by Owen Cameros
Over a week ago, West Seattle headed south down I-5 to face FC Olympia. In that match, the hosts gave Junction FC all they could handle, and West Seattle escaped with a point courtesy of an 89th-minute penalty save from Lucas Martin.
Back home, Junction FC hoped to start their final three-match homestand on the right foot. But Olympia fought tooth and nail for 90 minutes in an eight-goal thriller that might go down as the game of the season.
The first of the eight goals came in the 7th minute. An insightful ball from Sebastian Suber to Jack Civitts beat Junction’s press and gave the Olympia midfielder space to turn and run at West Seattle’s back line. Civitts played a very clever ball between Mani Diop and Cooper Gersch to Tyler Allred, who finished off the chance to give the visitors the early lead.
Ten minutes before halftime, Civitts doubled Olympia’s lead. Jackson Ozburn caught Aaron Stapleton’s corner kick and quickly got the ball to Civitts on the far side. The Olympia star once again drove at Junction’s defense, and this time, Civitts would find the back of the net himself, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner after a 60-yard solo run.
A few blue heads dropped after Olympia’s second goal, but one towered high above the rest. Unfettered by Olympia’s early success, Jack Maguire willed his side back into the match. Just before halftime, Julian Kuhr whipped a free kick into the box. Maguire rose to meet Kuhr’s cross, directing his header beyond Ozburn, his collegiate teammate, giving West Seattle renewed belief heading into the break.
Out of halftime, Olympia once again began as the aggressors, and just four minutes after the restart, the relentless pressure resulted in the visitors’ third goal of the night. Junction FC struggled to clear an Olympia free kick, and the ball bounced around the box before Connor Lofy used his first touch to turn past Joseph Raymond deftly. His second touch finished the ball past Parker Norris and into the net.
Lofy wanted more, and five minutes later, Diop’s clearance went only as far as Guerrero, who found Lofy at the top of the box. The winger cut onto his right foot and smashed a shot into the top left corner, giving Olympia a three-goal lead early in the second half.
This year, The Thistle Street Faithful have shown they are a cut above other USL 2 supporters. With their team down 4-1, barely a single fan left Nino Cantu, and the noise never stopped. Through 70 minutes of action, Junction FC had been beaten, battered, and bested, but Olympia’s legs began to tire, and the noise from the stands gave West Seattle a second wind.
So when Jack Maguire’s long-range effort caused Ozburn to spill the ball, and Eli Dreon finished off the remains, cheers became roars.
Down two, with 15 minutes to go, Junction FC pressed and pressed, pinning Olympia closer and closer to its net. With just over six minutes left, Raymond launched a throw-in into the box, and Diop flicked the ball to Maguire, who volleyed the ball into the goal, bringing West Seattle to within one.
Finally, just before the clock struck 90, Lucas Joehnk fouled Cooper Gersch just outside the box, giving Junction a free kick in a great spot. Connor Louden, who debuted in this match, clipped a ball to the back post, where Joseph Raymond rose to meet it. Raymond’s header flew goalwards and was helped into the net by Marcos Bravo, who was credited with the goal and completed Junction FC’s miraculous comeback.
But the hosts had grander ambitions. Fueled by three goals in 15 minutes and understanding their playoff situation, Junction FC pushed for the late winner and nearly found it with the last kick of the match. Eli Dreon was able to get the ball to Rico de la Rosa, who had a one-on-one opportunity against Ozburn. However, the keeper made a miraculous save, pushing the ball onto the crossbar and denying de la Rosa his destiny.
Ultimately, West Seattle and Olympia split the points after a dramatic eight-goal battle. However, despite coming back from three goals down, Sunday’s draw was bittersweet for Junction. While the squad showed resilience to come away with a point, the result has eliminated West Seattle from playoff contention. Junction FC sits on 16 points with two matches left, and Ballard FC and United PDX sit on 23 points.
However, if there’s one thing to take away from a historic inaugural season, it’s that West Seattle can contend with anyone in the league and with their supporters behind them, you can never count out the boys in blue.
