a first-time effort from Austin Brummett right before the halftime break, which was a blow to the Artesians’ efforts in defense.
With that huge swing in momentum and a loud supporting crowd cheering behind, the Artesians crumbled in the hands of the hosts in the second half as Ballard FC showed the heart of a champion and showed the wide gap between the two teams.
The Bridges scored three unanswered goals in the second half, with Brummett scoring his second from a counterattack, Demian Alvarez scoring from a set piece routine, and an own goal from Tanner Dutra in transition as the icing on the cake for the biggest away defeat for the Artesians so far this season.
Looking for a response to that embarrassing defeat at Ballard, FC Olympia looked to bounce back with a win over newcomers West Seattle Junction FC, but they settled for a 1-1 draw at the South Sound Stadium on Wednesday evening, June 26.
After a scoreless first half full of aggressive physicality and chaotic soccer, it was the visitors in white who scored first. A semi-clearance in the FC Olympia box was turned into a loss of possession near the edge of the penalty area, and a disorganized Artesian defense was caught sleeping, leading to a goal from Jacen Stein.
After almost three halves of scoreless inaction, the Artesians finally got out of their goal drought as a quick attack initiated from the backline led to FC Olympia top scorer Lennard Fock with the ball while being swarmed by four West Seattle defenders, only to find an open Chad Sovde to steer the ball into the back of the net as the Artesians equalized in the 61st.
As much as the Artesians hunted for the winning goal, their attempts went wide, and both teams settled for a stalemate at the final whistle.
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