Velocity

By Cam McCann, Gonzaga ‘25

Spokane Velocity FC (7-8-5) still remains three points away from clinching the playoffs after a 1-0 loss at the hands of Central Valley Fuego FC (5-11-4) Wednesday night in Fresno, California. 

Despite 15 shots from Velocity, they were unable to find the back of the net. Many got a shot at it, including Anuar Pelaez, who played the most minutes for Velocity since being signed to the club. Masango Akale was able to get multiple shots on goal as well, but both were saved by Fuego keeper Carlos Avilez.

“Extremely disappointed with the result,” said Velocity head coach Leigh Veidman. “Despite going down early in the game, the players dominated from then on out and created great chances to get back in the game, and even win. So I’m proud of the players for the fight and the character they showed tonight.”

The lone score for Central Valley came in the fifth minute of the match, after a third corner kick found Shavon John-Brown near the far post with a clear shot on goal. Despite Brooks Thompson making a tremendous save off the shot, the ball mercilessly ricocheted directly back to John-Brown, who volleyed a cross towards Sean Vinberg, who then sent the ball to the top of the net with a one-touch strike. 

“Tonight showed how fine the margins in this game can be,” said Velocity midfielder Derek Waldeck. “We switched off for a moment on the set piece that allowed them to score. We did well to work our way back in the game and have the better share of chances and possession, but we weren’t able to take advantage of the chances we created.”

After the score, Velocity was able to find chances to respond, but were unable to answer back with a goal of their own. One of the closest chances came off the foot of Azriel Gonzalez, who sent the ball on a tightrope in between multiple Fuego defenders, but the shot met the far post at just too far of an angle, sending the ball away. 

Another first-half chance saw eight consecutive dribbles from Akale, who brought the ball up from the midfield to the right side of the box, where he sent the only on-target shot of the half on a path that was disrupted by Avilez, his first of three saves on the night.

Coming out of the half, it was clear that Fuego’s strategy relied solely on keeping Velocity outside of the box and out of potential scoring areas. Velocity was able to control possession for 64% of the half, but the ball wandered around the backline for extended amounts of time.

As Velocity searched for entrance routes to gain attacking momentum, both Ish Jome and Waldeck looked to push the ball up the sidelines for numerous crosses, but due to Central Valley stacking the box, there was no breathing room for Josh Dolling, Akale and Gonzalez to create a spark for the time by firing a header.

Each Fuego clearance made it tougher and tougher on Velocity to even up the score, but one clearance almost led to an entirely improbable goal. As Avilez went to clear a ball that fell back to him while he was by himself in his defending third, the clearance was blocked, and as it fell backwards, it hit the Fuego post before getting corralled by Avilez, who dove on it before Pelaez could get his foot behind the loose ball. 

Despite the loss, Velocity still remains heavily in contention to clinch their spot in the playoffs. There are plenty of clinching scenarios for the club in their inaugural season, but a win in any of their remaining games will prove a proper finish in a historic regular season for Spokane.

“We take this one on the chin and realize that we have to be better to get back to winning games to finish off the regular season and make it in the playoffs,” Jome said.

The next opportunity will come in the Lilac City, as they face off against Greenville Triumph SC on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. in ONE Spokane stadium. The match’s theme will be Honoring Indigenous Peoples Night.

“Fans, if there is ever a time to pack ONE Spokane Stadium and support your team, it’s Saturday at 6 p.m.!” Veidman said following the match.

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Velocity Look to End Road Trip on High Note in Fresno 

By Henry Krueger, Gonzaga University ’25

Spokane Velocity FC aims to break a three-match scoring drought and strengthen its playoff position Wednesday against Central Valley Fuego FC.

After securing two wins and a scoreless draw in their last homestand, Velocity (7-6-5) have lost the first two contests of their three-match road trip. 

“We brush ourselves off and get ready for another difficult away trip in Fresno,” said head coach Leigh Veidman after Velocity’s 4-0 loss to first-place Union Omaha last week. 

The club’s final opportunity to avoid a winless and scoreless road stretch is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Fresno State Soccer Stadium. The match will air on ESPN+.

While Velocity sits at seventh place on the USL League One table and pushes for a playoff spot in their inaugural season, Fuego (3-12-3) holds the league’s last-place position.

Central Valley is coming off a 1-0 loss at home on Oct. 2, which extended its winless streak to eight matches across all competitions. 

Velocity and Fuego have been competitive against each other, going 1-1-1 in their three encounters this season. The last meeting between the clubs ended in a 3-2 Spokane victory at home. 

Despite previously producing low-scoring affairs, Velocity and Fuego erupted for five goals on 36 shots, thrilling a crowd of 3,108 at ONE Spokane Stadium on Sept. 7.

“You got to give Fuego credit,” Veidman said after the match . “They came out and played well, but they opened the door for us on a couple occasions, and to be fair, we could have put another couple past them.”

Velocity is leading USL League One in several statistical categories, including interceptions (9.4) and successful tackles per match (11.9). Meanwhile, Fuego tops the league in corners (109) and possession won in the final third per match (4.3). 

As Spokane prepares for this crucial late-season match, midfielder Joe Schmidt emphasized the team’s hard-working mentality. 

“I think it’s absolutely a blue-collar kind of culture,” Schmidt said. “Our trainings are very intense. Everyone’s working hard. The goal is, every time we step on the field, we’re well-prepared to go and win.”

Following the match against Fuego, Velocity will host Greenville Triumph SC on Saturday for one of two final regular season home matches of the season. On Saturday, the club is offering a “Unity in Spokane” ticket special — 50 percent off east stadium tickets.

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By Logan Redinger, University of Washington ‘25

Spokane Velocity FC currently sit in seventh place with four matches remaining in the USL League One regular season – the top eight teams on the table qualify for the playoffs.

Their schedule for the remainder of the season is as follows:

10/9: at Central Valley Fuego FC (7 p.m. PST)

10/12: Greenville Triumph SC (6 p.m. PST)

10/19: at Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (6 p.m. PST)

10/26: One Knoxville SC (6 p.m. PST)

The 2024 League One season will adopt a new playoff format. The top eight teams will qualify for the postseason, an increase from only six teams in 2023. The top four seeds will play host to the bottom four seeds in the first round of the playoffs. The higher-ranked seed in each matchup will host every round from then on out. Every match is single elimination.

“For our expansion club in its inaugural season to be in playoff position is extraordinary,” said USL Spokane Co-Owner Ryan Harnetiaux. “This is a strong league. The team’s success this year is a testament to a dedicated technical staff who have built a solid foundation, and players who have bought in and fought for their new city. And, a city who has in turn embraced this team and showed up for them, already making Spokane one of the toughest places to play in the league.”

If the playoffs started today, seventh-seeded Spokane would travel to second-seeded Forward Madison FC in the first round (quarterfinals). However, a strong regular season finish for Spokane could catapult them into the top 4 in which case the club would host a playoff match on the weekend of Nov. 2.

Velocity are currently seven points above the playoff line, but they cannot clinch the playoffs when they travel to face Central Valley Fuego on October 9. If Velocity captures 3 points against last place Fuego, they can clinch a playoff spot with a win vs. Greenville Triumph SC at home on October 12. In other words, six points from the next two matches would see Velocity qualify for the 2024 USL League One playoffs.

Spokane has fared well against Central Valley in league play, beating them 3-2 in their only prior matchup of the regular season. Velocity lost to Greenville Triumph 3-1 on the road in the club’s first-ever match back in March. Looking further ahead, Velocity beat Northern Colorado at home 1-0 in their first regular season matchup, and played to a draw with One Knoxville on the road.

The defending USL League One Players’ Shield winners (awarded to the team with the best regular season record), Union Omaha, locked up the first postseason berth in Week 20. Forward Madison also clinched a playoff berth when they played One Knoxville to a 1-1 draw on October 1.

The postseason will begin with four quarterfinal matches on the weekend of Nov. 2. The 2024 USL League One Final will be held on the weekend of Nov. 16 at the home venue of the highest remaining seed as the league concludes its sixth campaign. The seven total postseason matches will be the most in league history.

Spokane will take on Central Valley on October 9 at 7 p.m. as they continue their hunt for the playoffs. The match will be televised on ESPN+. Velocity returns to ONE Spokane Stadium at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12 to face Greenville. The club is offering a “Unity in Spokane” ticket special with 50% off east stadium seats to encourage fans to pack the house and support their charge into the playoffs.

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By Henry Krueger, Gonzaga University ‘25

Spokane Velocity FC were without team captain Luis Gil, and it may have been the difference in Wednesday’s 4-0 loss at Union Omaha. 

Gil had scored in all three previous matches against Omaha, helping the team secure two victories. However, a thigh injury sustained in their last match against Forward Madison FC left the 30-year-old midfielder unable to play.

With Gil out, Omaha celebrated its fifth game this season with at least four goals. The result did not cause any movement on the table, as Spokane (7-6-5) remains in seventh place and Omaha (12-4-2) stays atop the standings. 

“Today was a clear example of what building an identity over 2-3 years looks like, and more definitively how that makes the difference in key moments of the game,” said head coach Leigh Veidman. 

Both teams exchanged attacks in the first half, but Omaha generated a few more opportunities, benefiting from a 57% possession advantage in the first half. 

Union’s first goal nearly came in the 27th minute after Dion Acoff delivered a cross to the middle of the box, where Josué Gómez’s header bounced off the left post. 

As Spokane’s back line continued facing pressure, Omaha was eventually able to break through just before halftime. The play began with Velocity goalkeeper Brooks Thompson making a diving save to block Joe Gallardo’s shot, causing the ball to deflect over to Gómez, who scored a one-touch goal in the 44th minute. 

“They showed really good clinical quality in the final third, and that was the difference today,” said Jack Denton.

Gómez continued to lead Omaha’s attack in the second half, scoring off a header after receiving a cross from Charlie Ostrem in the 48th minute. 

Omaha didn’t let up as the match went on, tallying another goal in the 55th minute. Ostrem was able to score from close range after corralling a cross that was initially batted down by Thompson. 

The final goal came just four minutes later when Mechack Jérome launched a shot from outside the box into the bottom left corner. Spokane remained scoreless for the rest of the match, as Omaha secured a victory to split the season series at 2-2 across all competitions between the clubs.

“It was a tough result on the road at a difficult place to play, they are a good team and it shows,” said Collin Fernandez, who was given the captain role in lieu of Gil. “We showed good professionalism to keep playing our game in the last 30 minutes.”

Velocity will wrap up their three-match road trip with a match against Central Valley Fuego FC on Oct. 9 before returning home to host Greenville Triumph SC on Oct. 12 for one of two final  regular season home matches of the season. On Oct. 12, the club is offering a “Unity in Spokane” ticket special – 50 percent off east stadium tickets.

“We brush ourselves off and get ready for another difficult away trip in Fresno,” said Veidman.

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By Henry Krueger, Gonzaga University ’25

As Spokane Velocity FC (7-6-5) pushes for the playoffs in its inaugural season, head coach Leigh Veidman and the front office have shown no hesitation in adding talent throughout the year.

Two of Velocity’s latest additions, midfielder Joe Schmidt and defender Luke Merrill, arrived in Spokane last month on season-long loans from USL Championship’s Hartford Athletic.

Schmidt and Merrill made their Velocity debut in the club’s 3-3 draw against South Georgia Tormenta FC on Aug. 4, entering the match in the final minute before seven minutes of added time. They eventually got more time on the pitch, both playing 11 minutes and then a full 90 minutes in the next two matches. 

Bolstering the rotation with new talent has proved to be worthwhile for Velocity, who have gone 3-2-3 in regular-season play since adding Schmidt and Merrill. Spokane is also leading USL League One in several statistical categories, including accurate passes per match (401.4) and successful tackles per match (11.7).

The transition to Spokane was challenging for Schmidt and Merrill, who faced a quick turnaround to pack up and relocate across the country upon receiving notice of the transaction. 

“I basically had to move in like eight hours, so I just went back home and threw as much as I could in a suitcase and tried to box some stuff up before my flight later in the day,” Schmidt said. 

To ease the process, the pair decided to live together, and they’ve enjoyed exploring Spokane and feeling the support from the fanbase.

“The atmosphere has been great,” Merrill said. “Whether you’re coming off an airplane at the airport, or if you’re at the gym or in the grocery store, people see our logo and they say ‘hi’ and ‘Go Spokane,’ and it’s been awesome to experience that.”

Another factor both players say has made things easier is Veidman’s coaching approach. 

Before joining Spokane, the 26-year-old Schmidt was already familiar with Veidman, who was an assistant coach for Charleston Battery when Schmidt was a member of the club in 2022 and 2023. 

“This is my first time working with him as a head coach, but I think the first thing I would say about him is he’s incredibly detail-oriented and thorough,” Schmidt said. “A lot of it is data driven, which I think is really cool.”

Merrill echoed Schmidt’s sentiment, despite having no previous experience with Veidman.

“He just focuses on the little things that add up to the bigger picture, which I really like,” Merrill said. “He wants to make sure everyone’s on the same page, and it’s been great to see how he works and interacts with players.”

With only five matches left in the regular season, Veidman will likely rely on his two newcomers to help propel the seventh-place club to the playoffs. On the table, Spokane is two points away from earning a top-four finish and first-round home match. 

Velocity will conclude its three-match road trip with a clash against Central Valley Fuego FC on Oct. 9 before returning home to host Greenville Triumph SC on Oct. 12. 

Catch Schmidt and Merrill live at Velocity FC’s next home match!

By Cameron McCann Gonzaga University ’25

Roughly a week ago, Union Omaha became the first club in USL League One to clinch a spot in this season’s playoffs, cruising to an 11-4-2 record. Despite this dominance over the field, Spokane Velocity FC (7-5-5) has had the Owls’ number, holding a 2-1 head-to-head advantage across all competitions and also winning the only regular-season clash.

While Omaha is guaranteed their spot in the postseason, Spokane remains in the hunt for one of the remaining bids, tied in sixth place with Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC with 26 total points. The gap between Velocity and the team below, the Richmond Kickers, is a healthy seven points, while the two clubs directly above them, One Knoxville SC and Greenville Triumph SC, sit at 28 points. 

With five matches left and a tight race for spots 4-7 on the table, Velocity FC still has a chance to host a home playoff match in their inaugural season. However, the road ahead won’t be easy, as they face four teams currently sitting in the top half of the league standings.

Velocity FC’s captain Luis Gil has led the charge over Union Omaha, his former club, scoring in all three meetings. In their most recent clash, Gil’s goal in the 47th minute gave Velocity a 1-0 lead in the match – a lead that held for the rest of the contest. The win marked the second time Omaha had lost on the road all season, both coming in ONE Spokane Stadium. 

Velocity will be looking to replace Gil’s strong production against his former club and throughout the season as he is out with an injury for this match. In addition, fellow midfielder Masango Akale will be serving a red card suspension Wednesday.

Velocity’s only loss in the series came on the road in a Jägermeister Cup match, where Gil had the lone team goal in a 4-1 defeat. 

Omaha’s Pedro Dolabella has been a difficult force for teams to slow down this season, as he is tied for fourth in League One with eight goals in regular-season play. In his last outing against Velocity, Dolabella scored the team’s lone goal in the final minute of added time, and was held to just that single shot on target.

Holding him and the rest of the Omaha attack is a strong Spokane backline that welcomes defender Ahmed Longmire back from his one-match suspension that resulted from a group scuffle in the South Georgia Tormenta match on Sept. 14. He’ll rejoin a backline that has evolved over the course of the season to contribute scoring in recent weeks, including in their match against Omaha on Sept. 4. Derek Waldeck and Camron Miller connected off a free kick, as Miller sent a header past Owl keeper Rashid Nuhu. 

Nuhu has played admirably for Omaha, and has remained as one of League One’s best keepers, holding down the fourth spot in the league for saves and tied for third with five clean sheets. 

Velocity’s keeper, Brooks Thompson, is coming off a GOAT of the Match performance, where he made eight saves, some of which seemed miraculous. In his last match against Omaha, Thompson recorded just one save, but the Owls only managed two shots on target. His play could be the deciding factor in whether Velocity takes three, one, or zero points from the upcoming match.

After facing Union Omaha, Velocity will take on Central Valley Fuego FC at 7 p.m. on Oct. 9. at Fresno State’s soccer stadium, with the match available on ESPN+. They’ll then return home to play Greenville Triumph SC at ONE Spokane Stadium at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12. The match, which honors Indigenous Peoples’ Night, will be broadcast on SWX and ESPN+.

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By Henry Krueger, Gonzaga University ’25

For Forward Madison FC, preparing to face Spokane Velocity FC looks much different than it did four months ago when the two clubs squared off for the first time ever at ONE Spokane Stadium.

Goalkeeper Brooks Thompson made his Velocity debut in the May 19 meeting, and the 22-year-old was quickly thrown into the fray, enduring relentless pressure from the Flamingos’ attacking line. Madison ended with a 3-0 victory.

Thompson has recorded two clean sheets since that match, and has served as the defensive anchor for a team that has not lost to a USL League One opponent in six matches. 

“Listen, without saving goals, these results that we’ve had recently are going to be very, very different,” said head coach Leigh Veidman of Thompson. “He’s been huge in the right moments for us, and when we need him most. Hopefully, (the ball) never gets to Brooks, that’s always the plan, but sometimes it does, and he’s been ready in the right moments.”

Riding the high of their recent form, Thompson and the rest of Velocity’s squad (7-4-5) are set for a rematch against the Flamingos (7-2-7) on Saturday in Madison, Wisconsin. Fans can tune in at 3 p.m. PDT locally on SWX as well as stream the match on ESPN+.

“In Madison, we want to go out there and right our wrongs,” Veidman said. “It’s a difficult place to go, but the boys are ready.”

Velocity is coming off a three-match homestand that saw the club defend its turf with wins against Union Omaha and Central Valley Fuego FC before earning a scoreless draw against South Georgia Tormenta FC. 

Five Spokane players scored during the home stretch: Luis Gil, Camron Miller, Andre Lewis, Azriel Gonzalez and Ish Jome. The versatility of Velocity’s attack is a strength of the club, with three players sporting four goals or more on the season. 

Spokane’s leading offensive contributor has been Gil, who has a team-high five goals and five assists in 2024. Additionally, his 7.51 FotMob rating is the fourth-best in the league. 

“Luis is a great player, and playing with him is a privilege, so I just take advantage of it whenever I have the ball,” said Andre Lewis. “I mean, there are another 10 guys on the field, but I’m always looking for Luis. He’s the go-to man.”

As Velocity looks to continue generating scoring chances, they will be going up against one of the league’s top defenses in Forward Madison. The Flamingos have only given up 13 goals in 16 matches, and goalkeeper Bernd Schipmann is tied for a league-best seven clean sheets. 

Schipmann and the Madison back line have not allowed more than two goals in a regular season match. They held the Charlotte Independence, the league’s second-highest scoring team, to one goal en route to a 2-1 victory on Sept. 11. 

As Spokane and Madison face off for a second time, the match will have ramifications on the league table. The fourth-place Flamingos have a two-point lead on sixth-place Velocity, but the clubs could swap spots in the standings if Velocity wins.

Velocity’s visit to Madison is the start of a three-match road trip, with trips to Union Omaha (Oct. 2) and Central Valley Fuego FC (Oct. 9) also scheduled. 

The club returns to Spokane for its second-to-last regular season home match on Oct. 12 when Greenville Triumph SC comes to town. The match will also celebrate “Honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Night.”

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By Cam McCann, Gonzaga University ‘25

A chippy affair led to a 0-0 draw between Spokane Velocity FC (7-4-5) and South Georgia Tormenta FC (4-7-6) Saturday night at ONE Spokane Stadium.

It is the first scoreless regular-season match for the Velocity but, despite the lack of a goal, fans were treated to a match chock-full of exciting moments, including a match-altering scuffle that resulted in the ejection of Ahmed Longmire. 

Collin Fernandez was named GOAT of the Match for his scrappy, high-energy play. He was the spark to Velocity’s offensive approach and hasn’t missed a beat since coming back from injury.

“I just want to be as helpful to the guys around me as I can,” said Fernandez. “That’s what I’m here for, I want to win balls and give it to the guys in front of me.”

Velocity’s offensive attack produced a bevy of first-half chances that brought life to ONE Spokane Stadium, but were unable to register a score. Chances came from a variety of players, including a deep, powerful on-target shot from Andre Lewis, an unmarked header in the box from Ish Jome that fell outside the left post and Luis Gil after stealing a ball from the feet of South Georgia goalkeeper Ford Parker. 

One of the biggest chances of the match came in the ninth minute, and was reminiscent of week 19’s League One Goal of the Week. The setup for the shot was a mirror image, as Azriel Gonzalez received a beautifully placed pass near the left side of the box from Lewis on a fast break, but unlike last week’s score, Gonzalez’s shot fell just outside of the far post. 

On the flip side, the defensive positioning of Velocity kept Tormenta from finding a path to the box or a clean shooting angle. The club’s first shot was registered all the way in the 37th minute, an on-target look that was saved by Brooks Thompson, who recorded four saves on the day. 

In the second half, the match script appeared to be more of the same, with Velocity making consistent deep runs at the Tormenta backline, but the script suddenly flew out the window in the 54th minute, as Velocity lined up for a corner kick. 

As Derek Waldeck lined up to send the lob, a tie-up involving Marcelo Lage took place, and before long there were multiple players from each team pulling others away from the tussle, but the damage was done. Ahmed Longmire was the only player involved to receive a red card, while Lage and Aaron Lombardi for Tormenta received yellow cards. 

“I did see one Tormenta player with very high arms, so the fact that we got a guy sent off and they got basically nothing doesn’t make much sense to me, but we’ll review the footage and anything that was missed,” said Velocity head coach Leigh Veidman. 

Velocity played the rest of the match a man down, but were still able to keep their formation and shut down the Tormenta attack. 

“We did a really good job in the box defending, all their chances in the second half were shots outside the box or contested headers,” Thompson said. “Super happy with the back line, and they helped me a lot.”

As the match came to a close, Velocity increased its undefeated streak to six matches and lost just one match in its last nine. Velocity remains in the top half in the League One table, and are within striking distance of Greenville Triumph SC, Forward Madison FC, One Knoxville SC and Charlotte Independence, with a game in hand over both Greenville and Charlotte. 

After a successful three-match homestand, Velocity will now go on a three-match road trip, with their first contest coming against Forward Madison FC on Sept 21 at 3 p.m. PST. If Velocity were to win, they would leapfrog the Flamingos on the table.

“The fact that we’ve used this three-game home stretch positively to get points out of every single game was absolutely huge for us to get kind of out of that little up-and-down dip we were in,” Veidman said. “… We’ve now got to use the lessons we’ve learned from the three games we played at home, and then take that on the road.”

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By Henry Krueger, Gonzaga University ’25

As the regular season continues and the USL League One playoff race intensifies, Spokane Velocity FC finds itself in a pivotal position with seven matches remaining.

Fresh off consecutive victories, Velocity (7-4-4) now turns its attention to Saturday’s match against South Georgia Tormenta FC (4-7-5) at ONE Spokane Stadium.

The outcome of this contest will have serious implications for the league table, where Velocity currently sits in sixth place and Tormenta is in eighth. The playoffs, which begin on Nov. 2, feature eight of the league’s 12 clubs, with the top four hosting a first-round matchup.

“The P-word is not allowed around me,” said Velocity head coach Leigh Veidman, referring to the playoffs. “We take it game by game. We don’t want to focus too far ahead.”

Velocity recently improved its position in the standings after defeating Union Omaha 2-1 on Sept. 4 and Central Valley Fuego FC 3-2 on Sept. 7. Both league matches were played at home, with Saturday’s contest marking the finale of a three-game homestand.

Unlike his coach, Velocity midfielder Andre Lewis didn’t shy away from discussing the club’s recent surge and increasing playoff chances.

“When you win, you just want to keep winning,” Lewis said after the Central Valley match, where he scored a one-touch goal and assisted on Azriel Gonzalez’s goal. “We need to get a home playoff game, and that’s what we’re aiming for. Whatever comes our way here in Spokane, we have to handle business, and we only hope to win.”

Tormenta has been struggling of late, failing to secure a win in over two months — their last victory was on July 13. Recent results include a 1-1 tie against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC and a 1-0 loss to One Knoxville SC, ending their Jägermeister Cup group play.

Despite these struggles, Tormenta has still managed to perform well in key areas, ranking third in the league for big chances created (37) and clearances per match (19.9).

Spokane, on the other hand, has dominated in several statistical categories, leading the league in accurate passes per match (403.9), touches in the opposition box (383), interceptions per match (9.7) and successful tackles per match (12.1).

In addition, Spokane showed out in last week’s USL League One Honors with Luis Gil recognized as Player of the Week and Coach Veidman as Coach of the Week, joined by Marcelo Lage, Andre Lewis, Camron Miller, and Derek Waldeck on the Team of the Week.

Aside from the match itself, ONE Spokane Stadium will be celebrating “Honor Educators Night” on Saturday with a special Back to School buy-one-get-one free ticket special.After their matchup against Tormenta, Velocity will hit the road for the next three contests, starting with Forward Madison FC on Saturday, Sept. 21. Spokane will then face Union Omaha on Wednesday, Oct. 2 and Central Valley Fuego FC on Wednesday, Oct. 9.

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By Cameron McCann, Gonzaga ‘25 

After their first-ever six point week – net from two straight home victories, Spokane Velocity FC’s presence was littered across USL League One’s Week 19 “Team of the Week.” 

The announcement on Tuesday was headlined by Luis Gil receiving Player of the Week recognition and head coach Leigh Veidman earning Coach of the Week honors. The three other Velocity players selected to the weekly starting lineup include Marcelo Lage, Camron Miller and Andre Lewis. 

“I’m really proud of this team,” Veidman said. “Coming off a long 10-day road trip into a two game week and coming out with six points is no easy task, but the outcome shows the work the team is putting in behind the scenes, so they deserve everything they got.” 

Luis Gil’s Player of the Week award is the second time a Velocity player has been given the honor (Andre Lewis week 16), and none in the club are more deserving than the captain. Gil has been the oil can that’s kept the Velocity push into the playoffs so smooth, orchestrating the midfield and bringing Veidman’s vision of the pitch to life. 

“Every player in our team has been pivotal this week, but Luis has executed in both games, shown incredible leadership, has a killer mentality in front of the goal and sets the standard of what is needed on both sides of the ball, so I’m really happy for him,” Veidman said. 

Gil leads Velocity in both goals and assists, with five goals and five assists in regular season play. This ties him for second in the league for assists and top 10 for goals. His 15 goal contributions across all competitions has provided a steady hand for a foundation that Velocity has begun to build off of. 

“On the individual side of the game, I have been finding success, but credit is due to the rest of my teammates,” Gil said. 

Garnering his second Coach of the Week award (also received in week 2), Veidman has led his club to a strong inaugural season, and now that the team has gotten adjusted to the League One schedule, they’ve flourished, dropping just one match in their last eight. His tactical approach to each contest has morphed over the course of the season, and has evolved into a real winning formula. 

This adaptability includes a midseason change at goalkeeper, going from Carlos Merancio to Brooks Thompson. In their most recent match, a save from Thompson in the final minute of added time was what finalized the club’s week, and was one of three big saves on the day. 

While Thompson wasn’t put on the list of players who made the Team of the Week, two members of Velocity’s backline were featured in Lage and Miller. 

Lage has been a reliable member of the backline for awhile, and lead the league with seven blocks in the week, adding 11 clearances and an 81 percent passing accuracy. His defensive play was complemented by Miller, who scored a header in their nationally televised match against Union Omaha. The score came a week after netting his first professional goal, which came in a Jägermeister Cup match. Miller hasn’t let his offensive surge come at the expense of his defensive play however, and was a key component of keeping Central Valley Fuego FC on the losing end of their match despite consistent pressure in the box. 

The final member of Velocity’s Week 19 honors is a former Player of the Week, Andre Lewis. The Jamaican midfielder has been a massive component to the offensive tactical approach for Veidman and his club, firing shots from distance and creating chances. His role was featured primarily in the matchup against Fuego, where Lewis contributed to two Velocity scores. 

Finally, Derek Waldeck was named to the bench of Week 19’s top 11 after delivering an assist to Miller off a far set piece lob. His number of chances created are top 10 in League One with 23. 

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