FC Olympia women’s team continue their pursuit for another undefeated season in the USL W League as the Artesians easily handle Capital FC Atletica and Lane United FC in two quick games this weekend, with their hot form propelling them to this week’s USL W national power rankings to 5th.
Head coach Raphael Cox eased his transition to the Artesians very well, maintaining supremacy in the USL W Northwest Division while extending the unbeaten run by FC Olympia to seven games including six clean sheets. The last time the Artesians conceded a goal was on the first day of the match.
This dominant winning run also put the Artesians at 5th in the nationwide USL W power rankings for Matchweek 7, their highest rank so far this season.
FC Olympia will return Thursday night in the South Sound Stadium with their biggest challenge so far this season as they host the division’s current second placers United PDX FC in a clash for the top of the table and a playoff spot in the Northwest Division.
Joining her were three other goalscorers for the hosts as Sydney Stephens, Sophie Beadle, and Ameera Hussen found the back of the net, while Capital FC Atletica’s Kgotlelelo Malefo recorded an own goal to complete the rout.
The Arizona State U attacking midfielder netted the first of her three goals in the seventh minute as she received a peach of a pass from Sydney Stephens from the left and dribbled past two defenders in the box to break the ice. doubling the lead at the 19th as she beat the backline and finished off the cross from Kelsey Kwon on the right. The first half finished 3-0 for the Artesians after the unfortunate Malefo tapped the ball into her own net.
Suzuka completed her hat trick early in the second half from an easy tap-in inside the box, slamming another low cross from Kwon.
The goals continued to rain up until the death as Kwon also completed her hat trick of assists to deliver the dagger to Sydney Stephens in the 81st minute. Sophie Beadle added her own in the 89th after a string of passes in the final third while Ameera Hussen added the cherry on top with a first-time volley in the box just before the final whistle.
At the same game, international goalkeepers Shu Ohba and Murphy Sheaff shared today’s shift between the gates, with the Japanese showstopper utilized in the first half while the New Zealand keeper was subbed in at the break to handle the whole second half, both keeping the sheets clean in the process.
Less than two days after the home win, FC Olympia traveled to Eugene, Oregon for an excursion away from home against Lane United FC in their third battle this season, but still the Artesians remained dominant with a 5-0 victory at the road last Sunday afternoon, June 16, at Civic Park.
McKenna Martinez and Hannah Boughton both had two goals in their name while Honoka Hamano added one to complete the win in Eugene.
As FC Olympia’s top scorer this season, Martinez started proceedings with the opening goal in the 12th minute and added another in the 38th, before Hamano did not let the hosts breathe and stretched the lead to three with her quick goal a minute later the second to make it 3-0 at halftime.
FC Olympia's dominance continued in the second half as now it’s time for Hannah Boughton to be in the spotlight after her two goals in the second half, scoring in the 49th and 63rd minutes to complete the job in Oregon.
Same as the past fixture, Shu Ohba started in goal for the Artesians and was replaced by Murphy Sheaff at the break, as both keepers were still impenetrable in goal.
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