WISL Rolls Into Weekend With Three Matchups as Season Kick-Off Continues

Opening weekend action continues in the Western Indoor Soccer League with a trio of matches on Saturday, Nov. 8.

Bellingham United at South Sound FC — Saturday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m.

Bellingham United and South Sound FC meet to open their seasons in a rematch of last year’s semifinals, where United prevailed 6–4 before falling to Tacoma in the championship match.

For SSFC, it’s a new season in a new home — the brand-new Jarzynka Fieldhouse at the PenMet Recreation Complex. The club already played a preseason friendly there in front of a sellout crowd and hopes to turn the facility into a true home-field advantage.

“We are excited to get started. The last couple of seasons, we have had really difficult starts, going away to South Sound and Tacoma straight off the back. They are a very experienced team that doesn’t rely too heavily on college players, which makes them really strong from the beginning of the season. They have a new facility home opener, so I know they will want to put on a good showing for their fans, and we are hoping to be the party crashers,” said Rich Henderson, United’s player-coach.

Henderson added that SSFC’s veteran presence makes them difficult to break down.

“They have several veterans, so they will be well-versed in the basics of the game. We don't expect to get too many gifts and know they'll try to control the game and slow it down to their speed. We will have to be tactically spot on and adjust to the new playing environment quickly, adapting midgame to how we want to attack them. The size of the pitch, board height, and angles all play into more advanced strategies. That is the beauty and the curse of playing on the road. All the facilities are vastly different.”

Oly-Pen Force at Tacoma Stars Reserves — Saturday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m.

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The Oly-Pen Force open their season on the road in a cross-sound clash against the defending champions, the Tacoma Stars Reserves (1–0). Last season, the Force finished fifth at 3–8 and aim to climb back into playoff contention.

Tacoma enters the match 1–0 after defeating Everett City FC in Week 1.

Force General Manager Micah McMonagle said he’s eager to get the season underway and return to winning form.

“Two years ago, the men made it to the semifinals, then took a step backward last year. We’re looking to get back into the top four this year and compete to the end of the season. The women improved massively last year, and we hope to continue building on that success to become a more competitive side all around.”

McMonagle added that fans can expect plenty of energy and smart play in the opener. The Force will be coached collaboratively by McMonagle, TR Jewett, David Meherg, Jason Jarrett, Michael Nation, and Bryan Weathington.

Snohomish Sky at Vancouver Lightning — Saturday, Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m.

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Now in their third WISL season, the Vancouver Lightning host the Snohomish Sky, who finished one spot ahead of them in sixth place last year.

“This season feels like a big step forward for the club,” said Lightning president Peter Valdez. “We’ve built a solid core of returning players who understand our system and expectations, and we’ve added new talent that brings fresh energy and competition. I’m most looking forward to seeing how this group comes together — both on and off the field — to represent Vancouver and push for a deeper run in the league.”

Snohomish is also eager to open the season and ready to take on the challenge of a long road trip.

“We have a lot of new talent coming out this year and we are really excited for the season. Each practice we are seeing this group of guys become more dedicated, focused, and willing to learn. The growth has already started, and we’re excited to keep building chemistry and competing hard this year,” said Sky head coach James Doherty.