on
Manny Nicasio | Photo: Sonja Purtteman

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Oly Town Artesians their 2019-2020 Western Indoor Soccer League campaign on Saturday night when they welcome the Snohomish Skyhawks to town. With the Artesians just one point behind the Skyhawks for third place, it is a very important game in the race for the playoffs with just four games remaining. First kick at The Pavilion at The Evergreen State College is set for 6:35 PM and tickets are just $8 for adults, $5 for kids 5-12, seniors, military, and first responders and the Well 80 Beer Garden will be open for fans 21 and up.

The Artesians enter the game at 2-4-0 this season and are looking to snap a three game losing streak. Two of those losses during the streak are one goal losses and other than an 8-1 loss in Bellingham, the Artesians have been outscored by just four goals in the other three losses. Oly Town fell to the Skyhawks, 8-6, and Jordan Zimmerman scored twice in a controversial contest that could have gone either way.

Alec Zimmerman still leads the team with six goals but has not played in the last three games. Collin Tate and Nate Boatright have each scored four times while Manny Nicasio has provided a spark three goals in four games including two goals last week against the Oly-Pen Force. JJ Olson has been solid in goal allowing 31 goals in 285 minutes for a 6.52 goals against average this season.

The Skyhawks are coming off of two extremely close games against the two top teams in the WISL. Before the Christmas break, they fell 6-5 to Bellingham United in Bellingham before snapping the Tacoma Stars Reserves 17 game winning streak last weekend with a 5-5 draw. They sit at 2-3-1 this season, just one point ahead of the Artesians and Force. Andrew Escalante leads Snohomish with six goals and Kevin Flavin trails him with five. Trevor Davoren has played every minute in goal for the Skyhawks, who have allowed 36 goals over six games, the third least in the WISL.

The Skyhawks have struggled on the road this season, going 0-3-0 away from their Dome. They fell to the Stars Reserves, 6-3, in week one, lost to the Force in week three, 9-6, and were nudged 6-5 in Bellingham. Meanwhile, the Artesians are just 1-2-0 at home with two one goal losses.

For fans unable to make it to The Pavilion on Saturday, the game will be webcast on the Artesians Network. Like Oly Town FC on Facebook at FB.com/OlyTownFC to access the link to the webcast.

on

The Artesians made a valiant attempt at a comeback but couldn’t quite get the equalizer and earn a point for the Well 80 Beer Garden (as seen above) and the rest of the crowd at The Pavilion on Saturday night. Sonja Purtteman was there and delivered this photo gallery from our 9-8 loss to the Oly-Pen Force.

Like this action? Join us THIS SATURDAY when we welcome the Snohomish Skyhawks to town. First kick at The Pavilion is set for 6:35. Tickets are just $8 for adults and $5 for kids 5-12, seniors, military and first responders and are available at the door. See you there!

Click here to see the full gallery

on

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Oly-Pen Force built a three goal lead twice in the third quarter before the Oly Town Artesians battled back but ultimately fell short in a 9-8 loss at The Pavilion on Saturday night. Alex Hernandez provided most of the offense for the Force scoring five times. Nate Boatright and Manny Nicasio chipped in with two goals each for the Artesians but couldn’t get the late equalizer and fell to 2-4-0 on the season.

Collin LaBranche got the Artesians going, scoring the opening goal early in the first quarter off a pass by Christian Segovia. Alex Hernandez tied the game with a minute left in the first and then scored two of the Force’s next three goals including one with 2:21 left in the second quarter that gave the Force a 4-3 lead, following Artesians goals by Jordan Zimmerman and Segovia that tied the game at 3-3. Marco Lopez’s strike a minute later gave the Force a 5-3 lead at the half.

James Salisbury opened the scoring in the third quarter with a goal just 30 seconds in to give the Force their first three goal lead. Manny Nicasio and Nate Boatright got it back to a one goal game, 6-5, Jaisen Zurfluh and Hernandez built the lead back to 8-5 with 2:50 left in the third. Boatright capped off a six goal quarter and sent the game to the fourth quarter with the Artesians trailing by two, 8-6.

Collin Tate got it back to a one goal contest with 12:04 left off of an assist by Boatright but Hernandez struck three minutes later with his fifth goal and what proved to be the game winner. Matt Stalnik replaced Hunter Bowman in goal for the Artesians to provide Oly Town with a sixth attacker and the strategy produced Nicasio’s second goal, who poked in the ball after being knocked down in front of the goal, but despite the extra man and a furious attack, the Force and goalkeeper Cole Weaver held off the Artesians to secure the 9-8 victory.

The loss dropped the Artesians to 2-4-0 while the Force improved to 2-4-0, but because of their 9-6 victory earlier in the season, Oly Town holds the playoff tiebreaker and remained in fourth place in the Western Indoor Soccer League.

The Artesians will get right back at it next Saturday, January 18th when they host the Snohomish Skyhawks. First kick at The Pavilion at The Evergreen State College is set for 6:35 PM. Tickets are just $8 for adults, $5 for kids 5-12 years-old, seniors, military and first responders and the popular Well 80 Beer Garden will be open for fans 21 and over.