BUFC Hammers gear up for EPLWA kick off by going indoors

On Saturday November 16, Whatcom Soccer Academy (WSA) Rapids held an exciting high-energy exhibition match against the Western Washington University All Stars at the Bellingham Sportsplex.  The WSA Rapids are in the process of preparing for their 2013/2014 season of competitive indoor play in the Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL) Northwest-North Division.

What made it even more exciting was the opportunity to see past, present and future Bellingham United Football Club (BUFC) players that will likely be part of 2014 inaugural season of the Evergreen Premier League Washington (EPLWA).

EPLWA President Peter Ostrovsky who attended the exhibition match with BUFC General Manager Jim Massoni said that, “There was definitely a buzz in the air with all of the Hammers taking the pitch together, even if they were on opposing teams.”

The WSA Rapids side had Hammers Riley Liddle, Leo Cohen, Tony Clarke, Matt Sanchez, Keith Farris, Matt “Ziggy” Zigulis, Oscar Jimenez, Joel Grossman, Sujinda Dangvan, Nick Saletto and Chris Jepson, to name a few.  The All Stars side was coached by Hammer Andrew Weishaar and had Tye Hastings, Caden Sowers, Leonard Kusina and Kurtis Pederson, among others.

GM Jim Massoni said, “It felt like I was at a BUFC match,” with the Copper Hog Beer garden up and running in the Sportsplex and the WSA Rapids being coached by BUFC Assistant Coach/Player Justin Diener.

The WSA Rapids outscored Western’s Stars and won 14-7, but the real winners on the night were Hammer fans that got to see BUFC players in what would be a “fantasy soccer match” for any Hammer fan. It was all about seeing their favorite players going head to head and end to end in non-stop spectacular action.

The WSA Rapids start their PASL season next Saturday night at home against the Wenatchee Fire Football Club, which is bound to also have players who will see EPLWA play in 2014 on Wenatchee United Football Club.