Shadow Womens First Team Hits WPSL Midseason Unbeaten

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

The Spokane Shadow Women’s First Team is in the midst of a midseason off week after finishing out its four-game home slate over the weekend with another dominant performance, heading into a road slate as the top team in the Northwest Conference with an unbeaten 3-0-1 record that is best in the table in points per game and ranked Top 10 in the WPSL West Power Rankings.

As in most seasons for the Shadow WFT, the squad has featured a high percentage of alumni this season. Out of the 26 players on the gameday rosters thus far this season only seven are not alumni. In addition, five of the club players are non-graduation players from the G2007 and G2008 Girls Academy sides – each providing significant contributions to the effort.

“I am incredibly proud of this group thus far and their desire to compete for one another in both training and games,” said head coach Drew Williams. “It truly is a special environment of women that care deeply for one another and you can see that through the joy in which they play. We have had a great start but we are not finished yet. We look forward to our road games coming up and are determined to advance to playoffs.”

The Shadow have yet to trail this season since opening the campaign with a 3-0 victory against longtime youth foes Westside Metros a few weeks ago and have only allowed four total goals. Gonzaga star Marissa Garcia played a huge role in the opener with two goals and an assist. Defensively the squad kept club alum Livvy Moore limited on the day in the midfield in her second appearance with the Metros before returning home and joining the Shadow.

The ladies then handed a 10-0 thumping to longtime Shadow Men’s First Team league foe Vancouver Victory, side which has allowed just 12 total in their other five games. Numerous players, not surprisingly, were involved in the scoring for the match.

Facing a highly-rated and fresh Portland Thorns II the day after player Vancouver, the Shadow put forth another excellent performance and went up 3-1 against the visitors before seeing the contest finish as a draw. Erin Ewers tallied a goal and assist in the match.

They wrapped up the home slate against another highly rated NWSL development squad Seattle Reign II on Saturday with another superb outing. Kyah Le led the way with a goal and two assists, including the opener that kept the teams streak of leading in every game ongoing. Just as impressive, the defense – led by G2007 player Ashlyn Chase at centerback – shut down the attack of the Reign led by standout JuJu Harris and Jadyn Holdenried. Harris is a G2007 striker out of Florida United that is headed to NCAA powerhouse Florida State and was a member of the Brazil Youth National Team for the U17 Women’s World Cup in 2022 while Holdenried was a 17-game starter with three goals and three assists in the midfield for the University of Washington last fall as a freshman. Chase also contributed on the other end with an excellent header goal to cap the scoring.

Chase is one of the five current youth players on the squad. She, Rebecca Skinner, Jennah Wanner and Quinn Mueller have seen a lot of time on the pitch. Skinner has been leading the way as a constant threat up top for the team, tallying three goals and an assist. Aliana Vakaloloma started in goal for the opening match with a shutout performance in goal in her half of action.

Graduating players have had just as big of a role with Bre Koscielski (Utah Tech) and Addison Romey (EWU) have seen quite a bit of the pitch as well in the midfield and back line, respectively.

Spokane Shadow 3-0 Westside Metros
SPO: Marissa Garcia (Addison Dizard) 26
SPO: Bre Koscielski (Marissa Garcia) 47
SPO: Marissa Garcia (Kyah Le) 63
Roster… Starters: Erin Ewers, Yacine Bitibale, Baylee Trejo, Kyah Le, Marissa Garcia, Chelsea Le, Addison Dizard, Makayla Werner, Ashlyn Chase, Peyton Bastine, Ali Vakaloloma – Subs: Paige Broadrick, Abbie Sicilia, Addison Romey, Bre Koscielski, Faith Shaw, Jennah Wanner, Lily Parker, Liv Olson, Quinn Mueller
Video Highlights [+] Match Photos [+]

Spokane Shadow 10-0 Vancouver Victory
SPO: Rebecca Skinner (Peyton Bastine) 1
SPO: Livvy Moore (Erin Ewers) 19
SPO: Baylee Trejo (Rebecca Skinner) 22
SPO: Addison Dizard (Quinn Mueller) 41
SPO: Marissa Garcia 48
SPO: Erin Ewers (Peyton Bastine) 50
SPO: Livvy Moore 57
SPO: Marissa Garcia (Erin Ewers) 68
SPO: Ellie Gusman (Baylee Trejo) 75
SPO: Ashlyn Chase (Jennah Wanner) 78
Roster… Starters: Erin Ewers, Rebecca Skinner, Livvy Moore, Kyah Le, Marissa Garcia, Chelsea Le, Abbie Sicilia, Makayla Werner, Taryn Baxter, Peyton Bastine, Paige Broadrick – Subs: Addison Dizard, Ashlyn Chase, Baylee Trejo, Ellie Gusman, Jennah Wanner, Peyton Dixon, Quinn Mueller, Taliya Miyama, Yacine Bitibale
Video Highlights [+] Match Photos [+]

Spokane Shadow 3-3 Portland Thorns II
SPO: Erin Ewers (Kyah Le) 11
POR: Emilia Warta (Marian Dunne) 20
SPO: Rebecca Skinner (Chelsea Le) 33
SPO: Livvy Moore (Erin Ewers) 48
POR: Alana Harry (Karen Jacobs) 69
POR: Frances Reuland (Sophia Rubano) 90+
Roster… Starters: Erin Ewers, Rebecca Skinner, Livvy Moore, Kyah Le, Marissa Garcia, Chelsea Le, Abbie Sicilia, Makayla Werner, Taryn Baxter, Peyton Bastine, Peyton Dixon – Subs: Addison Dizard, Baylee Trejo, Yacine Bitibale, Ashlyn Chase, Jennah Wanner, Quinn Mueller, Taliya Miyama, Ellie Gusman, Paige Broadrick
Video Highlights [+] Match Photos [+]

Spokane Shadow 4-1 Seattle Reign II
SPO: Kyah Le (Jennah Wanner) 30
SEA: Mia Banchero (Kalea Eichenberger) 31
SPO: Baylee Trejo (Kyah Le) 40
SPO: Rebecca Skinner (Bre Koscielski) 53
SPO: Ashlyn Chase (Kyah Le) 67
Roster… Starters: Erin Ewers, Rebecca Skinner, Bre Koscielski, Jennah Wanner, Kyah Le, Chelsea Le, Addison Dizard, Ashlyn Chase, Makayla Werner, Abbie Sicilia, Peyton Dixon – Subs: Addison Romey, Baylee Trejo, Ellie Gusman, Faith Shaw, Liv Olson, Taliya Miyama, Yacine Bitibale, Peyton Bastine
Video Highlights [+] Match Photos [+]

Gameday Players

Erin Ewers – Spokane Sounders / Colorado College & Gonzaga
Yacine Bitibale – Spokane Sounders / Northwest Nazarene
Baylee Trejo – Spokane Sounders / CC Spokane & Whitworth
Kyah Le – Spokane Sounders / Gonzaga & Utah Tech
Marissa Garcia – John A Rowland HS (CA) / Gonzaga
Chelsea Le – Spokane Sounders / Gonzaga
Addison Dizard – Glacier Peak HS (WA) / Whitworth
Makayla Werner – Spokane Sounders & WA Crossfire / Gonzaga
Ashlyn Chase – Spokane Sounders G07 / Idaho Commit
Peyton Bastine – WE Surf / CC Spokane & Nicholls State
Ali Vakaloloma – Spokane Sounders G08
Paige Broadrick – Peninsula HS (WA) / Whitworth
Abbie Sicilia – Spokane Sounders / Gonzaga
Addison Romey – Spokane Sounders / Eastern Washington
Bre Koscielski – Spokane Sounders / Utah Tech
Faith Shaw – Spokane Sounders / Biola
Jennah Wanner – Spokane Sounders G07 / Wyoming Commit
Lily Parker – WE Surf / Whitworth
Liv Olson – Spokane Sounders / Pacific Lutheran
Quinn Mueller – Spokane Sounders G08
Rebecca Skinner – Spokane Sounders G07 / Washington State
Livvy Moore – Spokane Sounders / Oregon
Taryn Baxter – Spokane Sounders / Mercyhurst
Ellie Gusman – Punahou HS (HI) / South Dakota State
Peyton Dixon – Spokane Sounders / Grinnell
Taliya Miyama – Hillsboro HS (OR) / Whitworth