Yakima United Wins Back-to-Back EPLWA Championships in Defensive Battle Against WE Surf SC

YAKIMA, Wash. — Yakima United (YUFC) secured their second straight Evergreen Premier League of Washington (EPLWA) title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over WE Surf SC in a tightly contested final marked by defensive grit and timely execution.

The first half featured several promising chances for both sides, but Surf goalkeeper Noah Jordan kept the match level with a standout shutout performance in the opening frame.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 52nd minute. Yakima’s Ramirez collected the ball on the far side and fired a rocket into the far corner past substitute keeper Dylan Debaldo, who had entered the match at halftime.

“It was a great team build-up. I got the ball, went 1v1, saw the keeper was out a bit, and went upper corner,” said Ramirez after the match.

On the other end, YUFC keeper Luis Burietta held firm, recording a clean sheet and fending off multiple dangerous attacks from WE Surf SC.

“Everyone plays as a team — that’s the main thing with this group,” said Burietta, crediting his defense for the shutout.

After the final whistle, YUFC head coach Josh Vega praised his squad’s execution and discipline.

“I thought our boys stuck to the game plan. We wanted to disrupt their build-up as much as we could, and we did a really good job of that,” said Vega.

With the win, Yakima United not only defends their EPLWA Premier Championship title but also captures the 2025 Peter Ostrovsky Cup, named in honor of the league’s founding president. YUFC now has two league titles and will aim for a third next season — a milestone that would tie them with the Spokane Shadow for the most EPLWA championships in league history.

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