It was another hot day around the state of Washington where even two western side of the mountains matches featured temperatures in the 90’s. The Spokane Shadow took the lead in the table and can clinch on Sunday after they beat Seattle 4-1 in Everett. In Bellingham a season of woes was forgotten for a day as the Hammers pounded Wenatchee 6-2.
| EVERGREEN PREMIER LEAGUE – 2015 (Through July 18) | Pts | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD |
| SPOKANE SHADOW | 29 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 32 | 12 | +20 |
| SOUTH SOUND FC | 28 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 35 | 17 | +18 |
| VANCOUVER VICTORY FC | 22 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 28 | 14 | +14 |
| WENATCHEE FC | 17 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 26 | 36 | -10 |
| OLYMPIC FORCE | 15 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 26 | 33 | -7 |
| YAKIMA UNITED FC | 15 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 26 | 28 | -2 |
| SEATTLE STARS FC | 12 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 17 | 26 | -9 |
| BELLINGHAM UNITED FC | 4 | 12 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 18 | 42 | -24 |
Seattle Stars FC 1-4 Spokane Shadow
EVERETT, WA—The Spokane Shadow moved atop the Evergreen Premier League table for the first time this season, using a 4-1 win over the Seattle Stars in Everett today to move one point ahead of South Sound, which is idle this weekend. The Shadow travel to Bellingham tomorrow with a chance to clinch a championship repeat with a victory.
Spokane seized control from the opening whistle and spent much of the game in the offensive end. They were given some additional help in the 15th minute when Seattle’s Ramon Ramos was sent off for a second caution. The Shadow would finally break through with a long ball over the top that put first half sub Kazu Tateishi behind the defense. He finished nicely, beating goalkeeper Scott Barnum in the 35th.
In the second half the Stars managed to scrap a goal against the run of play, capitalizing on a high bouncing ball off a long service from the back that the defense and goalkeeper Jeff Srock were unable to corral in the 54th, giving Ernesto Bueno to tie it up.
From there it was all Shadow as they ran away with the play.
Young halftime inserts Jonathan Cortez and JD Hauenstein helped break Seattle’s back. A ball from Dustin Ferger to Hauenstein set up the go-ahead goal in the 68th. The Central Valley standout sent the ball into the six, finding an open Cortez for the easy finish. Hauenstein did it again nine minutes later, sending a ball in from the left to Anthony Mota, who ripped a shot from about 14 yards.
Chance Bukoski capped the scoring with a fantastic individual play. After receiving the ball at midfield with his back to goal and a defender on his back, he spun at the touchline and got a step on his marker, pulling away from him as he drove to goal and beat the keeper from about 10 yards.
When the Shadow take the field in Bellingham tomorrow, it will be the first time in the league’s two seasons that the Shadow will be doing so in first place as they won the league championship on the final day of the season a year ago with South Sound repeatedly reclaiming the league lead the last few weeks each time the Shadow went in front.
Scoring
SPO 41′ Tateishi (Thompson)
SEA 55′ Bueno
SPO 68′ Cortez (Hauenstein)
SPO 77′ Mota (Hauenstien)
SPO 86′ Bukoski (Shockman)
Bellingham United FC 6-2 Wenatchee FC
BELLINGHAM, WA—A season of frustration was left for a moment as a memory after the Hammers pounded the Capitals 6-2 for their first win of the season. It took 12 matches played to get it, but on a sunny, hot day the BUFC fans and players were in a mood to look forward and celebrate.
It was already 4-0 United after 17 minutes of play as the Black and White were all over the pitch. Nick Cashmere dished out three assists on the day, including the one that started it all in the 5th minute. Tyler Bjork put BUFC up early 1-0. Then in the 9th minute Uche Ugwoaba made it 2-0. A quick brace from Kurtis Pederson in the 13th and 17th made it 4-0. Pederson’s first goal was assisted by Cashmere.
The Capitals tried to regroup, and they did pull one back in the 35th from Matthew Stefanko (Edwin Tinoco) to make it 4-1 at the break.
It got better for Bellingham in the second half as they continued to attack. Bjork and Cashmere connected again in the 48th minute as Tyler got his brace and Nick got his third assist.
Christian Nyanfore got one back for WFC in the 67th minute but the Hammer closed out the scoring three minutes later when Sean Conner netted a free kick from about 20 yards out, right in front of the supporters area.
On Sunday BUFC will try to play spoilers as they host the Spokane Shadow at 3 PM at Civic. Spokane clinches the EPLWA title with a win.
Scoring:
BHM 5′ Bjork (Cashmere)
BHM 9′ Ugwoaba
BHM 13′ Pederson (Cashmere)
BHM 17′ Pederson
WEN 35′ Stefanko (Tinoco)
BHM 48′ Bjork (Cashmere)
WEN 67′ Nyanfore
BHM 70′ Conner
Evergreen Premier League 
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