Salmon Bay Draw 1-1 with Portland Cherry Bombs in First-Ever Meeting

Salmon Bay FC were able to dominate goalscoring opportunities throughout the 90 minutes against their newest rivals Portland Cherry Bombs, but were unable to claim all three points, finishing with their first draw of 2026.

The result is an impactful one in a tight three-horse race atop the NW division, but a shocking Snohomish United 7-0 win over table-toppers West Seattle Rhodies means it’s still anybody’s title in the PNW.

It only took Salmon Bay three minutes to get a good look at net, with Ginny Lackey flicking it to Chloe Seelhoff behind the back-line, but Seelhoff pulled her shot wide of the goal.

Portland’s first effort was a tame re-direct in the 8th minute from Tess French that Blake Warner easily held, but it did signal Portland’s early intent, as the CHerry Bombs found their moments in the opening stages of the match. A flick header from Olivia Bariao-Arce in the 14 would call Warner into action once again, another easy stop for the Salmon Bay netminder.

Salmon Bay’s first shot on target came in the 28th minute, with a tough-angle curler from Ameera Hussen being smothered by Cherry Bombs goalkeeper Emma Cameron.

As the half continued the hosts settled in, controlling most of the possession and forcing Portland to rely on counterattacks and high-energy defending to create opportunities.

A smattering of half-chances, including a long shot from Ginny Lackey in the 41st, would be all that remained of an uneventful first half, with Portland clearly the happier of the two teams heading to the locker room.

A Portland defense that had posted two straight shutouts heading into the match had kept Salmon Bay’s high-flying offense off-balance.

Head Coach Malia Arrant made two subs at the half: Morgan Manalili and Maya Loudd entered the fray to try and spark the offense. Manalili did just that less than five minutes into her appearance. Ui Kaaihue drove towards the box in the 50th minute before delivering an enticing ball towards Ginny Lackey, who was unable to shoot but in a scramble the chance fell for Manalili, who fired home a first-time strike to break the deadlock. After a goal a week ago against Bigfoot Manalili now has her second of the season, and first at Interbay Stadium.

Salmon Bay pushed to pick up some insurance, with a Ui Kaahue shot blazing over the crossbar in the 53rd, but it would be Portland knocking on the door to pick up the next goal.

An onslaught of Cherry Bomb chances began in the 61st when Logan Russo hit a venomous first-time shot from 10 yards out that forced a fingertip save out of Blake Warner. Rachel Reitz had to block a shot on the ensuing corner kick before the hosts could clear the danger.

They wouldn’t stay out of danger for long, and Portland found their equalizer in the 63rd by way of a beautiful outside-the-box curler from Tess French, 1-1.

Chances would slow after the leveler, with the hosts next shots on goal not coming until Maya Hindson harmlessly rolled a long shot into the keepers hands in the 73rd and 75th. The theme of mishit chances continued with a Lauder Headrick chance that was held in the 76th, and an overcooked free-kick from Kaaihue in the 80th.

Maya Hindson put a cross to a beautiful spot in the 81st, but Aliyah Dockter was unable to win the aerial dual at the far post and direct it on net. Salmon Bay wouldn’t get another good look at goal until extra-time with a flurry of last-second corner kicks and a first-time effort from Aliyah Dockter acted as the final chances to find a winner, with the game ending 1-1.

Match Facts:

Morgan Manalili has become a super-sub for Salmon Bay, scoring two goals off the bench in the last three games
Salmon Bay has failed to win both games this year when kept to a single goal, while scoring at least three in all of their other contests.
Portland becomes the first team to force a draw against Salmon Bay in 2026, and the first team to leave Interbay Stadium with a point
Salmon Bay tallied over 10 shots on net to Portland’s four, but couldn’t muster more than Manalili’s tally.

Scoring Recap:
50’ (SBFC): Morgan Manalili (2), unassisted

63’ (POR): Tess French

Starting 11:

Anna Menti, Alicia Barker, Maya Hindson, Rachel Reitz, Chloe Seelhoff, Juju Barker, Ameera Hussen, Keeley Dockter, Ui Kaaihue, Ginny Lackey, Blayk Warner

Subs used:

Maya Loudd, Morgan Manilili, Lauder Headrick, Aliyah Dockter

Written by Adam Race

Highlights