Velocity

Spokane, Wash. – Spokane Velocity FC is thrilled to announce the signing of two new players to its inaugural roster who have significant experience in the ranks of professional soccer.

Defender Marcelo Lage and midfielder Collin Fernandez will join the Velocity, pending league and federation approval.

Marcelo Lage

Position: Center Back

Jersey: 5

Hometown: Middleton, Massachusetts

Age: 23

Marcelo signed his first professional contract in 2023 with the Las Vegas Lights of USL Championship. Before that, he played a season at Hofstra University as a graduate transfer. While there, the Massachusetts-born defender appeared in 21 matches with 19 starts and recorded three goals. He was a key member of the defense as Hofstra won the Colonial Athletic Association title and earned an NCAA Tournament berth. He began his college career at George Washington University, then transferred to Coastal Carolina University. While at Coastal Carolina, he played in 43 matches over three seasons and scored eight goals. He was named to the All-Conference USA Third Team and in 2020 was picked for the Sun Belt Conference Championship All-Tournament Team. For the Lights, he was among the team leaders in goals, with four in 25 appearances and 18 starts. He was named the club’s player of the month for September.

“Although Marcelo was new to the USL Championship last year, he showed his value and quality in the 1,900-plus minutes he played at Las Vegas,” said Velocity Coach Leigh Veidman. “His stature defensively, physical presence, and ability on the ball are all key qualities that attracted us to Marcelo and we are excited to have him.”

Collin Fernandez

Position: Midfielder

Jersey: 6

Hometown: Downers Grove, Illinois

Age: 26

Collin signed his first professional contract with his hometown club the Chicago Fire of MLS in 2014 at age 17. In 2015, while on loan to Louisville City FC of USL Championship, he made his professional debut in a match against FC Montreal. For the 2017 season, the Fire loaned him to the Tulsa Roughnecks of USL Championship, where he played in 25 games and helped the club reach the Western Conference playoffs for the first time in team history. In 2018, he signed with Phoenix Rising of USL Championship, where he made 26 appearances and won the Western Conference Championship. He then made stops with Saint Louis FC and Tacoma Defiance before appearing in 30 matches with Austin Bold in 2021, and 22 games with Sporting Kansas City II in 2022. This past season he returned to FC Tulsa, where he had 17 starts in 32 appearances and a passing accuracy rate of 83.2. He also has significant international experience, playing with the U.S. Men’s National Team U18 and U20 squads, as well as Peru’s U20 squad.

“Collin brings a wealth of experience ranging from MLS to USL Championship that will be pivotal for us both on and off the field,” said Coach Veidman. “On the football side, he is a very good footballer but brings a robustness in central midfield that is imperative to being successful in the USL.”

At this point, the Spokane Velocity FC has filled nearly half of the team’s 20-man roster. More roster announcements will follow in the coming weeks. Fans can watch for news on the Velocity social media channels, the team website and the club’s newsletter (subscribe here.) The team will kick off League One action with an away game on March 9, and will play its first game at ONE Spokane Stadium on March 16.

Hiring exceptional coaches and players is not the only critical component to creating a winning professional soccer program from scratch. It also takes a bunch of talented folks who are experts at building community, creating excitement, and tending to the little details and big picture. USL Spokane Co-Owner and President Katie Harnetiaux and Co-Owner Ryan Harnetiaux have assembled a top-notch front office team that strives every day to bring fans to the stadium and build a culture of success.

The women’s and men’s teams each has a vice president in charge of overseeing operations and working directly with Club President Katie Harnetiaux. Janette (j.) Atkins is VP for the Spokane Zephyr FC. Phil Harrison is her counterpart for the Spokane Velocity FC.

j.’s background includes more than 20 years of experience in product creation. Much of that time she spent at Adidas, where she worked on projects for elite athletes Damian Lillard, James Harden, Chelsea Gray and Hailey Van Lith. Apart from her work for the Zephyr, j. has been an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University. She taught the course Sport and Activity in a Diverse Society, which looks at diversity and equity initiatives through the lens of athletics. j. likens her perspective on soccer to Ted Lasso, and one of her favorite soccer moments was being in the stands last year when OL Reign star Megan Rapinoe played in her final game in Seattle.

Phil Harrison comes to the Velocity after his tenures as executive director of YMCA Camp Reed in Spokane and Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Inland Northwest. Both organizations hit milestones on his watch. The Y marked its 100^th anniversary with an epic celebration at Camp Reed. Ronald McDonald House Charities reached its 35^th year of helping families in times of medical crisis. Phil remains active in the community, giving time to Leadership Spokane and the Rotary Club. While one of his fondest soccer memories is listening to the 2010 World Cup on the radio when working at Camp Reed that summer, he’s sure to create even better memories when the Velocity begin playing in two months.

Vice President of Partnerships Tate Kelly was a running star at Gonzaga University, where he set records in cross country and track. A veteran sports marketing executive, Tate returned to Spokane after serving as Director of Partnership Sales for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. He also worked with high-powered collegiate athletics at the University of Oregon and Gonzaga via IMG/Learfield Sports. In this new role, Tate is in charge of bringing regional business leaders to professional soccer in Spokane. He’s been a soccer fan since a kid and vividly remembers watching the 1999 Women’s World Cup Final with the USA and China, with Mia Hamm at the peak of her career and Brandi Chastain making her iconic penalty kick goal.

As Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Dave Sonntag is responsible for introducing USL Spokane to the community. He is working to build the brand, create innovative ways to share the stories of USL Spokane, and develop community relationships. He has more than 27 years of brand, marketing and communications experience working for institutions like Eastern Washington University and Gonzaga. At GU, he led two rebrands, and oversaw marketing for both of the Bulldogs’ Final Four runs. As a soccer parent, he spent countless hours on the sidelines in all kinds of weather. One memorable night was his son’s final Gonzaga Prep game in district playoffs. It went to penalty kicks in an absolute deluge, and while the Bullpups lost, their hard work and tenacity made a deep impression on him – and an even more proud dad.

Also working on marketing duties is Reilly Harnetiaux, tasked with managing social media, community engagement, and event coordination. A 2023 graduate of Gonzaga University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in psychology, Reilly gained real-world experience as a student ambassador, and in planning Gonzaga Experience Live, a weekend-long event for thousands of incoming students and their families. Her role with USL Spokane is like Keeley’s from “Ted Lasso,” and she’s been told her personality – an extrovert who connects with others and shows true enthusiasm for the team – is a good match there, too.

After building her career in nonprofit operations and mission development, Emma Hayes is ready for the challenge as Director of Operations and Player Administration for USL Spokane. She is eager to bring the organization’s vision to life through proven track record of establishing processes, procedures, and organizational structures that provide foundations for success. She also has a past soccer career in which she is most fond of her youth soccer days. She recalls one memorable goal at a round-robin tournament where she scored from half field, one of three times in her playing career when magic happened from that area of the pitch.

Mac Graff is USL Spokane’s Manager of Partnership Fulfillment. His sports management experience dates back to the five years he spent working with the Gonzaga men’s basketball team as a student manager and graduate manager. After earning his bachelor’s in Sports Management followed by his master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, both from GU, Mac moved to Pullman for a job as Associate of Business Development at Washington State Sports Properties, handling all sponsorship fulfillment for WSU Athletics and Learfield. While his college years were intrinsically linked to basketball, his connection with soccer stems from his elementary school years. He admits, though, that he and his buddies in fourth grade were banned from playing soccer at recess because all they knew how to do was slide tackle.

Grayson Sanderson, the club’s new Player and Retail Operations Coordinator, has been around soccer since he was three years old growing up in St. Cloud, Minn. He went on to organize youth tryouts, coach at the youth and men’s recreational level, and serve as a referee. He came to Spokane to get a degree in Sports Management and Business – achievement unlocked this past May – and is eager to be involved in the development of pro soccer in his new home. Grayson thinks of himself as the office Dani “Futbol is life!” Rojas, and eagerly joined the club as an intern in March 2022.

When building a new organization, that often means creating a culture from scratch. Molly Schemmel, USL Spokane’s Designated Safeguarding Officer, is tasked with helping foster a welcoming and safe environment for all members of the USL Spokane community. Molly’s varied experiences stem from a career in clinical laboratory science and cancer research, to vibrant volunteer work that gave her perspective on building healthy organizational ecosystems. The latter includes time with the YMCA, Camp Reed, Camp Goodtimes and Gonzaga Prep. In terms of “Ted Lasso,” she likens herself to Ted, who knows more about football than futbol, stealth baking skills, and a reputation for being positive and even keeled.

(Please forgive our references if you have not yet watched Apple TV’s Ted Lasso!)

In the wake of the highly anticipated reveal event for Spokane Zephyr FC, Vice President j. Atkins shares insights into the resounding impact and the promising future that lies ahead.

“The response was overwhelmingly positive,” says Atkins, capturing the electric atmosphere that enveloped the reveal. “People left feeling genuinely excited and inspired.” The event, much more than a mere unveiling, became a catalyst for imagination, sparking the dreams of future athletes and leaders who now envision themselves in new and dynamic ways, both on and off the pitch.

Beyond the immediate celebration, the event’s ripple effect is evident. Atkins notes, “It instilled hope and generated a buzz in the city, opening possibilities that will positively shape the future for many.” The promise of Spokane Zephyr FC transcends soccer and is a catalyst for positive change that resonates far beyond the sports arena.

With the spotlight on the horizon, Atkins delves into the post-reveal developments. “Immediately following the reveal, our focus shifted to the Zephyr Super League Head Coach hiring process.” The meticulous approach involves working closely with the technical staff, led by Sporting Department consultant Gareth Smith, to identify top candidates aligned with the club’s Mission and Values.

But the vision doesn’t stop there. Simultaneously, the team is hard at work planning tryouts, designing kits and merchandise, selling season tickets, building the schedule, and crafting an unforgettable game day experience for the fans. It’s a comprehensive approach that reflects the commitment to not just creating a soccer team but building a lasting legacy.

Peering into the timeline leading up to the inaugural kick in August, Atkins outlines key milestones for 2024. “Hiring the Super League Head Coach and announcing Division 1 sanctioning are slated for Q1.” This month we will release the first tryout date with others to come, while the eagerly awaited season schedule will be unveiled early in Q2. As summer unfolds, player signings will take center stage, with their presence in the market becoming tangible around June or July, building anticipation for the historic inaugural game in August.

The reveal of the Spokane Zephyr FC kit, another highly anticipated moment, is set to add to the pre-season excitement. “We are targeting late spring to early summer for the kit reveal,” Atkins shares, heightening the anticipation among fans eager to sport the team colors.

Reflecting on the impact beyond soccer enthusiasts, Atkins notes, “The enthusiasm of Spokane’s fan base is comparable to larger cities.” The event’s inspiring atmosphere, marked by diverse representation and a youthful, inclusive community vibe, transcended the boundaries of soccer. The palpable energy from the reveal event continues to serve as a motivator for the team, shaping their journey with the support of a passionate and engaged fan base.

So, what sets Spokane Zephyr FC apart from other Super League teams? According to Atkins, it’s all about intentional diversity. “Our ownership group intentionally assembled a diverse mix of individuals—diversity of talent, experience, representation, leadership, and thought.” While other teams may prioritize a soccer-specific background, Spokane Zephyr FC places a premium on human-centric qualities. The tight-knit group’s deep care for the community and each other fosters an environment where innovation thrives, setting them apart in their commitment to executing at an extremely high-level.

As the journey unfolds, Spokane Zephyr FC remains committed to building alongside their community, setting the stage for extraordinary things to happen. With a passion for sport and a dedication to championing athletes and future leaders, the team is poised to leave an indelible mark on the world of soccer and beyond.

Spokane Velocity FC continues filling its inaugural roster with the signings of three players with USL League One and Championship experience, and two promising college players.

Striker Josh Dolling, goalkeeper Carlos Merancio, midfielder Grayson Dupont, right back Javier Martín Gil, and center midfielder Jack Denton all will don the Velocity kit when USL League One action begins in March, pending league and federation approval. Three have at least two years of experience in the professional soccer ranks in the United States, and two boast shining collegiate careers.

Josh Dolling

Position: Striker

Jersey: 9

Hometown: Hillingdon, London

Age: 26

Raised in London, England, striker Josh Dolling played with Manchester United and Burnley’s academy teams. He moved to the United States in 2017 to play at Missouri State University, where he was named to the Hermann Trophy watch list ahead of his senior season. A three-time All American, Dolling was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team four consecutive seasons.

Dolling made his professional debut with St. Louis City 2 of the MLS Next Pro league, scoring eight goals in regular season play, and one in the playoffs. In 2023, he signed with New Mexico United of USL Championship, where he played for half a season before being loaned to Las Vegas Lights FC. In 27 matches for New Mexico and Las Vegas, he played more than 1,100 minutes and is credited with four assists. Three of those came on April 29, 2023, when New Mexico United faced Orange County FC, making him the first player in United history to make three assists in a single game. Dolling has also made 5 U.S. Open Cup appearances, scoring a total of 4 goals.

Carlos Merancio

Position: Goalkeeper

Jersey: 1

Hometown: Hermosillo, Mexico

Age: 25

Goalkeeper Carlos Merancio, who hails from Hermosillo, Mexico, made his professional debut in 2018, playing in a match for the Monarcas Morelia Premier of the Mexican Football League. He moved to the United States in 2019, signing on with Tucson FC of USL One. In 2019 and 2020 with Tucson FC, Merancio played in 22 matches and recorded 1,980 minutes, three clean sheets and had save success rates of 67.2

(2019) and 65.8 percent (2020). After a year with Hartford of USL Championship, Merancio returned to Tucson, where in 2022 he started in 29 matches, played 2,600 minutes, and recorded five clean sheets.

In 2023, Merancio returned to USL Championship to play with the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros. He played in six matches and recorded one clean sheet.

Grayson Dupont

Position: Midfielder

Jersey: 25

Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama

Age: 25

Grayson Dupont, a midfielder from Birmingham, Alabama, spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons with his hometown club, the Birmingham Legion FC of USL Championship. He played in a total of 21 matches over both seasons, scoring one goal. Before that, he spent a year in Spain, playing for CD Almuñécar City. He started his college career at the University of New Mexico before transferring to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During his senior season at UAB, he played in 13 matches, and led the team with shots (13), with one goal. He was named Conference USA’s All-Conference Third Team that season. His high school team, Montverde Academy of Florida, won a national championship in 2016.

Jack Denton

Position: Center Midfielder

Jersey: 19

Hometown: London, England

Age: 25

Javier Martín Gil

Position: Right Back

Jersey: 2

Hometown: Madrid, Spain

Age: 23

Spokane Velocity FC also signed two European players and teammates who competed at Missouri State University, center midfielder Jack Denton and right back Javier Martin Gil. Denton, from London, England, was the Missouri Valley Conference MVC Midfielder of the Year in 2022 and 2023 and leaves the school with the second most career starts (82) in program history. Gil, from Madrid, Spain, was named All-MVC first team in 2022 and second team in 2023. He started in all 19 matches in 2023, logging 1,634 minutes for the third most on the team.

Velocity Head Coach Leigh Veidman said a key component to building a solid foundation for a new club is finding quality players who are eager to prove themselves.

“We are thrilled to have players with USL Championship quality and experience joining us with Josh, Carlos, and Grayson. Jack and Javier bring high levels of quality with fantastic experience and careers in the college game that will drive our competitive environment daily,” Veidman said. “Each bring their own qualities on and off the field and we are excited to have them a part of Spokane Velocity FC.” 

The five new players join midfielder Morgan Hackworth and defender Derek Waldeck on the first Spokane Velocity FC roster. The team will kick off League One action with an away game on March 9, and will play its first game at ONE Spokane Stadium on March 16. More roster announcements will follow in the coming weeks. Fans can watch for news on the Velocity social media channels, the team website and the club’s newsletter (subscribe here.)

Spokane Velocity FC will begin play in 2024 as a Division III team in USL League One, with the home opener at the new ONE Spokane Stadium on March 16. USL Spokane will also field Spokane Zephyr FC, a women’s USL Super League team expected to be sanctioned as a first division team beginning play in August 2024. A pre-professional women’s team made up of elite college athletes will play in the USL W League in 2025. USL Spokane is owned by Aequus Sports LLC; its principals are Katie Harnetiaux, the club president, and Ryan Harnetiaux, both of whom are originally from Spokane. 

Spokane Velocity FC is picking up speed as the club announces the signings of its first two players, both veterans of United Soccer League teams.  

Midfielder Morgan Hackworth, who spent the past four seasons with San Diego Loyal of USL Championship, and defender Derek Waldeck, most recently of One Knoxville SC of USL League One, will be the first to don the Spokane Velocity FC kit, pending league and federation approval. 

Morgan Hackworth 

Position: Midfielder 

Number: 8 

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA 

Age: 26 

Morgan Hackworth was with SD Loyal for its entire four-season existence. Before signing with San Diego, Hackworth spent the 2019 season with Memphis 901 FC of USL Championship. The Philadelphia-area product started his college career at Syracuse, where he played for two seasons before transferring to the University of Akron. As a Zip, Hackworth started in 17 games, and in 2018 was on the team that played in the finals of the NCAA College Cup. During his senior season, Hackworth was named Academic All-MAC selection, CoSIDA Academic All-America nominee, and an Academic All-Ohio honoree. 

Hackworth, 26, is the son of former soccer player John Hackworth, now an assistant coach and director of coaching with St. Louis City SC of MLS. 

Derek Waldeck 

Position: Defender – Left Back 

Number: 18 

Hometown: Santa Clarita, CA 

Age: 25 

Waldeck played in all 30 games for One Knoxville SC in 2023, starting in 29 of them, and was among the team leaders in minutes played, interceptions, tackles won and duels won. Before that, he had a standout season with the Greenville Triumph, and played 57 games for the North Texas FC in both USL League One and MLS NEXT Pro play. Waldeck was a star at Stanford, where he won two NCAA Championships, three Pac-12 Championships and was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team in his senior year. While at Stanford, he set the school record for career starts with 89 and sits at No. 8 in career assists with 22.  

Waldeck, 25, hails from Santa Clarita, California. He was drafted #66 by Dallas in the 2020 SuperDraft. 

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When Waldeck and Hackworth team up in Spokane in 2024, it won’t be the first time they’ve met. In 2018, Waldeck’s Stanford Cardinals, the defending NCAA Champion, faced off against Hackworth’s unseeded Akron Zips in the Elite Eight of the NCAA College Cup. The Zips defeated the Cardinals en route to an appearance in the final game against eventual champion Maryland. 

“We are excited to welcome both Morgan and Derek to Spokane Velocity FC,” said Velocity Coach Leigh Veidman. “We have two high character people joining our club who are going to be instrumental in the locker room in our first year helping lay the foundations for the future of this club and community. On the pitch, they are both extremely hard-working individuals who bring great quality and experience of what it takes to be successful in the USL with both being involved in playoff teams over multiple years.”  

With Spokane Velocity FC beginning action in early March 2024, team officials expect to fill out the rest of the 20-man roster in the coming weeks. Fans can watch for more announcements on social media, the website www.spokanevelocityfc.com, and the club’s newsletter (subscribe here).  

When Spokane Velocity FC plays its first match at ONE Spokane Stadium on March 16, they’ll do it in high style.

USL Spokane is thrilled to share the first official images of the Spokane Velocity FC kit for the inaugural season of USL League One soccer in Spokane. The team’s uniform – called a kit in soccer – evokes the basalt outcroppings, blue skies, deep lakes, and roaring waters of the Inland Northwest.

As a New Year’s gift from the club, fans will have the opportunity to purchase their own club jersey – home, away, or both – from the team’s online store. Pre-orders open on Jan. 1 – further cementing 2024’s status as Spokane’s Year of Soccer. Please note that these kit images do not include sponsors. The club will reveal kit sponsors in the coming weeks. However, pre-ordered jerseys will arrive to fans with sponsor logos.

The club’s home kit is River Rapid White with Impact Blue accents. The away kit is Basalt with Impact Blue accents. Produced in partnership with the sportswear company Capelli Sport, the kit features the Spokane Velocity FC crest and is designed to pay tribute to the club’s home city. The font and words of Spokane Velocity form a shape representative of the Monroe Street Bridge, while the blades of the crest emblazed on the kit’s chest emulate the power of the Spokane Falls.

“We are beyond stoked to offer fans the opportunity to own one of these authentic Spokane Velocity FC jerseys,” said Phil Harrison, Vice President of Spokane Velocity FC. “We can’t wait for the home opener on March 16 and the stands to be filled with fans repping these jerseys.”

Spokane Velocity FC will begin its first season of USL League One soccer with a match March 9 in South Carolina against the Greenville Triumph SC, before kicking off professional soccer at home on March 16 against the Richmond Kickers in the new ONE Spokane Stadium. Season tickets are still available, but going fast. Please visit this link to secure your seats. Also, visit www.spokanevelocityfc.com to find the season schedule, ticket information, stadium seat map, and season ticket member benefits.

Spokane, Wash. – Spokane Velocity FC will play every team in the USL League One at least twice in the 2024 schedule released today by the United Soccer League. The club’s season will include more than 30 total games including regular season and a new in-season cup competition.

The schedule reflects 15 League matches – regular season and League One cup competition – to be held in ONE Spokane Stadium. USL Spokane is scheduling a friendly match with a non-League opponent to round out the 16 home matches in the season ticket package.Additional playoff, tournament or friendly matches may take place in ONE Spokane Stadium during this inaugural season of Spokane Velocity FC soccer.

The club will begin the season with an away game against the Greenville Triumph on March 9 before hosting the Richmond Kickers at home on March 16. The regular season will conclude on Oct. 26, when Spokane Velocity FC hosts One Knoxville SC, with the post-season tournament to follow.

Find the Spokane Velocity FC 2024 season schedule here.

“We’re really excited about the balance in the season schedule, with all the teams playing each other twice,” said USL Spokane owner Ryan Harnetiaux. “It’s going to be really awesome to see how rivalries develop in our first year. While there will be natural rivalries with the teams in the western U.S., we expect we’ll see some intense competition with teams from around League One.”

New this season is the League One cup competition, which will incorporate prize money and trophies with matches held throughout the season. For cup play, the League is divided into three groups of four teams each, with the Spokane Velocity FC playing in the West group alongside Union Omaha, Northern Colorado and Central Valley. Each team will play one another twice in addition to playing two matches against non-group teams. Teams will earn three points for a win, one point for a draw (in regulation time), and an extra point for winning a penalty shootout. Group play will determine the three teams that qualify for the knockout round (semifinals and final). The fourth team will be the non-group winning team that scores the most goals, encouraging attacking play.

Most home matches will be played on Saturdays with a kickoff of 6 p.m., with some exceptions when game times are announced. There are two Sunday games, on May 19 against Forward Madison SC, and June 23 against Lexington Sporting. There will be a Tuesday night home match, on Aug. 13 against Northern Colorado, and a match on Wednesday, Sept. 4 against Omaha.

In this inaugural season, Spokane Velocity FC is planning for every match to bring a soccer atmosphere like Spokane has never experienced, complete with supporter’s group chants, local food options, and special promotions. Fans already can mark their calendars for May 19 — the home match against Madison will be part of the city’s commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of Expo ‘74.

“We already know we’ll have a great product on the field,” said Phil Harrison, Vice President of Spokane Velocity FC. “But we’re really excited to give soccer fans an experience off the field – in the Stadium – that will be engaging, entertaining, memorable and a ton of fun.”

While Spokane is the only new team in League One for 2024, the Velocity will play the two newest members of the league, Lexington Sporting and One Knoxville SC, who are entering their second season in USL League One. Lexington will come to Spokane on June 23, and host the Spokane Velocity FC on April 14. The Velocity won’t get a look at OneKnox until later in the season, with the first tilt on Aug. 24 in Knoxville before both teams finish the regular season in Spokane on Oct. 26.

Another highlight to the schedule will come March 30, when the club travels east to take on the Charlotte Independence, runner-up in this past season’s League One Championship Game (and hosts Charlotte on July 27). The 2023 League One winner, North Carolina FC, moves up to USL Championship for the 2024 season.

Fans will not want to miss this inaugural season of professional soccer in the beautiful new ONE Spokane Stadium. Spokane currently leads the USL in season ticket sales. Now is the time for fans that have not secured season tickets to do so. Please visit this link to secure your seats. Also, visit www.spokanevelocityfc.com to find the season schedule, more ticket information, stadium seat map, and season ticket member benefits.

by Abby Woodside, Gonzaga ’24 Intern

Are you a season ticket holder for Spokane Velocity FC or Spokane Zephyr FC? If so, you probably had the pleasure of meeting Logan, Dalton, or Cory as you secured awesome seats in ONE Spokane Stadium. Cory Howerton, director of ticket sales and service, Dalton O’Brien, assistant manager of season ticket sales, and Logan Robben, assistant manager of group sales comprise our ticket team.

Besides helping fans purchase tickets, this group will also work with Public Facilities District (PFD) staff to help assure everything from parking to locating seats is an easy process so fans can focus on the thrill of the match. The team has already started preparing for Spokane Velocity FC’s first home game on March 16. 

Logan, Dalton, and Cory have already helped thousands of fans secure their season ticket seats, with Spokane Velocity FC currently leading USL League One in season ticket sales. Cory acknowledges that these sales exhibit just how ready Spokane is to show the world what it means to be a pro soccer fan. Cory, Dalton, and Logan are just as excited and can’t wait to help even more people get season tickets. 

These three have a lot of ticket sales experience under their belts. Before joining USL Spokane, Cory and Dalton worked in ticket sales for the Seattle Sea Dragons (XFL pro men’s football) and Logan for the Chicago Red Stars (NWSL pro women’s soccer). In just a single day, Cory sold 1,500 tickets to a Boy Scout Council for the Seattle Sea Dragons, and Logan sold 300 to a group for the Chicago Red Stars. These two aren’t the only ones who have delighted scores of fans with tickets. Dalton just sold 114 tickets a couple of weeks ago for Spokane Velocity FC.  

While this trio is helping to support the team from outside the stadium seats, they do have an idea of which sections they would pick if they bought season tickets. All three of them would sit center pitch in sections 205 or 105.

Logan responded, “Section 105 towards the top rows. It’s center pitch and on the west sideline so it’s one if not the best seat in the house. Plus, you get in-seat food and beverage service!” Dalton also chose 105 for the excitement of being right by the tunnel to see the players run out.

Cory diverted from his ticketing team and argued that 205 would be one of the best sections. “These seats have great elevation to see the entire pitch. If you’re interested in how plays develop and the nuances of the match, these seats are unbelievable.” 

The section certainly plays a role in the fan experience, but sometimes the match is so electric that no matter the seats, the game is never forgotten. Logan, Dalton, and Cory, respectively, have been lucky enough to attend some of these memorable matches. Logan recalls his favorite as Chelsea vs. Dortmund in a friendly at Soldier Field. Dalton vividly remembers the Carabao Cup in 2017 where he saw Bristol City beat Manchester United. And Cory relishes two Seattle Sounders victories at Lumen Field during the 2019 MLS Cup and 2022 Concacaf Champions League Final. Just imagine the unforgettable matches on the horizon at ONE Spokane pitch. 

Being part of a soccer organization that brings magical games to life can be hard work, as we have seen in Ted Lasso, and each of these three embody one of the characters within the show for various reasons. Dalton reasoned he would be Coach Beard because you never know what he will say, and he is loyal. Logan thought he would be Ted because he has the mustache and is from the Midwest. Lastly, Cory responded he would be Roy Kent because he uses the F-word as a comma. Just as Coach Beard, Ted, and Roy Kent fit together to help create an inspiring soccer team, Logan, Dalton, and Cory have worked swimmingly to help bring together Velocity and Zephyr fan bases that are sure to rock ONE Spokane Stadium.

For questions about tickets, or to get your season tickets while they last, please contact Cory, Logan, or Dalton at (509) 202-0096 or via email at tickets@uslspokane.com.

by Carolyn Lamberson

It was a season of firsts for the Gonzaga University women’s soccer team. The magical year included a critical win over Santa Clara at home, clinching a program-first WCC Championship on the road at Pepperdine, and a program-first win in the NCAA tournament against the Idaho Vandals before a record crowd.

We talked with head coach Chris Watkins and team captains Lauren Towne (goalkeeper) and Kelsey Oyler (defender), who is the first GU women’s soccer player to be named second team All-American, and asked them to reflect on how the year went, their goals going forward and their excitement about soccer in Spokane.

(This interview has been edited for length and clarity.)

Q: When you started your preparations for this past season, did you have a sense that you were on the cusp of doing a lot of really great things?

Oyler: I think before the season, we knew that we had the capability to do a lot of great things. We spent a lot of time in our preseason, the weeks leading up to our games, going over our team goals and what we wanted to accomplish. And obviously, I think the top of our board was to make it to the NCAA tournament because GU hasn’t done that since 2005. And the last two years, we’ve been really close to going and have sat there on the selection show days and been pretty disappointed. And before the season, we really emphasized making that journey ourselves and putting it in our hands. We had it on our board in our locker room — like we’re leaving no doubt, we’re winning the WCC to get the automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. So I think before season, that was already on our mind.

Q: Beating Santa Clara at home – was that on the vision board too for the year? Did you think that was going to happen, or was that just kind of the icing on the cake?

Towne: I mean, we didn’t really plan out and look at the schedule who we’re going to beat. But it was “by any means necessary to get first” in our minds. So I mean, it was definitely icing on the cake. We had belief this year that that was something we were totally capable of. We’ve been really close, had close games with them in the past. So yeah, I think it was something that we knew we could handle. And it was great that everything was clicking that day and it transpired that way.

Q: I know that first tournament game against Idaho had a great home crowd. Has it been kind of heartening to see increased interest in the program as your success has grown over the past few seasons? Is it great to have more fans in the stands and to feel that support from the community?

Oyler: That was probably one of my favorite games, just in a sense of feeling the energy from the crowd. I think our marketing team did a super good job getting the word out to get people there. And I think people are excited because they hear, “NCAA tournament,” and they’re like, “Oh, we want to go to that game.” Even though it was freezing cold that day, it was super cool to see just everyone kind of come together. And hopefully that propels us in the next season to get more numbers for our regular season play.

Q: With the Spokane Velocity FC and the Spokane Zephyr FC beginning play next year, it feels like there’s a lot of soccer momentum in Spokane right now. Do you think that one is going to fuel the other and maybe build it up to where you get good sized crowds at some of your games next year? 

Watkins: I think it’s possible. We need seats at our stadium. And it’s something that Gonzaga is working on. But, you know, we had 1,800 and some odd people (at the Idaho game) and we only had seats for about 250. People were standing around the stadium. In the (proposed) new stadium, the renderings have a little over 2,000 seats. And I think it’s very reasonable to assume that we can that we can fill that up, considering 1,800 people came in, and only 250 had a seat. And it was 36 degrees or whatever. Yeah, it’s a nice crowd. And we get good crowds anyways. This year, this year wasn’t our best. We had some crappy game times and weather and things. But the last couple of years we had been building quite nicely.

Q: Is the new stadium you reference going to be completely new or improvements to the stadium there on campus?

Watkins: It’s actually the same footprint. We have lights. We have the infrastructure around it. But it’s actually the seats.

Q: OK, so they’re building seating for Luger Field?

Watkins: Yes.

Q: Is that going to be ready for next season?

Watkins: No, no, we’re still getting funded and things. So it’s still got a ways to go.

Q: OK, so taking the success of this past season, your first WCC championship, your first NCAA playoff win in program history, a first placement on the second team All-American – congratulations, Kelsey. Where are you now? What’s on the vision board for next season? How do you build on that success?

Towne: It’s something I haven’t thought too much about. Right when we lost to UC Irvine (in the NCAA tournament second round), luckily I have another year, so my thoughts were definitely OK, how do we how do we do this again? How do we get to the same spot that we’re at? And I think we don’t stray too much from what we did this year. Like we mentioned before, everyone was super committed coming into this year. We came in early into the summer without the coaches and we’re training and we’re super methodical and intentional about planning the vision for our season. So I think we do that again. We start that early this upcoming summer. And I think as captains, we’re really thinking about how we can keep our team hungry and motivated.

Oyler: Not complacent.

Towne: We got a little taste of that feeling and I can bet everyone wants to taste that again.

Q: What kinds of things are you guys doing in the offseason, though, to maintain that team building and avoid that complacency, that you are allowed to do under NCAA rules?

Towne: Yeah, there’s not too much that we can do with the coaches right now. It’s pretty much relying on everyone’s intrinsic motivation. And I know as a team, it’s there. Like we just got done lifting, pretty much our full team was there without coaches, without that being a recommendation or anything like that. We took that upon ourselves to do ir.

Oyler: We have people down the gym playing futsal couple days a week.

Towne: Yeah, keeping things fun, keeping everyone active, kind of using this as a time to reset.  But yeah, that’s awesome.  

Q: Coach, is there going to be much turnover between this team and next year’s team? Are you getting back a pretty solid core group?

Watkins: We graduated two seniors, one of whom was a starter. The other wasn’t a starter, but played. But otherwise, we return 10 starters and young players who are really good and could have easily been starters as well. Dare I say, we should be significantly better next year.

Q: As young women playing soccer, are you excited about having professional soccer opportunities in communities like Spokane?  

Oyler: I think it’s a super cool opportunity to bring more awareness to soccer in Spokane. And obviously, you hear like, “professional” behind it, people want to check it out.  I’ve driven by the stadium quite a bit. It is beautiful. It’d be so cool to play there. And especially do it in a community where you play in your whole college career would be super cool.

Towne: I think it’s super cool, like Kelsey said, to just have soccer in Spokane. When you think of Spokane, you think of basketball and to try and shift that over to soccer would be pretty neat. I think we’re just always keeping our options open. I love this city. And it’s become home to me this past four years and to stick around in this area would be great. So it’s cool to have that opportunity and to have that to consider.

Q: Are you hoping to be able to check out some of the women’s games when they start this summer, if you’re going to be around?

Oyler: Yeah, I’m sure we probably will.

Towne: Yeah, I will be up here in July for captain’s training. So that’d be a cool thing we could do as a team.

Q: Going back to this past season, you know, among all the successes, do you each have a “This is the moment I’m going to remember when I’m old and grey” moment? What’s that moment for you guys?

Oyler: Malibu, California. Winning the WCC (at Pepperdine).

Towne: I actually have chills thinking about it.

Oyler: When that whistle blew and we realized we did it. Realizing that we didn’t have to sit there on the selection show and wonder if we’re going to hear our name called, doing something that Gonzaga women’s soccer has never done before, like, and we’re going to go down in history for being the first to do it. I feel like we knew we could do it all along, but actually doing it and seeing it and being there with everyone. We’re just such a close team. And it was crazy. It was so cool.

Towne: There’s too many moments like just within that day to try and pick one. Before the game, during the game, after game, there’s just little moments that I’ll always remember. But I do think I remember most about that day is being totally content going into that game, like not even being able to picture us losing.

Oyler: I’ve never experienced that. Like every single person on our team that day knew we were going to win. This game, everyone’s talking about how no one can picture us going home right now without winning. Everyone’s just like, we got this. You know, we have it. I’ve never experienced that in such a high-pressure game before.

Towne: It was high stakes in the sense that it was either we get everything we’ve ever wanted and we’ve left no doubt or we have a good chance of just sitting here and wondering and having the same thing happen to us that’s happened the past couple years. And so you’d think everyone would be so tense, but I don’t know what it was. It was our preparation and from the games before and starting in the summer, but it was so cool to be a part of and everyone rose to the occasion. And I think it was just our love for each other pouring out in that game and knowing that we were going to do whatever we had to do to come out on top. It was awesome.

Q: Sounds like things were really kind of firing on all cylinders.

Oyler: There were ups and downs (over the season), but I think those downs came at really good times to motivate us, to carry us through the rest of the season and never like let us get too high or too low. Like they kind of just reset us so we could keep going.

Q: Coach, you’ve been around the game for a long time. Do you see the trendlines for women’s soccer to continue going upward?

Watkins: When you’ve been around it as long as I have, you’ve seen leagues come and go, right? And the NWSL now, I don’t think there’s any debate on whether it’s going to stay or not. And for the previous WUSA and, you know, going back 15, 20 years, there was debate all along of whether or not the league was going to be around. And now, you know, franchises are getting sold for big dollars and the TV contracts are getting better. Attendance is getting better. So every trend is pointing the right direction, including Spokane. There’s lots of obvious growth now that can’t be denied. Where before it was a little bit of smoke and mirrors, it felt like now, now it seems a lot more real. Like Kansas City building their own stadium. It’s incredible. I mean, it’s an incredible stadium and that expenditure, surely the business folks who are doing that know what they’re doing and they believe they’re going to get a return on their investment. And so to spend the $70 million to do it and know they’re going to get the money back is an exceptional step in the right direction.

Q: It seems, too, that the Pacific Northwest has really embraced the women’s game. Both the Portland Thorns and the Seattle Reign are successful, winning teams, and now we’re adding Spokane and this USL Super League program.

Watkins: Yeah. The Pacific Northwest has always been a women’s soccer hotbed. The Portland Thorns has a great tradition, and the Portland and Seattle metro areas have great histories of promoting and supporting women’s soccer. So we’re in the right market. Spokane has had a lot of minor league professional teams come and go, on the men’s side. But I think the time is right. And certainly the investment is much deeper this time. Women’s soccer has a much stronger foothold than it used to. Well, it didn’t have one at all last time there was some semi-pro soccer here. So, all indications are that it should go really well.

by Jeff Bunch

Spokane Velocity FC professional men’s soccer team held tryouts in its new home, ONE Spokane Stadium, on Saturday, December 9th – a day that was even more momentous for Spokane and eastern Washington.

In the heart of the city, nearly 100 eager participants showed up strong in the second weekend of tryouts (the first held in Seattle the previous weekend). Their courageousness also brought together local amateur, youth, and collegiate soccer organizations in an inspiring way for the beautiful game.

The players, who arrived from near and far, were taking a shot at their professional soccer dreams. The group, a collage of current amateur and pro players, said they were impressed with the experience, the unmatched facilities, and the USL Spokane staff who organized the opportunity. One of those players was experienced international pro player Alex Sotelo.

“I grew up a hometown kid in Tri-Cities, so I came up here a lot playing club ball growing up against the Shadow and the Sounders,” said Sotelo. “I saw a few familiar faces. It was really good to see everybody that I haven’t seen in a while and get touches on the ball with quality players. Being around the coaching staff and being able to hear what they have to say is good. The environment’s good, the stadium’s beautiful, so can’t really complain about much.”

The experience was mutually satisfying for the Spokane Velocity FC coaching staff, which also held tryouts the weekend before in western Washington. They were especially appreciative of the area coaches and technical staff who assisted.

“The whole process in itself, the organization of the event, everything, has been fantastic,” said Head Coach Leigh Veidman. “There are some nuances out there, so you’ve got to be adaptable. That’s where the coaches who are helping us have been fantastic. The guys out there training are working extremely hard and we’ve had some good quality out there too.”

That sentiment was echoed by another eastern Washington USL player who was representing his hometown of Walla Walla.

“What’s exciting is that the 509 gets to bring in talent as well,” said Allen Escalante. “You get to see the talent around the area, which is a lot, and the facility is crazy. The stadium is going to be one of the best ones in the USL League One.”

A Spokane resident brought home the worldwide aspect of what was unfolding across the turf, where teams engaged in warmups, drills, and scrimmages under the watchful eyes of the experienced soccer coaches and technical staff.

“I’ll say soccer has been my thing since I was a little kid and coming all the way from West Africa (to Spokane) is something I’m truly interested in,” said Taofeek Lawal. “A few months ago, I saw the tryout news and I was like, I’ll give it a try and push forward on my dream soccer if anything happens moving forward. If not, I keep pushing. It’s great being out here because it’s something we need not just for me, but for the future kids growing up here. We have basketball and football, so this is a big step for the community out here.”

The same impression was made on “Jersey boy” Lucas Espada, who saved his money for the plane ride to Spokane to keep living his soccer dream by attending West Coast soccer tryouts. His story was typical of many aiming to stand out. He played collegiate soccer at Division I, played overseas, and is excited about the new franchises in the USL.

“I didn’t know Spokane had such a rich soccer culture and this stadium is the nicest USL stadium that I’ve seen, so it’s amazing to see. The town seems buzzing with life and I’m really grateful to be here,” said Espada, a goalkeeper prospect. “Coach Vito (Higgins) is great, really positive, and I think that’s something that’s missing a lot from the game. I’d love to play for him.”

Vito Higgins, a former Gonzaga University player and coach, pro player and coach, and area youth coach assisted the USL technical staff at tryouts, specifically working with goalkeepers.

“I’m super thankful and grateful to be able to give back to the soccer community at these tryouts because the community has given me so much.” Higgins said with a broad smile between sessions. “I look forward to more opportunities with USL Spokane.”

The selection process was a group effort, from the Velocity coaching and technical staff to the area coaches attending. It was orchestrated by the experienced Spokane USL front-office staff in a seamless manner.

“I will tell you, there’s a lot that goes behind the scenes and I think Spokane’s going to be proud of what we’re doing. And this is not just about Spokane, but it also makes us worldwide. We have players from all parts of the world here today that come into Spokane that are just getting involved in the environment and the community. That’s what this brings to this area,” said Dustin Cleaver, Senior Director of Soccer Operations, who should know. He has held hundreds of similar pro tryouts (including L.A. Galaxy tryouts that attracted 1,500 attendees and a guy named Beckham).