SMOKEY POINT, WA—The Snohomish County FC Steelheads travel to Aberdeen on Saturday April 3 for a 2 PM match against the Grays Harbor Gulls at historic Stewart Field. It will be the first league match for the Fish since winning the Western Washington Premier League (WWPL) championship in July of 2019.
The Steelheads and Gulls have met twice before. In 2018 the Fish traveled to Stewart Field for a friendly and in 2019 the Gulls came to Smokey Point for a league match. The 2021 WWPL season features home and away with all clubs in the First Division. Grays Harbor will visit SnoCo FC on Sunday June 27.
On Sunday March 28 the Steelheads hosted WWPL 2 side Gala FC Pro Focus. It was an entertaining warm-up for the season that ended in a 3-2 friendly win for the Fish.
Hello 2021
The preseason for SnoCo FC has been like no other before. Covid-19 limitations, the overlap of indoor and outdoor play, and the new extended league format are all factors. The Steelheads roster is growing organically in 2021. Instead of a single open tryouts ‘event’ the club opted for player training drop-ins. A strong core from the 2019 championship roster has returned. New players are being added from the indoor team and training trials. It’s likely to be a season-long process which will include players coming up as ‘guests’ from the roster of WWPL 2 side Gala FC, the official second team of the Steelheads.
The Roster for the Opener
Head Coach Dagi Kesim has picked 17 players for his traveling roster to head to Aberdeen and face the Gulls. Starting goalkeeper Dorian Lair is celebrating his 30th birthday in Florida and will miss the match. Injuries will keep Blake Camilleri and Carlos Dacunha off the pitch.
In Lair’s place Kesim has called up Alexis Viteri, who has featured for the Fish in the WWPL before and looks to be the main starter in goal for Gala FC in WWPL 2. Steven Moseley will make the trip as a versatile option in goal or the field. Three Gala FC field players are guesting “up” this week: Ebby Sosa, Parker Van Dreil and Devin Sutomo.
Oliver Martinez can make Steelhead history as the oldest player (35) to feature for the outdoor Fish if he sees action on Saturday. The longtime Wenatchee-area soccer veteran played indoors for SnoCo FC and is now training with the WWPL team too.
April 3, 2021 Steelhead Roster at Grays Harbor Gulls
Goalkeepers: Alexis Viteri, Steven Moseley
Field Players: Hector Palomera, Garret Robinson, Gunnar Stohl, John Troka, Rajal Gounder, Oliver Martinez, Randy Galvan, Carlos Rodriguez, Rio Alcorta, Homero Osuna, Sergio Garcia, Andrew Escalante. Up from Gala: Ebby Sosa, Parker Van Driel, Devin Sutomo.
Next
The Steelheads have the weekend of April 10-11 off before returning to the pitch on Sunday April 18 at 3 PM against Kirkland FC at Lakewood High School in Smokey Point. Tickets to the match are available online now.
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