Shadow WFT Win WPSL Opener 5-0

Sunday, June 1, 2025

The Spokane Shadow Women’s First Team opened up defense of the Pacific Northwest Division title in fine fashion Sunday afternoon at Whitworth, cruising to a 5-0 victory against the Vancouver Victory in their WPSL Season Opener.

Delani Walker found Bre Koscielski just seven minutes in for the opening tally and went on to register a goal herself in the 36th and set up another four minutes into the second half to put any thoughts of a comeback out of reach.

The opening goal began just outside the penalty arc when Walker reclaimed possession of the ball and quickly turned to find Koscielski running free into the right side of the box. After receiving the ball, she juked the incoming defender for the inside look to goal and immediately sent it inside the far post.

A quick series up through midfield resulted in the second goal in the 27th with Kyah Le finding Ella Cotter on the run up the middle. Cotter received the ball at the top of the box and split a pair of closing defenders before unleashing past the keeper from just off the penalty spot.

The Shadow made it three in the 31st minute off of a pair of defensive miscues. A ball thrown out to midfield by the keeper was initially intercepted by Quinn Mueller before a Vancouver defender reclaimed the ball only to lose it moments later to Walker. With Walker approaching from behind the defender turned to play safely back it was directly into Walker, who stole ball, turned and fought through the grappling defender to slip a quick shot past the keeper from about 12 yards.

The Shadow put their foot on the pedal just as quickly after the break. A series of touches across the top of the box went through Walker and to Isabelle Herting, who juked her marker at the top right corner of the box to gain an inside look before launching a perfect ball from 16 yards over the keeper into the far side netting.

The final tally came in the follow-up action of a corner when Ella Cotter got the ball in the deep right corner and sent it through the box. A defensive touch sent it out of the area, but Amberly Hastings was there to one-time it inside the left post in the 81st.

Largely untested, Kamryn Willoughby and Sophie Hills split the shutout with a half each in goal.

The busy June home slate continues this week with four games for the Shadow WFT program. The WPSL side is in action Saturday and Sunday, both at Whitworth at 3:00, versus Seattle Reign II and Portland Thorns II respectively while the Cascadia Premier League team will host local foe Washington East Surf Thursday evening at 6:30 at the Polo Grounds and Three Rivers SC Sunday at 6:00 as the second half of a doubleheader at Whitworth.

Match Summary

SPO: Bre Koscielski (Delani Walker) 7
SPO: Ella Cotter (Kyah Le) 26
SPO: Delani Walker 36
SPO: Isabelle Herting (Delani Walker) 49
SPO: Amberly Hastings 81

Shared Shutout: H1 Kamryn Willoughby / H2 Sophie Hills

Upcoming Games
CPL: Thursday, June 5 – 6:30 Spokane Polo Grounds v WE Surf
WPSL: Saturday, June 7 – 3:00 Whitworth v Seattle Reign II
WPSL: Sunday, June 8 – 3:00 Whitworth v Portland Thorns II
CPL: Sunday, June 8 – 6:00 Whitworth v Three Rivers SC

Lineups
Spokane: Kamryn Willoughby; Becca Gaifo, Isabelle Herting, Anamari Bosnjak, Ashlyn Chase; Charity Freeman, Bre Koscielski, Makayla Werner; Kyah Le, Delani Walker, Alexis Parker – subs: Sophie Hills, Quinn Mueller, Reese Walker, Amberly Hastings, Emily Todd, Ella Cotter, Gabbi Barusic, Julia Ligtvoet, Allison Moultray
Vancouver: Stephanie Leckwold; Audrey Dizon, Elle Unflat, Emma Therkildsen, Madeline Johnson; Alexis Boyer, Gianna Alati, Kenzie Banner, Maya Davis; Adrianne Agboyani, Olivia Bario-Arsay – Subs: Bellaliis Town, Harleen Dhasi, Jaleyah Pitre

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