WISL Semi-Final Showdown: Top Teams Clash for Championship Berth

Only four clubs in the Western Indoor Soccer League (WISL) remain in the 2023-2024 campaign, the longest regular season schedule to date (due to the addition of new teams).

After this weekend, two of those organizations will advance to the league championships. The semi-finals this weekend pit the league's top-seeded teams against two clubs that upset the third and fourth-seeded sides, promising another weekend of action-packed indoor soccer.

#5 FC Olympia at #2 Bellingham United Saturday, February 24, 7:30 PM, Bellingham Sportsplex

FC Olympia (Olympia) reached the semi-finals after defeating the third-seeded Everett City FC 6-5 in the quarterfinals. During the regular season, FC Olympia went 6-3-1, while Bellingham United (United) took second place with an 8-2-0 record. Both clubs have been training hard this week to prepare for a dynamic matchup, which will be familiar to each team as they played each other in the regular season. United narrowly defeated Olympia 6-5 in that match.

“It was beneficial to have just played our opponent recently, so the strategy is fresh, and we know what to expect, but so do they,” said United Coach Rich Henderson. “We anticipate them playing defensively and trying to counter us, as most teams do against us, and we need to manage the transition side of the game,” he continued. Having a bye in the first round has its positive and challenging aspects. Although it can be hard to maintain momentum, the team was thankful to give some players rest and time to heal after a long and intense regular season. Their opponent, Olympia, is heading into the semi-finals with momentum on their side. Their postseason drive began with a 7-2 defeat of the fourth-seeded South Sound Shock FC. The side hopes to challenge United in another closely contested match.

BUFC in a WISL match

Photo: BUFC Facebook

“Bellingham is a tough place to play. Our focus is on keeping our heads and not conceding goals. We will have to be clean on the ball and have more proactive movement in the attacking half to unlock some of the key spaces we want to attack,” said Olympia Head Coach Nick Boatright.

Photo: FC Olympia/Oly Town FC

#6 Oly Pen Force at #1 Tacoma Stars Reserves Saturday, February 24, 7:00 PM, Tacoma Soccer Center

After upsetting the third-seeded Everett City club in a hard-fought 6-5 match, Oly Pen has reached the finals, where they are pitted against the top-seeded team, Tacoma Stars Reserves (TSR). Oly Pen went 4-6-0 during the regular season and barely made it into the playoffs. The Force have shown they can compete with anyone, as demonstrated in their upset win in Everett.

“Last week was a good challenge. We believe Everett was one of the best teams in the league, and we had a lot to overcome, but the squad stuck together and put together a fantastic fourth quarter to come out on top and advance,” Force Head Coach Micah "Tink" McMonagle said. Regarding this weekend’s match, the Force hopes to score frequently while keeping the defense tight and not allowing too many TSR goals.

“We will need to be focused on both sides of the ball for sure, as TSR is fully capable of punishing any mistake you might make,” McMonagle said. TSR claimed the top seed after an impressive 9-1-0 campaign. Tacoma had to wait and watch the first round as they had a first-round bye, much like BUFC did.

Izzy Deluna (photo below from Oly Pen Force) is expected to have a big game and continue his offensive output. Deluna also won this year’s Golden Boot award.

Tacoma Coach Adam Becker shared his thoughts on the bye. “Typically, I don't enjoy having a bye and waiting for the next round, let alone the two weeks we've been waiting at this point,” Becker said. “Although it has helped us internally this year, allowing guys extra rest to recover from some lingering injuries. The additional rest and more focused low-impact training have benefited the overall team health, so we look forward to finally getting back on the field in front of our fans. Becker said that focus would be crucial in the game as the club would also strive to play a mature game that avoids fouls, blue cards, and set pieces.

“Oly Pen executes very well on set pieces and power plays, so we need to limit those chances, and when they do occur, we need to be focused, defend as a team, and block shots for our goalkeepers,” Becker said. “Limiting counterattacks and finishing our chances will also play a huge factor in the result; with the small goals in Tacoma and the nature of a semi-final, it will come down to making the fewest mistakes and capitalizing on offensive opportunities.”

Championship Weekend

Bellingham United and the Snohomish Sky are playing in the NWPL Finals. You can read more on that game here.