The Evergreen Premier League has completed its third week of play with all eight clubs in action. 16 goals were scored and there were numerous saves, take-aways, tackles, moments of admirable teamwork and individual stand-out plays.
Two players are honored this week for their performances, which elevated them above the crowd and into the books as our Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week. Eleazar Galvan (Wenatchee FC, Offense) and Bastien Catrin (Seattle Stars FC, Defense) are this week’s choices. As a part of this recognition both will receive unique, custom EPLWA socks designed especially for the league by Rock’em Apparel.
Rising above expectations and doing something remarkable gets you noticed, and the Players of the Week for May 10 both had those kind of performances as their clubs got favorable results. In Bremerton Wenatchee FC creative attacker Eleazar Galvan ran through the Olympic Force defense and scored a hat trick after just 22 minutes of play in a 4-1 Capitals win. In Spokane French center back Bastien Catrin organized a stubborn Seattle Stars FC defense that did not allow a goal from the run of play in an eventual 1-1 tie with the defending league champion Spokane Shadow.
OFFENSE: Eleazar Galvan (midfield / forward) was the leading scorer for Wenatchee FC in 2014 with 7 goals. He’s nearly half way to that total right now after a 22-minute stretch in which he scored a hat trick on Mothers Day against the Olympic Force in Bremerton. “My first season in the EPLWA was a great one. I was able to play with people who I grew up with that I consider my brothers. I don’t think I had a favorite moment with this team because every moment was an important one,” Galvan said in a feature article during the offseason. “Playing for Wenatchee FC has definitely helped me become a better player. It has helped me become more physical. Also it has helped me see the game from different perspectives as the coach taught us. Practicing and playing vs. good players has also helped me become a better soccer player.”
Galvan’s hat trick was built on speed in the 3rd, 10th and 22nd minutes. He worked his way around Olympic Force defenders and was able to beat the goalkeeper from the left (once) and right (twice.) To cap off his day he assisted on Wenatchee FC’s stoppage time goal in the second half to cement a 4-1 away win.
The Chelan High School graduate, who played two stong seasons in the NWAC with Skagit Valley, will play for Western Washington University this fall.
DEFENSE: Sometimes you have to travel a long way in search of your dreams. For Seattle Stars FC’s French center back Bastien Catrin, this is certainly true. In August of 2012 he came to the United States to play soccer at Davis & Elkins after leaving his home in Laon, Northern France. So how did he end up in Seattle? He came out here with a college teammate, Wyatt Hill, to try out for the Stars. Hill returned to Davis & Elkins but Bastien stayed in Seattle.
On Saturday night May 9 Bastien and his Seattle Stars faced the ultimate challenge. They were going up against a team that scored 15 goals on them in 2014 in just two matches. The defending EPLWA champion Shadow had also debuted in 2015 with an 8-2 win in Wenatchee. In a scoreline the Stars can certainly build from, they drew the Shadow 1-1, not allowing a single goal from the run of play. Spokane’s lone strike was a 13th minute penalty kick.
Seattle head coach Juan Sandoval knew where to place the spotlight on a defense that dominated the second half: he pointed to the performance of Catrin, who was also wearing the captain’s arm band. Catrin kept his unit focused and well-organized, allowing the Stars to play for a goal, which they got at 77 minutes in a well-earned draw.
Bastien was voted an All-American in 2012. He now works for Washington Youth Soccer as Program and Events Manager. Looking at the photo of Catrin in the tunnel before the match in Spokane, you can almost imagine his thoughts. “I am about to rise to the occasion,” he might have been telling himself. And so he did, lifting the Stars to one of their biggest results to date.
Bastien Catrin scouting combine video.
About the POTW Honors
The Evergreen Premier League will be selecting an offensive and defensive Player of the Week each week during the 2015 season. The Players of the Week will be acknowledged with a pair of custom, unique socks featuring the EPLWA logo. The socks are from Rock’Em Apparel, the Official Provider of the weekly reward. The league worked with Rock’Em Apparel to finalize the look of the socks. The league logo is complemented by a rendering of George Washington in the State seal.
The phrase “Rock ‘Em” represents the willingness to achieve greatness; to go above and beyond limits,” says www.RockEmApparel.com.
Evergreen Premier League players will work to do just that for their clubs this season. The best of the best will have cool custom socks to show off around town for their efforts.
Evergreen Premier League 
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