For the first and only time this regular season, Salmon Bay FC is crossing state lines for a match as they take on Lane United FC in Eugene, OR on Tuesday night.
Tuesday’s match will be the first of two straight head-to-head battles between the two clubs as they will have a rematch in Seattle later in the week on Saturday, June 14th.
With Lane United being the only Oregon-based club in the USL W Northwest Division, this is Salmon Bay FC’s first-ever match outside of the state of Washington. The club will be looking to balance the new travel logistics well and return home with a big three points in the playoff race. Division leaders, FC Olympia, are still perfect after defeating the Tacoma Galaxy over the weekend to move to 4-0.
Lane United FC
The lone-Oregon club in the division is currently sitting in 4th place with eight points from six matches. After losing their first two matches of the season, Lane United are undefeated in their last four outings, picking up a pair of wins against Bigfoot FC and then drawing with the Tacoma Galaxy and the West Seattle Rhodies. After going scoreless in those two early losses, Lane United have scored in every match since, averaging 2.5 goals per match in this four-match stretch.
To keep this streak going, Lane United will look to be the first club to score on the Salmon Bay FC defense. Salmon Bay are the only team in all of USL W to not allow a goal yet this season. To keep that perfect defensive record intact, the backline will need to contain the attacking duo of Trinity Morales and Rin Choi. Morales leads the team in assists while Choi is Lane’s leading goalscorer.
So far, Salmon Bay have had seven USL W goals scored by a combination of six different goalscorers (Samiah Shell is the lone player with two goals). With such balanced scoring, it will be interesting to see who makes the difference in Eugene this Tuesday.
Fans can watch the live stream or watch live at the Reuben’s Brews Ballard Taproom.
What’s next?
Salmon Bay FC returns home this Saturday, June 14th for rematch against Lane United. Saturday is also the first-ever double header with Ballard FC as both teams will host Lane United for Music Night present by KEXP. Salmon Bay FC kicks off at 3pm and will be followed by Ballard FC who start at 7pm.
