Steelheads Defense Stifles Waves in Bellingham; Brace for Baysa

BELLINGHAM, WA—The Snohomish County FC Steelheads used a stifling defense to shut down the Whatcom Waves and earn a 4-1 Northwest Premier League Indoor win on Saturday night March 12 before a large, supportive crowd at the Bellingham Sportsplex.

Chalise Baysa scored twice and the Fish also got goals from Alicia Barker and Nicole Nsa. The Snohomish defense continues to be on a roll, allowing just 6 total goals in its last three league matches (Tacoma-2, Oly-Pen-3, Whatcom-1.)

The match was even 1-1 at the end of the first half. Baysa had the Steelheads goal in a tight battle. Then the Fish took the lead in the third quarter when Alicia Barker collected a loose ball and stuck with a play along the right boards near the Waves goal. Barker got past the goalkeeper and then angled a shot under a defender into the net. It was the eventual match winner and put SnoCo FC up 2-1.

Early in the fourth quarter the Steelheads pulled away. Mariah Roggow attacked the Whatcom goal with a direct run. She got the ball to Chalise Baysa in the box. She met the pass and calmly rolled it into the Waves goal to make it 3-1.

The fourth and final Fish goal was created on a slotted pass from Memory Phiri that sprung Megan Jones along the right boards. Jones made a run and then perfectly centered a ball to the awaiting Nicole Nsa. She struck it home nicely to finish off the first away win in NWPLi play for Snohomish.

The Steelheads are now 2-1-1 on the season with 7 standing points. The top two teams at the end of the season will play for the championship. The Fish currently sit in second place, 3 points behind the Tacoma Galaxy.

2022 NWPLi Standings as of 3.13.22

The Steelheads have a bye next weekend before hosting the Oly Town Artesians at the Snohomish Sports Dome on Saturday March 26 at 7 PM.