Bellingham United Battles Snohomish Sky in 2024 NWPL Championships
Bellingham United (BUFC) will travel to Snohomish to take on the Sky in the Northwest Premier League Indoor Soccer (NWPL) Championships.
With the league consisting of five clubs, the postseason entails only a championship match, and the BUFC women reached the title game after going 5-3-0 in the regular season and defeating FC Olympia 7-5 on the road to secure a spot in the title game. Their opponents, the Snohomish Sky, went undefeated in their NWPL Indoor season.
The Snohomish Sky and Their Championship Appearance
Their opponents, the Snohomish Sky, finished in first place in the NWPL with an 8-0-0 record and in first place. “It has been a privilege to coach such a talented team. They have worked very hard to learn the indoor game,” said Head Coach Craig Otto. “With their strong work ethic, we have been very successful. Now, there is just one more game to finish it. It will be tough against Bellingham. It's always tough to beat a team three times in a season. They have improved throughout the season. [the championship game is] going to be a fun one.”
Snohomish Sky in the Championship Game
Photo: Snohomish Sky
Otto expects several players to have big games in the Championship. Liv Larson had a great season, and he expects her to have a big game. She has been excellent all season. He also believes Alicia Barker will have a big game. She has had some cool experiences in her playing career. Also, the team will look to Sarah Stochel to have a great game in goal.
Belligham United and Snohomish Sky in the NWPL Championship Match in Snohomish
Photo: BUFC
Bellingham’s Thoughts on the Finals
"We've been preparing all season; our hope has always been to make it (or at least be close to making it) to the finals. We're so excited to have the opportunity to play," said BUFC Head Coach Emily Webster. All season, BUFC has been committed to coming to training each week and maintaining high intensity. The club has excelled at installing tactics to help their players maximize their individual talents. Webster also adds that it's helpful that the team loves the game and is having a ton of fun playing it. The Bellingham side hopes their tactics and passion will help send them over the edge in their championship game.
Fans can expect a few players to have big games this weekend. Goalie Ashley Homer has played well in net for a second year, coming up with big saves in crucial moments. In her first year with BUFC, Morgan Manalili netted three goals and three assists. “A lot of Morgan's play doesn't always make it into the stats because of her ability to set up plays way before the goals and assists. She is dynamic, creative, and works hard on and off the ball,” said Webster. The head coach has also been impressed with defender Gabby Brower. “She is composed, helps organize the team, and lifts her teammates up. She's been a consistent force for us this season.”
Another Big Chapter in Women’s Sport in the Northwest
The championship game marks another great chapter in the growth of women’s sports in Bellingham and Whatcom County. “It has been really fun to see women's semi-pro soccer grow within our community and the state. I remember growing up watching the Men's team in Bellingham (formerly the Rapids) and love that girls in our community can now come to watch us play high-level indoor soccer as well,” Webster said. “The BUFC outdoor team also had a very successful season last summer, making it to the championship. It is a great opportunity for players to continue to play competitively or keep up their skills during the offseason before returning to their college or high school teams.”
NWPL Championship Game Info
NWPL Championship Game Info The Championship game between Bellingham and Snohomish will kick off this Saturday, February 24th, at 7 PM at the Snohomish Sports Dome. More info on the NWPL can be found on their website.
Western Indoor Soccer Semi-Finals
It semi-final weekend in the WISL. Read about the matchups and preview the final four games here
