Velocity

By Cameron McCann Gonzaga University ’25

Spokane Velocity FC completed their first season series sweep after a 1-0 win against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC at CHI Memorial Stadium on Wednesday.

The win moves Velocity into the seventh spot on the USL League One table, where they are tied with sixth-ranked Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC in points. 

“I can’t express how proud I am of the team,” said head coach Leigh Veidman. “It’s been a long road trip, many adversities but the players really showed up tonight and dominated the game after only 2 days rest. They worked incredibly hard, showed real togetherness and got their rewards.”

The lone score of the day came from Andre Lewis, but the “GOAT of the Match” was awarded to goalkeeper Brooks Thompson, who registered the first clean sheet of his young career with Velocity. The 22-year-old recorded five crucial saves against a dangerous Red Wolves offense, which is ranked fifth in goals scored among USL League One teams.

“It’s definitely been a tough week, but the boys in the squad have been resilient and fought through it all,” Thompson said. “[I’m] super proud of the guys and for digging out two good results.”

Thompson and Chattanooga keeper TJ Bush didn’t see much action early on, with only one off-target shot registered in the first 19 minutes of the contest. The defense of Velocity looked solid, with Ish Jome making his second start alongside Camron Miller, Marcelo Lage and Javier Martín Gil on the backline. 

On the flip side, Velocity had strong offensive possessions throughout the first half, utilizing key aspects of their players up front like Kimarni Smith’s speed, Josh Dolling’s good positioning and Masango Akale’s tremendous dribbling. 

The half ended with four registered shots inside of the box, with three on target. The team showcased its ability to play level-headed, even when inside the opposing box, with 14 touches inside the box compared to the Red Wolves’ four. 

As the second half got underway, it was clear that Veidman’s squad made the necessary adjustments to finally finish an offensive possession with the ball in the other net, as their first shot of the half resulted in an Andre Lewis goal. 

“It was a hard week for us and we knew going into this game (it) was going to be tough, but we stuck to our game plan and executed,” Lewis said.

The shot from just outside the top of the box came off two great passes: one from Akale from the left wing to Dolling in the middle of the box, and the second going from Dolling to Lewis, resulting in an assist for Dolling. Lewis’ goal marks his third of the season, making him the team’s third-leading scorer. 

Directly after the goal, Velocity continued its offensive assault, getting off two good shots within the next five minutes. They finished with 12 total second-half shots, whereas Chattanooga had five.

The rest of the match saw a great defensive effort and a gritty pace of play, as each team committed eight fouls, warranting three yellow cards each. 

Velocity’s next appearance is a showdown at ONE Spokane Stadium against Northern Colorado in a Jägermeister Cup match on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. It’s Hometown Heroes Night, and fans will be treated to a police helicopter flyover as well as a police vehicle for fans to explore.

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Roughly one month after Velocity FC notched a 2-1 victory over Chattanooga Red Wolves SC in Spokane, the two clubs will hold a rematch at CHI Memorial Stadium in Tennessee.

In the second consecutive road contest for coach Leigh Veidman and his club, ninth-place Spokane Velocity (4-4-3) will visit the seventh-place Red Wolves (5-7-1) in a USL League One match at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. 

A win and three points could shake up the current table, with Velocity potentially leapfrogging South Georgia and Chattanooga to join Northern Colorado in the sixth spot.

The Red Wolves are coming off a 2-1 loss to Central Valley Fuego FC, while Velocity is fresh off a dramatic 3-3 draw against South Georgia Tormenta FC. Their matchup against Tormenta was weather delayed and postponed a day, causing the window between matches for Velocity to shrink to three days.

In the last meeting between the Red Wolves and Velocity, fans at ONE Spokane Stadium were  treated to a 2-1 Velocity win, highlighted by a thunderous Luis Gil first-touch goal and a “chess match” of adjustments. 

“It was a little bit of back and forth,” Veidman said on coaching adjustments after the match.

That earlier Chattanooga match marked goalkeeper Brooks Thompson’s second start in USL League One action for Velocity FC, where he would record two massive saves, including an on-target shot near the end of added time in the second half to the far-right of the goal that a diving Thompson batted away before pouncing on it. 

Since their last meeting, Chattanooga has gone 2-2-0, while Velocity’s offense continued its momentum since the multi-goal win. 

With the offense finding its stride, Velocity will need to focus on keeping their backline in check against the dangerous trio of Mayele Malango, Chevonne Marsh and Ropapa Mensah, who are all top 10 goal scorers in USL League One. Malango is also ninth in the league for shots attempted.

Velocity’s new 5-4-1 formation seemed to slow down the dynamic offense last time they played, keeping any lanes from opening up and clogging the penalty area throughout the match. 

Just six days after the clash with Chattanooga, Velocity FC will compete in a Jägermeister Cup match against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC at ONE Spokane Stadium at 7 p.m. for Hometown Heroes Night.

By Henry Krueger, Gonzaga University ’25

Spokane Velocity FC has faced nearly every team in USL League One during its inaugural season and will check off the second-to-last opponent in Saturday’s match against South Georgia Tormenta FC. 

Seventh-place Tormenta (4-7-3) will host ninth-place Velocity (4-4-2) at 4:30 p.m. PST. 

Both clubs are looking to bounce back from losses last week, with South Georgia falling 3-2 to Central Valley Fuego FC, and Velocity dropping a match against the Charlotte Independence, 4-2.

“The big thing for us right now is just really taking this one on the chin,” said Velocity head coach Leigh Veidman after last Saturday’s match. “You learn from it, we get better and then we go on this away trip, knowing that we’re going to a tough place against a tough team who’s doing well right now.”

Velocity has hovered around the middle of the table this season, despite leading the league with 415.1 accurate passes per match, 10.0 interceptions per match and 12.4 successful tackles per match.

Some of Spokane’s newest additions have made a big impact, most notably forward Masango Akale. The 22-year-old has contributed two goals and two assists in just four league matches. 

In Velocity’s match against the Independence, Akale delivered a short cross that led to a goal from striker Josh Dolling in the 31st minute. Akale later scored himself in the 60th minute on a shot from outside the 18-yard box. 

“We knew he was a great player when he came in,” said Dolling of Akale. “And it’s just easy for us to link up together because he’s a dynamic winger who likes to run at players, beat them, and I’m gonna wait for him to do that because I trust he’s able to do that.”

Akale and the rest of Spokane’s front line will look to keep pace with Tormenta’s attacking unit, which is tied for first in USL League One with 31 big chances created. The club is also second in the league with 300 touches in the opposing team’s 18-yard box. 

South Georgia is led in scoring by 27-year-old forward Sebastián Vivas, who is third in the league with seven goals this season. Vivas was recently named to the league’s Team of the Week for week 15 after scoring in the 44th minute against Fuego last Saturday. 

Striker Pedro Fonseca also represented Tormenta on the weekly list for putting his team on the board in the sixth minute of the same match. Fonseca has four goals this season. 

Velocity’s stop in South Georgia Saturday marks the beginning of a two-match road trip, which concludes on Wednesday, Aug. 7 against sixth-place Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. Both matches are part of league play, providing Spokane with a chance to get back into the eight-team playoff picture. 

Veidman and his club will return home for a rare Tuesday night match on Aug. 13 against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC in the Jägermeister Cup. The club will celebrate Hometown Heroes with a police helicopter flyover and a police vehicle for fans to explore.

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By Henry Krueger, Gonzaga University ’25

Forwards Masango Akale and Josh Dolling put goals on the board for Spokane Velocity FC, but Charlotte’s scoring efficiency proved insurmountable, resulting in a 4-2 victory for the Independence Saturday night at ONE Spokane Stadium.

Two of Charlotte’s goals came from forward Juan Carlos Obregon, who scored in the 18th and 43rd minutes of the match. His second score marked his ninth goal of the season, placing him atop USL League One’s leaderboard. 

The win moves the Independence (7-3-2) into second place on the table, with Velocity (4-4-2) falling to ninth. 

While Spokane controlled 63% of the possession, it was the Independence who struck first. Left back Fabrice Ngah sent a long pass up the pitch to midfielder Gabriel Obertan, who delivered a short cross that set up a one-touch goal from Obregon. 

Velocity responded in the 31st minute when forward Akale dribbled near the left end line before crossing the ball to Dolling, who scored from close range. 

Charlotte pulled back ahead just before the half, with Obregon sinking a penalty kick over the outstretched arms of Velocity goalkeeper Brooks Thompson. The opportunity arose after Velocity center back Ahmed Longmire was called for a hand ball near the penalty area.

Spokane came out aggressive in the second half, wearing down Charlotte’s defense until Akale had a clean look at the goal and buried a shot from outside the 18-yard box to even things up at 2-2 in the 60th minute. 

“It was just the space,” Akale said about the goal. “Just the way the game was going in the first half, we saw spaces that we could take advantage of, so that’s all it was.”

However, just as Velocity had evened up the match, Charlotte pulled back in front three minutes later when Obertan blasted a shot into the top right corner after receiving a well-placed through ball from Joel Johnson.

The Independence added some cushion to their lead in the 72nd minute, with Johnson corralling a loose ball and drilling a shot into the net to increase his team’s lead to 4-2.

Velocity head coach Leigh Veidman said Charlotte’s two second-half goals were the deciding factor in the match. 

“We obviously do our homework on every team, and we knew that Charlotte was an incredibly good counter-attacking team,” Veidman said. “So we worked on that and tried to prepare for them, but those two counter-attacking moments in the second half are what killed the game for us.”

Despite coming up short of the win, Velocity players are feeling positive about their two-goal outing after suffering a 1-0 shutout loss against Central Valley Fuego FC in a USL Jägermeister Cup on July 19.

“The more you play together, the more you start to understand each other, how people move, how they like to receive the ball, so yeah that just comes with time,” Dolling said. “And it’s a positive thing to take away, you know, scoring two goals is nice.”

Velocity will embark on a two-match road trip, starting with South Georgia Tormenta FC on Aug. 3 and ending with Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Aug. 7. Both matches are part of USL League One regular season action.

Veidman and his club will return home for a rare Tuesday night match on Aug. 13 for a Jägermeister Cup match against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC. The club will celebrate Hometown Heroes with a police helicopter flyover and a police vehicle for fans to explore.

Can’t get enough USL Spokane? Secure Tickets to Zephyr FC’s Historic Home Opener

Velocity Welcomes Charlotte Independence for Consequential League Match

By Henry Krueger, Gonzaga University ’25

In a matchup with significant implications for the USL League One standings as clubs drive toward playoff contention, seventh-place Spokane Velocity FC will host the fourth-place Charlotte Independence at 7 p.m. Saturday. The top eight teams will qualify for postseason play.

Charlotte (6-3-2) is looking to win its third straight regular season match and remain in contention for the No. 1 spot on the table, currently trailing Union Omaha,Greenville Triumph SC, and Forward Madison.

Spokane’s (4-3-2) last league match ended in a 2-1 victory over Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, seeing newly acquired forward Masango Akale score his first goal for the club. The other goal was buried by midfielder Luis Gil, the team captain and most efficient scoring weapon. 

Gil is central to Velocity’s attack, acting as both a goal-scoring threat and a premier passer. He tops Velocity’s charts with three goals, three assists and a 7.48 FotMob rating.

In the win over Chattanooga, Gil set up Spokane’s first goal with a precise cross in the 18th minute before scoring himself later in the first half with a first-touch shot to the top left corner of the goal.

His contributions have helped Spokane lead the league in several statistical categories, including average possession (53.0%), accurate long balls per match (36.0), interceptions per match (10.0) and successful tackles per match (13.2).

As Gil and Velocity look to put goals on the board, they will also have to slow down the Independence’s front line, which averages a league-best 5.0 shots on target per match. 

Nobody has been more effective at finishing Charlotte’s scoring chances than Juan Carlos Obregón. The 26-year-old forward is second in USL League One with seven goals in regular season play. He also has the second-highest FotMob rating in the league at 7.66.

Obregón scored four goals in June and was voted USL League One Player of the Month. So far in July, he has scored once while leading the Independence to a pair of regular season wins and a draw in Jägermeister Cup group play.

Another playmaker up front for the Independence is midfielder Gabriel Obertan, who is tied for first in the league with four assists. A 35-year-old veteran, Obertan has played for premier international clubs such as Manchester United and Newcastle United.

Charlotte’s defense is anchored by goalkeeper Austin Pack, the reigning USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year. His 78.3% save rate is the second-highest in the league. 

Pack was recently named to the USL League One Team of the Week after recording his seventh clean sheet of the season across all competitions. The only other Independence player named to the weekly list was midfielder Joel Johnson, along with head coach Mike Jeffries. 

In the previous meeting between Velocity and the Independence on March 28, Charlotte notched a 2-1 victory at home. Fast forward a few months and now Spokane has a chance to return the favor in front of the third-largest average crowd in USL League One at ONE Spokane Stadium. 

Aside from the matchup itself, Saturday’s festivities will celebrate Christmas in July with a DJ spinning holiday classics and a festive photo booth for fans.

On match day, the 509 Syndicate will gather 90 minutes prior to kickoff, and march from the Rotary Fountain in Riverfront Park to the stadium at 6 p.m. with drums, flags and lots of team spirit. This is a tradition before every home game.

Looking ahead, Velocity will visit South Georgia Tormenta FC (Aug. 3) and Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (Aug. 7) in USL League One action before returning home for a Jägermeister Cup match against Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC (Aug. 13).

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By Henry Krueger, Gonzaga University ’25

With temperatures eclipsing 100 degrees and the USL League One regular season well underway, Spokane Velocity FC head coach Leigh Veidman knew exactly how to keep his players motivated. 

Veidman ended his July 11 film session by showing a scuffle that happened in the 85th minute of the club’s 2-1 victory over Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on July 6, resulting in yellow cards issued against players from both sides. 

Instead of condemning his team, Veidman used the clip as a way to highlight the unity that has developed during the expansion franchise’s inaugural season.  

“I said, ‘That right there is the most important thing I want to show you today,’” Veidman said. “I don’t condone [violence], but when an opposing team crowds around one of our guys, you go in there together and that was important to see our team do that.”

Halfway through the season, it’s clear Veidman’s methods of fostering team cohesion have paid off, Velocity sports a 4-3-2 record and occupies occupying the No. 7 spot in the USL League One standings, putting Velocity in position to make the league’s eight-team playoff. The club tops the league in several statistical categories, including average possession (53.0%), accurate long balls per match (36.0), interceptions per match (10.0) and successful tackles per match (13.2). 

“The tradition shows expansion teams struggle in year one, but we are not settling for that stereotype,” Veidman said. “We’re pushing every day to make sure that we go above and beyond and then we’ll get what we deserve at the end of the season.”

Since taking the job in November, Veidman has embraced the challenge of running a first-year club, building a winning culture with completely new players and staff members.

“It’s really difficult bringing a group of players together who have generally never played together or don’t know each other, same with the staff,” Veidman said. “And it’s really hard, like trying to get them to gel and be friends.”

Veidman’s leadership and coaching styles were highly influential in assembling the club’s initial roster, often prioritizing a player’s fit within the system and personal character over raw talent. 

One of Velocity’s most-prized offseason signings was team captain Luis Gil, who joined the club with over a decade of professional experience in Europe, Mexico, MLS, USL Championship and USL League One. 

Gil, a 30-year-old midfielder, has been instrumental in helping the club navigate the ups and downs of a regular season that doesn’t end until late October. 

“He’s been with teams that have gone on long losing streaks and he’s been with teams that have had amazing highs, so Luis has got that feel of the locker room because of his experience,” Veidman said.

The Garden Grove, California, native plays a pivotal role in Veidman’s system, serving as both a goal-scoring threat and primary playmaker. He leads Velocity with three goals, three assists and a 7.48 FotMob rating. 

In the win over Chattanooga, Gil assisted on Spokane’s first goal with a well-placed cross in the 18th minute before scoring later in the first half on a first-touch shot to the top left of the goal.

Gil’s scoring production has seen an uptick this season compared to his 2023 campaign with Union Omaha, where he scored two goals on 50 shots in USL League One play. In Spokane, he’s already surpassed his goal count from last season on the same number of shot attempts per 90 minutes (2.04). 

“With our attacking midfielders, depending on the system we play, their job is to produce, whether it’s goals or assists,” Veidman said. “We knew Luis had that quality, we knew he could produce and it was about putting him in the right scenarios to produce and so far he’s done that.”  

Gil said he enjoys setting up his teammates, and he’s done that effectively this season with a pass accuracy of 79.8% and a long ball mark of 67.9%. He’s also delivered 11 successful crosses.   

“I like putting the ball in the box, I like when guys make those runs,” Gil said after the victory over Chattanooga. “And the only way to score is if you put the ball in the box and get guys in there.”

Other notable contributors for Velocity include Derek Waldeck, a 26-year-old defender who is tied with Gil for the team lead with 15 chances created this season. Additionally, Waldeck is fourth on the team with a 7.20 FotMob rating, a credit to his overall efficiency on the pitch. 

Waldeck is one of the anchors of Spokane’s back line, which is also bolstered by Ahmed Longmire and Marcelo Lage, both 24-year-old center backs. Lage leads the club with 4.9 clearances per match, while Longmire tops the team with 2.0 interceptions per match and 0.6 blocks per match.

Velocity has dealt with multiple injuries in recent weeks, prompting Veidman and the technical staff to bring in more talent. One of Spokane’s in-season additions was Brooks Thompson, who joined the club on a loan from USL Championship Hartford Athletic.

Thompson held Chattanooga to one goal in his second start for Velocity, registering two saves and eight recoveries. In Spokane’s July 19 USL Jägermeister Cup match against Central Valley Fuego FC, Thompson made seven saves as the club fell 1-0 in group play. 

As Thompson gets more acclimated to Veidman’s system, he says the transition has been fairly smooth. 

“There’s a lot of the same principles you can apply,” Thompson said of adjusting to his new club. “I’m very loud on the field and that doesn’t change no matter who is out on the field, so I just try to communicate, let everyone in front of me know what’s going on.”

Thompson and fellow goalkeeper Carlos Merancio have worked together to allow an average of just 1.4 goals per match. Merancio has started seven USL League One matches this season, posting two clean sheets.

Velocity’s early-season success has generated attention across the greater Spokane area, with the franchise posting the third-best home attendance in USL League One with an average of 4,068 fans. The club also leads the league in season ticket sales and sponsorship sales.

“To get that many fans in the stadium so quickly is incredible,” Veidman said. “But it’s also about the team putting in the performance on the field, as well as making the game entertaining for our fans and we want to continue to build on this.”

There have been many marquee moments in this first half of the season. First, at the sold-out home opener, more than 5,000 fans packed the seatspacked in and stoodstanding on the concourse of ONE Spokane Stadium to watchwatched their new team defeat Richmond, the nation’s longest-standing pro soccer club. 

Next, Velocity won its first U.S. Open Cup match over Ballard FC, hosted Spokane’s first Cup match (again victorious), before bowing out on the road against Las Vegas of the USL Championship League. The loss didn’t come without a fight as midfielder Andre Lewis delivered a stunning goal from distance as stoppage time was about to expire to send the match to extra time. 

Finally, Velocity welcomed the U-23 squad of the renowned Chivas de Guadalajara club for Spokane’s first international friendly competition. Velocity emerged victorious in a competitive match in front of a large crowd not phased by a rainy June evening.

“It’s been an incredible start for this team, and we could not be more proud of the impact being made throughout the Spokane area by our front office, coaching staff and players,” said Ryan Harnetiaux, managing partner of Aequus Sports, LLC, which owns USL Spokane. “League One is very competitive, and seeing our expansion team doing so well in its first season is a testament to the coaching staff and players, but also to the amazing fan support we have received in this inaugural season.”

Velocity returns home for a league match against the Charlotte Independence on Saturday, July 27 with an opportunity to improve its playoff run positioning, a remarkable possibility for an expansion club. At the match,where the club will be celebrating Christmas in July with a live DJ spinning holiday classics and a festive photo booth for fans.

USL Spokane has launched two professional soccer teams in Spokane, Wash. Spokane Zephyr FC, a women’s professional team, plays in the USL Super League that is sanctioned as Division One by the U.S. Soccer Federation, with a home opener August 17 at ONE Spokane Stadium. The men’s team, Spokane Velocity FC, is a Division III team in USL League One currently competing in their first season. 

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By Henry Krueger, Gonzaga University ’25

Spokane Velocity FC goalkeeper Brooks Thompson made seven saves in his first USL Jägermeister Cup start, but it wasn’t enough to stop Central Valley Fuego FC from edging out a 1-0 victory Friday night in Fresno, California. 

Fuego captured their first Jägermeister Cup win behind a goal from Shavon John-Brown, who scored from close range resulting from a corner kick in the 53rd minute. It was John-Brown’s third goal across all competitions. 

“The game was definitely frustrating, but just feels unlucky to come out of here with a negative result,” Thompson said. “It’s a tough one but we need to take it on the chin and keep moving.”

The victory places Central Valley (1-1-4) third in the Jägermeister Cup’s West Group, with Velocity (1-3-2) falling to fourth. The region is led by first-place Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC, followed by Union Omaha.

With temperatures in the mid-90s throughout the match, Fuego came out aggressive early, taking three shots on target in the first 24 minutes. This kept Velocity’s Thompson busy from the start, with the 21-year-old handling nearly constant pressure from Central Valley.

Thompson made three saves in the first half to keep Fuego scoreless going into halftime. He also had the support of his back line, which recorded 10 clearances and four successful tackles before the end of first-half stoppage time. 

Meanwhile, Velocity struggled to turn their defensive stops into goals, registering only one shot on target in the first half. A close opportunity for Spokane came in the 34th minute when Masango Akale dribbled down the left sideline before cutting toward the middle and taking a shot that sailed just right of the goal. 

Within the first 10 minutes of the second half, Fuego broke through Velocity’s back line when José Carrera-García delivered a well-placed corner to the far post, where John-Brown buried a shot into the top of the net to put Central Valley ahead 1-0. 

Velocity had numerous chances to even the score, including a shot attempt from Kimarni Smith that sailed left of the goal in the 90th minute. Derek Waldeck set up the sequence with a long pass down the left sideline that Smith couldn’t capitalize on, despite having a one-on-one chance against Fuego goalkeeper Carlos Avilez. 

Avilez, who kept Velocity off the board through the end of the stoppage time, finished the match with one save and nine recoveries. 

Despite coming up empty-handed, Velocity implemented several new strategies, most notably employing a 4-3-3 formation that used Luis Gil, Josh Dolling and Akale to press high up the pitch and attack often. 

Another change was defender Ish Jome making his first start in a Velocity uniform since joining the club last month. In 61 minutes of action, Jome earned a 7.0 FotMob rating with a passing accuracy of 74% on 27 attempts. He also took one shot on target and had two recoveries. 

“It was a hard fought match that we had the quality to win,” Jome said. “Unfortunately we weren’t up to a standard to finish our opportunities and we gave them too many chances to get a goal, which they ultimately did.”

Velocity returns home for a league match against the Charlotte Independence on July 27, where the club will celebrate Christmas in July with a DJ spinning holiday classics and a festive photo booth for fans.

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By Henry Krueger, Gonzaga University ’25

With only three matches left in group play, Spokane Velocity FC is looking to capitalize on its remaining opportunities to contend in the USL Jägermeister Cup’s West region. 

Head coach Leigh Veidman and his club have a 1-2-2 record in group play, tied for third place with five points in the region alongside Central Valley Fuego FC.

Velocity will travel to face Fuego on Friday at 8 p.m. in Fresno, California, setting up a must-win match for both clubs with the end of group play fast approaching. 

While Spokane has lost its last two Jägermeister Cup matches, the club is riding high from its 2-1 win over Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on July 6 in USL League One play. 

In the victory over Chattanooga, midfielder Luis Gil assisted on Spokane’s first goal with a precise cross in the 18th minute, then scored later in the first half with a first-touch shot to the top left corner of the goal.

“Once you fall into that streak of not getting wins, it can be hard to get out of it, but we have that feeling of winning again and hopefully we can just carry it on and continue,” Gil said.

Fuego’s last Jägermeister Cup match ended in a 1-1 draw against South Georgia Tormenta FC, which is also winless in the tournament despite occupying sixth place in the regular-season standings. 

The top scorers for Central Valley during the tournament have been striker Alfredo Midence, right midfielder Raul Mendiola and central midfielder Robert Coronado, each with two goals.

Velocity and Fuego have already met once in the Jägermeister Cup, resulting in a 1-1 tie on April 27 at ONE Spokane Stadium. The match went into a penalty shootout, with Central Valley coming out on top 4-2 to earn an additional point in group play. 

“That’s a good attacking team, they are one of the best attacking teams statistically in the league,” Veidman said after the match. “And we were aware of that going into the game … they made the change in the second half and we were not quite as good in our defensive side of the game in the second half.”

As Velocity and Fuego try to break their third-place tie in the West Group, first-place Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC and second-place Union Omaha FC will battle on the same day for the top spot in the region. 

After its match against Fuego, Velocity will return home for a league match against the Charlotte Independence on July 27. The match will also celebrate Christmas in July Night with a festive photo booth and live DJ spinning holiday classics. 

By: Cameron McCann Gonzaga ‘25

Spokane Velocity FC shot up to No. 6 in the USL League One standings after a 2-1 victory against Chattanooga Red Wolves SC on Saturday. 

Before the match began, Velocity (4-3-2) was positioned just outside the playoff picture in ninth place, but the victory propelled the club back into contention. Chattanooga (3-5-1) remains in 10th place, ahead of only Lexington SC and Central Valley Fuego FC. 

Captain Luis Gil and recent signee Masango Akale spearheaded Velocity’s attack, notching a goal each with Gil assisting on Akale’s goal as well. The duo were not alone on the pitch however, as numerous other Velocity players made an impact on the outcome of the match, including goalkeeper Brooks Thompson, who made his second USL League One start. 

“Sometimes a change in goalkeeper at a different place at the back, it just livens things up a little bit,” said head coach Leigh Veidman on inserting Thompson into the starting 11.

The first half of the contest between the two clubs saw a flurry of attacks, but Spokane watched their team put up the match’s initial score. Masango Akale found himself in the perfect spot to receive an arcing cross from Luis Gil right in front of the left post, and was able to just barely squeeze the ball past the line of the goal before Chattanooga goalkeeper TJ Bush knocked the ball away in the 18th minute of play. After a brief moment of deliberation, the official awarded Akale his first goal in a Velocity uniform, making Gil tied for second in USL League One with three assists on the season.

“I saw Luis out wide and I know he has the quality to find me wherever I am on the field, I saw some space near the back post and I was there,” said Akale. “I didn’t get the best connection with the ball, but it slipped in, so it’s just a great feeling to help the team.”

Another close chance came shortly after in the 22nd minute, as Akale set up Gil thanks to some beautiful counterplay, but Josh Dolling found himself in the path between Gil and the back of the net, and the ball bounced off him and out of bounds.

Later in the 32nd minute, Chattanooga evened up the score, as Stefan Lukic boomed a soaring kick over the back line of Velocity defenders to a streaking Mayele Malango, who put the ball just past the outstretched leg of Brooks Thompson. This play put Lukic atop the USL League One assists leaderboard, and moved Mayele Malango into a tie for third in the league leaderboard with five goals.

Soon after in the 38th minute, Velocity’s captain received a similar booming kick behind the line of the Red Wolves defense from Ahmed Longmire, and hit a first-touch shot to the top left of the goal, propelling the ball into the back of the net in breathtaking fashion to put Velocity back on top, igniting the crowd. 

Both teams came out swinging in the second half exchanging shots early on, including a Camron Miller header from close range that couldn’t sneak its way past the defense of Chattanooga. 

As the second half wore on, Velocity’s offense slowed, and the offensive balance of the match changed from its frenetically-paced first 45 minutes. 

“It was essentially a game of chess,” Veidman said about the defensive adjustments made by the Red Wolves in the second half. “They started to cause us more problems and forced us back a little bit deeper, which caused us to adjust, it was a little bit of back and forth.” 

Thompson recorded two huge saves in his second USL League One start for Velocity FC, with a massive save coming in the fourth minute of added time in the second half, batting a far-right shot away from what looked like a match-tying shot. Thompson quickly pounced on the ball and was able to keep possession. 

“[I] just react, trust my position, I trusted it, didn’t guess and go early.” said Thompson on the final save. “[I] just got to be quick on the rebound too with people coming in.” 

Velocity has roughly a two-week break in between matches before traveling to Fresno, California, for a USL Jägermeister Cup match against Central Valley Fuego FC on July 19. 

Veidman and his club return home on July 27 to face the Charlotte Independence in USL League One action. The match will also celebrate Christmas in July Night at ONE Spokane Stadium.

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By: Cameron McCann Gonzaga ‘25

Spokane Velocity FC will look to hold onto their playoff spot from the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC in a USL League One regular season contest at ONE Spokane Stadium on July 6 at 6 p.m. PT.

Velocity currently sits at the No. 8 spot in USL League One standings, while Chattanooga is in ninth. With just eight playoff spots available, this match will have significant postseason ramifications. 

Spokane Velocity’s inaugural season got off to a blazing start, beginning the season with a 4-2-2 overall record. After facing some of the top clubs in USL League One and experiencing multiple player injuries, the new club has gone 0-2-2 since. 

Despite this challenging streak, Velocity have played well, with Head Coach Leigh Veidman saying their “best performance of the season” came in a tie against Lexington FC on June 23. The team has produced positive match statistics even in losses, coming away with more chances than the opposition in multiple games that didn’t result in a win.

“You can’t really change that,” said Veidman about chances not going their way after the Lexington match. “Football is in many ways connected to life. You’re gonna have downtime, you’re gonna have rough times, you’re gonna have good times when you grind through it. You grind and you’ll get what you deserve on the back end of it, so that’s our focus right now.”

On the flip side, the Red Wolves SC enters the match after a 3-2 win against South Georgia Tormenta FC on June 22. Before this however, Chattanooga was on a four-game losing streak. 

Despite the Red Wolves’ skid in the month of June, Chevone Marsh has played admirably for Chattanooga, and was nominated for USL League One Player of the Month. The Jamaican wing led the league with five total goals in June. Not only did Marsh score four goals in as many matches, but also racked up an assist, 10 duels won, eight recoveries, six chances created, five shots on target, and held a 91% pass completion. 

As a team, the Red Wolves are in the middle of the pack in most statistical categories, but another standout on the team is midfielder Stefan Lukic, who is tied for No. 1 in USL League One regular season play with four big chances created. Goalkeeper TJ Bush leads the league with  4.8 saves and 2.5 goals conceded per 90 minutes.

Velocity continues to battle injury adversity. While these injuries have been challenging, the team has been able to acquire new talent as well, with the recent signings of Masango Akale and Ish Jome bolstering the roster. 

The theme of the match is “Night at the Beach,” so make sure to grab your sunglasses and beach towel. There will be an Oceanside Photo Booth and $4 July 4th Weekend hot dogs. The temperature for the July 6 match looks balmy with nothing but sunshine in the forecast, so make sure to bring some sunscreen!

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