The WSA Rapids, Bellingham’s semi-professional indoor soccer team, opens their 3rd season in the Premier Arena Soccer League on Saturday night at the Bellingham Sportsplex at 8pm against defending Northwest Division Champions Tacoma Stars. Tickets are $3 for adults and $2 for youth, under 4 free.
After a third place finish in the Northwest Division last season, the Rapids have been busy in the offseason bringing in new players. The squad was also transferred from the Puget Sound Soccer Academy to the Whatcom Soccer Academy and Bellingham Sportsplex.
“It’s been a big few months for us, with the transfer of the team to the WSA and the addition of some players that will put us in a position to challenge for the Northwest division title,” said WSA Rapids player/head coach Todd Stauber, the former owner of the squad.
The Rapids have an impressive roster predominately made up of Whatcom County players who have gone on to play at the collegiate level or beyond. The Rapids boast 5 former professional players in Stauber (MF), Drew Smiley (GK), Josh Turpen (MF), and newcomers Mason Webb (MF) and Kristian Powell (MF). Webb spent much of last season with the Vancouver Whitecaps of the USL-1 league, while Powell spent the past two seasons playing in Spanish 3rd Division with Santa Bridga.
While a strong group of players return from last season’s 3rd place club, it’s the additions the Rapids have made that put them in a position to challenge for a place in the PASL playoffs. The additions of Dave Hileman, Gibson Bardsley and CJ Hamel to the attack to go along with returning players Nick Cashmere, Scot Swanson and Gianni Tsouhoulous give the Rapids plenty of options in attack.
“Just having the pace of Nick, Gianni, and Scot last year allowed us to stretch teams with our pace,” said Stauber. “adding Bardsley, Hileman and Hamel to the mix gives us the kind of attacking options we’re going to need if we’re going to challenge Tacoma and Wenatchee for the Northwest Division.”
The midfield combination of Stauber, Turpen and former WWU standout Rob Curry was consistently strong for the Rapids last year, and the addition of Webb and Powell adds depth and options to that group.
Defensively the Rapids have added youth, speed, and depth to an experienced older group of returning defenders that includes Mark Lackey, Justin Diener and Kyle Holland. Former WWU players Chris Jepson and Joel Grossman, along with current WWU standout Oscar Jiminez rounds the group of defenders out and strengthens the Rapids weakest area from a year ago.
“We gave up more goals than any other team in the league last year and this was an area we decided we had to focus on during the off season,” said Stauber. “Jepson, Grossman and Oscar give us the speed in the back to defend almost anyone in the league.”
Jiminez was an All-Region midfielder and Western’s second leading scorer this fall as a sophomore, but his ability to move into defense is a huge boost for the Rapids. “Oscar is a special player and a special kid,” said Stauber. “He’s a true midfield player, but he’s also good enough that he can adjust and play in the back. He will be a huge part of our success this season.”
In the goal the Rapids will rely on the experience of returning starter Drew Smiley, while newcomer Brian Anderson , WWU goalkeeper Christian Warman, and youngster Hunter Torsett will provide back up. “Drew is such a big guy and his angles are so good he’s just tough to get by on an indoor sized goal,” said Stauber. “He’s a great leader in the back and a great guy to play in front of for the guys on the field.”
While Tacoma and Wenatchee are the favorites to win the 5-team Northwest Division, Snohomish and Bend have each made the playoffs at some point in the last 3 seasons.
“There aren’t any easy games in this division,” said Stauber. “Tacoma and Wentatchee are the obvious big teams in the league, but Snohomish and Bend have some very good players. If we can get a few big wins on the road we will get our chance to finish in the top two and make the playoffs.”
