OLYMPIA, WA – The USL League Two season for FC Olympia has had a turbulent 2025 start in their fourth USL franchise season of men’s soccer. The Artesians dropped their first match against three-time division champion Ballard FC 3-0 and lost a close battle versus Snohomish United 2-1. The home losses come before one of the longest road trip series in club history, 5 straight on the road for the USL League Two side for FC Olympia.
The club however is used to rough starts with longtime rival Ballard FC having dropped matches against the Seattle-based club two years straight including 2023 losing 4-0 and in 2024 Coach Jason Dunn losing 4-0 at South Sound Stadium in Lacey, WA. The only positive point experience the club has had hosting Ballard FC in Thurston County was a 1-1 draw in 2022 at Black Hills High School under then head coach and now part owner Jay Smith.
“I see a young, local squad finding their place in a crowded USL men’s northwest division” said Club President Ryan Perkins. “Couple plays go our way last Friday against Snohomish and we’d have points but I hope we have road warriors here. We’ll find out this weekend starting Friday in Portland.”
The Artesians open their first road match series against USL newcomer the Portland Bangers who are owned and managed by Oregon-based marketing firm and baseball organization the Portland Pickles. The club was featured on the Stephen Colbert show recently for their unique mascot; a giant, phallic, sausage man in a soccer jersey with hot dog dreads that rattle on its own face while moving and walking.
The USL men will have one day turnaround then play Junction FC in West Seattle on Sunday June 1st.
All games this season are streamed on NBC affiliate SportsEngine. Links can be found on the FC Olympia home page day of match by clicking the graphic header or stream content hyperlink. Stories on Instagram also feature the stream link an hour before each match as well as on Facebook.
Young Group
The club has featured several young college and high school players including prep aged athletes such as Dominic Moreno-Gonzalez (Capital HS) who logged his first minutes in USL League Two against Snohomish United on May 23.
The rostering of Dominic comes on the heels of Tanner Fricke (Capital HS) being the youngest player in FC Olympia history (age 16) to score in USL League Two play in 2024. The pair have been a part of the local USL path to pro FC Olympia program for two years and both earned places in the USL player pool in 2025.
“We are deeply committed to nurturing young talent” said Head USL Men’s Coach Seyti Sidibay. “These students represent the future of our club and regardless of whether they play in games, the experience of training and competing in a competitive environment alongside top collegiate players will undoubtedly boost their confidence and help them develop into even better players.”
Local Colleges
The opening roster against Ballard FC featured for the first time ever a majority local college group (6 players) comprised of Thurston County colleges Saint Martin’s University, Evergreen State College and South Puget Sound College.
Saint Martin’s University | Calvin Boyal, Connor Liestiko
Evergreen State College | Manny Nicasio, Alan Miranda, Alan Barragan
South Puget Sound | Tyler Passey
A Look Back on USL Men’s History at FC Olympia
2022 – Head Coach Jay Smith
Notable Wins: PDX FC Win 2-1 (first USL win in club history), Season Sweep of OVF Alliance
2023 – Head Coach Liviu Bird
Notable Wins: Upset #1 Team in Nation Ballard FC 3-2 at Interbay Stadium, Upset Undefeated Top 10 Park City Redwolves 4-0 in the USL2 National Playoff, Undefeated in Oregon (5 away matches in OR)
2024 – Head Coach Jason Dunn
Notable Wins: Beat United PDX at Home (UPDX Clinched Nat’l Playoff)
Starting Lineups | 2025
2025 Schedule
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