WSA Rapids Open 2011-12Season Saturday vs. Tacoma Stars
The WSA Rapids, Bellingham’s semi-professional indoor soccer team, opens their 5th season as the 2010/11 NW Premier Arena Soccer League’s defending champion on Saturday night, November 19th with a 7:15 pm kick off at the Bellingham Sportsplex. The Rapids will be hosting an exhibition match against the Tacoma Stars, a professional indoor squad playing in the PASL Professional division. Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for youth, under 4 free, youth wearing Whatcom Soccer Academy shirts receive a $1 off admission.
Last season the Rapids had a great season winning the division and advanced to the PASL Premier National Tournament in Las Vegas. While the Rapids didn’t win the national championship they had a respectable showing going 1-2 with both losses being close. The experience the squad from playing gained will undoubtedly help the squad as they enter into the 2011/12 season.
In his second year as the Rapids Coach, former Sehome & WFC Ranger player Mark Lackey will lead the squad into the 2011-12 campaign with Kyle Holland is assisting in the management duties. “Last season we really made some significant improvements and the experience gained at nationals will help the squad as we have a good core of those players returning this season. We will need to build upon last season’s experiences in order to ensure we earn the right to return to the PASL National Championship. ” said WSA Rapids player/ coach Mark Lackey.
The Rapids boast a strong roster with good number of players returning from last year’s championship squad with last year’s potent offense that tallied 62 goals with leading goal scorers Brendan Quilici (12 goals, 4 assists) Scott Swanson (8 goals, 2 assits) returning and the goal being defended by returning net tender Christian Warman.
Returning to the Rapids, forward line with Swanson is the addition of WWU forward Kellan Brown, who just received Great Northwest Athletic Conference First Team honors this past season for WWU in his senior year, will make the Rapids very dangerous in attack and newcomer Alex Lehecka. Quilici, Joel Grossman, Rob Curry, and Chris Jepson return to the midfield along with newcomer Mason Webb, former Squalicum HS standout, should create a lot of opportunities for the Rapids forwards. Defensively the Rapids return an experienced group of defenders that includes Lackey, Holland, Matt Zigulis, and Sean Connor along the addition of former Ferndale HS & WWU star Mitch Barrows who will anchor the defense in front of Christian Warman.
The NW Division of the PASL will host two newly formed squads with Marysville Ruckus FC and the South Sound FC Shock has been added to the league to make it a 6-team Northwest Division. Wenatchee, Kitsap and the Rapids are initially tagged to be the leading contenders for the league title and the chance to attend the PASL National Championship tournament in San Diego in March.
“I think this squad is stronger squad than we fielded over last year’s championship squad but we won’t know until we get into the season and see how the chemistry develops with the new additions.” said Lackey. “We have to go and get some wins on the road which is always tough in this league to finish at the top of the table. However when we play at home we certainly have an edge as the fans at our home matches create a great atmosphere for our games and gives the squad boost.”
For additional information on the WSA Rapids contact:
Mark Lackey, Coach, (360) 305-6455
Lance Calloway, General Manager, (360) 676-1919 x109
WSA Rapids 2011/12 PASL Premier Schedule |
Day |
Date |
Time |
Home |
Away |
Sat |
Nov 19 |
7:15 PM |
WSA Rapids |
Tacoma Stars-(Professional squad)exhibition |
Sat |
Dec 3 |
7:15 PM |
WSA Rapids |
Ruckus FC |
Sat |
Dec 10 |
7:15 PM |
WSA Rapids |
South Sound Shock |
Sat |
Jan 7 |
7:00PM |
Ruckus FC |
WSA Rapids |
Sat |
Jan 14 |
7:15 PM |
WSA Rapids |
Kitsap Pumas |
Sat |
Jan 21 |
7:00PM |
Snohomish Skyhawks |
WSA Rapids |
Sat |
Jan 28 |
7:00PM |
South Sound Shock |
WSA Rapids |
Sat |
Feb 4 |
7:15 PM |
WSA Rapids |
Snohomish Skyhawks |
Sun |
Feb 12 |
5:00PM |
Wenatchee Fire |
WSA Rapids |
NW PASL Premier Playoffs |
Sat |
Feb 18 |
7:00PM |
1st Seed |
4th Seed |
Sat |
Feb 18 |
7:00PM |
2nd Seed |
3rd Seed |
Sat |
Feb 25 |
7:00PM |
Highest Seed |
Lowest Seed |
Fri |
Mar 9 |
|
Premier Nationals |
Del Mar Arena San Diego |
Sat |
Mar 10 |
|
Premier Nationals |
