SPORTS - SOCCER

USL2 and USL W: Ladies pepper Lane United while Lads lose to Ballard in local derby

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It’s a mix of joy and agony for Oly Town FC on this second matchday of the USL leagues as the Women Artesians battered hosts Lane United FC 4-1 last Friday, May 19th, while the men’s team was beaten by local rivals Ballard FC 0-4 at home last Sunday, May 21st.

 USL W: Oly Town FC 4 – 1 Lane United FC

The newly formed Oly Town Women’s FC continued their fantastic form in the USL W League as the Artesians, led by a hat trick and an assist from Mariah Lee, battered the expansion side of Lane United FC 4-1 at their home ground at Civic Park in Oregon.

It was a special debut performance for Lee, who once played for Seattle-based pro club OL Reign FC, as she led the Artesians to its first win away from home and its second win in the two in their inaugural season in the league.

Oly Town FC was dominant from start to finish as they controlled possession early on in the match, and their hold in midfield has paid off as a quick long through pass from Suzuka Yosue found a pacing Lee on the right to cross it to a poaching Shaelan Murison to give Oly Town the lead at the 16th minute of the match.

The hosts tried to stifle Oly Town’s lead as they responded quickly with an equalizer from Sela Freeman in the 19th minute, but the determined Artesians fought back, thanks to Mariah Lee, showing her levels above the semipro field with two goals in the 24th and 43rd minute to end the half with a comfortable 3-1 lead for the visitors.

It was all Oly Town FC in the second half, with the Lane United goalkeeper Liv Riddel riddled with shots on goal and has to make 18 saves the whole match just to contain Oly Town FC but her heroics for the Eugene-based side wasn’t enough as they just can’t find a way to crawl back from being two goals behind.

The finishing punch was struck in the 79th minute as Mariah Lee completed her hat trick after she was left unmarked in the box and struck a semi-volley rocket to the goal to make it 4-1.

“It was a great trip to Eugene,” said Coach Chris Wells after the match. “We played a very organized and well coached group in Lane and it felt like our players adapted to the game well.”

The Oly Town ladies will return home at the South Sound Stadium for the next fixture on Saturday, May 27, as they will host United PDX at 2 p.m. kickoff.

Photo sequence of Mariah Lee’s third goal as the screamer hits the net.
Photo sequence of Mariah Lee’s third goal as the screamer hits the net.

USL W: Oly Town FC 0 – 4 Ballard FC

Coming from their 3-0 thumping of PDX FC last weekend, the Oly Town FC men’s squad fumbled to carry on the momentum as they held four goals unanswered at home from Seattle-based local rivals Ballard FC.

A frustrating start for the hosts gave the momentum early for Ballard FC as Stas Korzseniowski opened the scoring for the visitors as he capitalized from an Oly Town defensive mistake at the sixth minute and doubled his tally in the 20th with an open header as Oly Town FC were held to 0-2 at halftime.

Trevor Thompson delivers a corner for Oly Town FC as they tried to battle back from three goals down.
Trevor Thompson delivers a corner for Oly Town FC as they tried to battle back from three goals down.

Oly Town tried to fight back in the second but was still overpowered by the more established Ballard FC as they finished the job with goals from Charlie Gaffney and Danny Robles in the second half making it 0-4 for Ballard FC.

“In a season like this one, it’s best to get your moments of adversity out of the way as early as possible” said Coach Liviu Bird. “It’s also important to take the lessons that each game gives you so that you can continue to improve as a team.”

Artesians have a quick four-day turnaround as they head to Portland on Friday, May 26, to face newcomer United PDX, 7 p.m. kickoff at Oregon Episcopal Stadium.

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