Spokane Shadow MFT Returns to Play in 2022

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Spokane Shadow Men’s First Team is excited to announce that it will return to play this spring in the Evergreen Premier League (EPLWA).

Taking the reins of the team for its return campaign in 2022 will be Spokane Sounders Boys Director of Coaching Jay Vela, who also serves as FC Spokane Director of Coaching.

“I am excited to guide what will be an intriguing selection of returning collegiate players and our top college prospects this upcoming season in the Evergreen Premier League,” said Vela. “The Shadow First Team is an excellent opportunity for these players to train and play in a pre-professional environment against some talented and challenging competition.”

The Spokane native was a standout player at Central Valley and later the Community Colleges of Spokane, finishing as a leading scorer at both levels. The First Team GSL selection would earn All-Star and NWAC MVP honors in successive seasons while playing for the Bigfoot.

Vela quickly turned to a career in coaching and at age 25 was named Director of Coaching for FC Spokane, which is believed to be the youngest such occurrence for the greater-Spokane area.

Members of the league since 2014, the Shadow captured back-to-back championships in the first two seasons of the league and operated a U23 reserve side from 2017-19 in the league, developing many of the area’s top high school players for the next level.

Vela Coaching Profile [+]

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