Yakima United Claims EPLWA 10th Anniversary 2024 Championship, Wins Double

In the 10th season of competition for the Evergreen Premier League, founding member Yakima United were finally able to hoist the championship trophy after downing host Everett Jets in decisive fashion 6-

The Hoppers were on it from the start with an early chance from Beito Bautista in the ninth minute, but four minutes later a corner led to the opener when Missael Lopez’s header at the back post was saved and rebounded out to Jose Marquez for the close-range finish.

“Winning the league this year is a direct reflection of the hard work put in by the players and coaches of the Yakima Valley not only this year but for the past decade,” said Marquez, the team captain. “After coming so close last year we felt the urgency from the first practice of the season up until we finally lifted the trophy.”

Three minutes later a errant keeper clearance allowed Frausto to go in unchallenged with a few touches to double the advantage for Yakima.

And the onslaught continuted in the 17th with their third goal in four minutes. Lopez flicked a header off a long through ball to to put Frausto in alone once again. He beat the challenging keeper to push the lead to three.

Frausto then returned the favor in the 21st with an early cross that squeaked past an Everett defender and into the path of Lopez, who buried it for the stunning four-goal start.

Four minutes later the Jets fell to 10 men following a red card to one of their strikers and the match was all but over.

Yakima had another couple chances before going to the break up 4-0.

The keeper even got in on the action in the second half, registering a rare assist. Luis Birrueta found Lopez with a long drop kick in the 57th that allowed him to beat tally his second of the night. It was a fitting reward for a player that has been involved with Yakima soccer at this level for 10 years.

“It’s been a long time!,” Birrueta said. “I’ve got to play in different generations… started when I was 17 and now at 26. Yakima’s first ever league title in any division.

“Thanks to the Vega family for making this possible,” he added. “Thanks to everyone who has supported us throughout the years!”

In the 61st Everett managed to get on the board to spoil the shutout.

Yakima’s final tally cam in the 64th when Hernandez hit Diego Lopez on the fly down the right side of the box. Lopez then dished an inch-perfect pass to Frausto to complete a hat-trick for the contest.

“We were back and ready to lift the trophy. We knew it would be a different game from our first meeting. Especially for those that weren’t able to travel the first time – they were eager to test themselves against a good Jets team,” said Head Coach Serfio Licona. “We came out flying and put the game away in the first 25 minutes by going up 4-0. We executed what we wanted to do in attack and what we needed to do to contain their high scoring offense. A 6-1 win where we did not let down from start to finish.”

Scoring Summary
Y: Jose Marquez 13
Y: Frausto 16
Y: Frausto (Missael Lopez) 17
Y: Missael Lopez (Frausto) 21
Y: Missael Lopez (Luis Birrueta) 57
E: NA 61
Y: Frausto (Diego Lopez, Hernandez) 64

The Repeat and The Double

As if one championship contest on the weekend was not enough, Yakima United had two. They quickly returned home Sunday to play host and defend their title from a year aga against 3Cities FC of the UPSL in Washington Adult Soccer’s Super Cup, a competition open to all clubs in the state.

Obviously coming off the match the day before Yakima found itself in their defensive end for much of the opening portions of the match, but things began to shift after the half-hour mark.

Jose Marquez sent a 25-yard free kick effort just over the bar in the 32nd and Frausto sent a shot just wide a minute later.

It looked like they had the opener in their pocket in the 35th when they were awarded a penalty but Mendez’ effort was parried off the post by the visiting keeper to keep things scoreless.

Another Lopez effort was stopped by the 3Cities keeper a couple minutes later followed immediately by a Marquez corner header off the woodwork. A couple more chances also went for naught through stoppage time as the half came to a close deadlocked.

Yakima had another good look in the 56th though Mendez, but it would be the visitors claiming the initial advantage in the 65th from a free kick tally from nearly the same spot Marquez missed from earlier.

But the joy for the Tri-Cities based club was short-lived. Two minutes later a brilliant play from a throw-in led to the equalizer. Mendez threw the ball in to Ramirez, who held the ball and then back-heeled it back to the overlapping Mendez, who would go on to deliver a low cross to Lopez flicked a near-post header inside the far post to level matters. It was his third goal of the championship weekend.

With a bit of a buzz, the hosts began to amp up the chances through the rest of the half but found themselves going to extra time level at one apiece – 30 more minutes of championship soccer. It was a big change from the year prior in which Yakima United rolled to a 7-0 victory against Wenatchee All-Stars of the CPL.

With everything on the line things tightened up, but as they prepared to switch sides Yakima finally broke the deadlock a minute into stoppage time when the Lopez duo combined to give the Hoppers the lead. Diego Lopez was played down the right side by Missael Lopez and then delivered a fantastic cross that found the head of Mario Negrete for what held as the match-winner.

Scoring Summary
3C: NA 65
Y: Missael Lopez (Mendez, Ramirez) 67
Y: Mario Negrete (Diego Lopez, Missael Lopez) 105+1

The success over the past two years has been a just reward for a Yakima United side that was the lone remaining founding team to have not worn the league crown.

“Yakima United has always been competitive and making it into the playoffs occasionally. We have had exceptional coaches and staff throughout the years, bringing new ideas and experiences,” said coach and President Hector Vega after his Hoppers joined Bellingham, Spokane and Vancouver and champion founders.

“I believe that perseverance, dedication, commitment, and discipline are words to describe these teams. The past two years have been very rewarding for Yakima United FC.”

Those are all a perfect description as well for Hector and his wife Teresa, who have now spent 24 seasons managing a team on and off the field at this level combined with their previous stint with the Yakima Reds of the USL PDL (now USL2). They found a bit of success with their lone Northwest Division regular season title in 2000 with a playoff run to finish fourth in the league.

“Yakima United joined the WSASA Super Cup in 2023 to give our players another opportunity to play together and bond, and it has paid off – more games, more unity and relationship building,” added Vega about the breakthrough moment for the Hoppers.

“YUFC won the Super Cup in 2023 and made it to the EPLWA Final for the first time in 10 years. I believe that playing in those Championship matches built confidence and a mindset that cannot be taught but has to be experienced.

“We just kept thinking positive and kept believing. This year I definitely saw our players with a new mindset that they can WIN IT ALL! Four Championship matches in two years and winning three out of the four says a lot about the work these guys have put in, and the dedication and mindset that it takes! We are so very excited that the hard work has finally paid off, and the look on their faces when they lifted those three trophies will always be my fuel!”

~ Some photos courtesy of Tracie Fowler and Michael Wood