Evergreen Premier League Explained

Evergreen Premier League
Pixels:190px
Country:United States
Confed:CONCACAF
Founded:2013
First:2014
Teams:10
Domest Cup:Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupNational Amateur Cup
Season:2024
Champions:Yakima United FC (1st title)
Most Champs:Spokane Shadow
(3 titles)

The Evergreen Premier League (EPLWA) is an amateur men's soccer league in the U.S. state of Washington affiliated with the United States Adult Soccer Association. The league was established in 2013 and is contested by ten teams— eight from Western Washington and two from Eastern Washington. The current champions are Bellingham United. The league is headquartered in Bellingham.

History

EPLWA was founded in 2013 and began accepting clubs in August of that year, beginning with Bellingham United transferring from the Pacific Coast Soccer League as the league's founding member.[1] The league adopted its current logo, a silhouetted soccer player over a map of Washington, in September 2013.[2] On May 16, 2014, three weeks into the league's inaugural season, EPLWA was recognized as an "Elite Amateur League" affiliated with the United States Adult Soccer Association.[3]

The inaugural season was won by the Spokane Shadow.[4] [5] The Shadow went on to win the second season with only a single defeat in their 13 matches, finishing with 32 points.[6] [7]

Everett Jets FC was announced as the league's 12th team in 2020.[8]

Teams

Team City StadiumFoundedJoinedTitles
Bellingham United FCBellinghamalign=center 20111
Everett Jets FCEverettGoddard Stadium (2,700)align=center 2019October 17, 2019[9] 0
FC Northstar BellevueBellevuealign=center 2022[10] 0
Oly Town FC Artesians ReservesOlympiaThe Pavilion at The Evergreen State Collegealign=center 20220
Olympic Peninsula ForceBremertonalign=center 2014[11] [12] 0
Pacific Northwest SCTukwilaTBAalign=center 2018November 29, 2018[13] 0
Spokane ShadowSpokaneSpokane Polo Groundsalign=center 1996[14] 3
Spokane UnitedSpokaneHart Field2020December 1 20230
Tri-Cities BadgersRichlandFran Rish Stadium (9,000)202320230
Vancouver Victory FCVancouverHarmony Sports Complexalign=center 2013[15] 1
Washington East SurfMeadUnion Stadium (4,500)20230
Washington Premier FCLakewoodalign=center 2011[16] 2
Yakima United FCYakimaalign=center 2010[17] 0

Former teams

Team City StadiumFoundedJoinedFolded
WestSound FCSilverdalealign=center 2013[18] 2015
Wenatchee FCWenatcheealign=center 2013[19] 2016
Oly Town FC ArtesiansOlympiaThe Pavilion at The Evergreen State Collegealign=center 2014[20] Moved to USL League Two

Hiatus

Team City StadiumFoundedJoinedStart of HiatusTitles
Seattle Stars FCTukwilaalign=center 2011[21] 1 (2017)
Tacoma Narrows FCTacomaSilas High Schoolalign=center 2018October 15, 2019[22] [23] 0
Tri-Cities Alliance FCKennewickalign=center 2017[24] [25] 0

Seasons

.[26]

SeasonWinnerRunner-upHighest goalscorerAverage attendanceTotal attendance
align=center 2014Spokane Shadow (1)South Sound FCTyler Bjork (Bellingham)align=right 13align=right 298align=right 16,695
align=center 2015Spokane Shadow (2)South Sound FCEleazar Galvan (Wenatchee)align=right 11align=right 237align=right 13,372[27]
align=center 2016Vancouver Victory FC (1)Bellingham UnitedTyler Bjork (Seattle)align=right 14align=right align=right
align=center 2017Seattle Stars FC (1)Bellingham UnitedTyler Bjork (Seattle)align=right 14align=right align=right
align=center 2018Washington Premier FC (1)Seattle Stars FCBrandon Madsen (WPFC)align=right 10align=right align=right
align=center 2019Washington Premier FC (2)Bellingham United FCTyler Bjork (PacNW) align=right 12align=right align=right
align=center 2020Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[28]
align=center 2021Bellingham United FC (1)Pacific Northwest SCTyler Bjork (PacNW) align=right 6align=right align=right
align=center 2022Bellingham United FC (2)Washington Premier FC Ale Tomasi (Bellingham)align=right 8align=right align=right
align=center 2023Spokane Shadow (3)Yakima United FC
2024Yakima United FC (1)Everett Jets FC

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Falk . David . August 6, 2013 . Bellingham United FC accepted as founding member of Evergreen Premier League (EPLWA) . Evergreen Premier League . September 19, 2014.
  2. News: Falk . David . September 7, 2013 . The official logo of the Evergreen Premier League . Evergreen Premier League . April 25, 2015.
  3. News: Falk . David . May 16, 2014 . Huge early honor: US Adult Soccer grants EPLWA Premier League status . Evergreen Premier League . April 25, 2015.
  4. News: Falk . David . July 20, 2014 . Spokane Shadow win EPLWA title in match #56 . Evergreen Premier League . September 19, 2014.
  5. News: July 20, 2014 . Spokane Shadow claim inaugural Evergreen Premier League championship . . April 25, 2015.
  6. News: Falk . David . July 26, 2015 . Shadow roll past Force, celebrate second EPLWA championship . Evergreen Premier League . July 26, 2015.
  7. News: July 26, 2015 . Area roundup: Adam Talley scores 4 as Shadow cruise past Olympic Force . The Spokesman-Review . July 26, 2015.
  8. News: Patterson . Nick . January 27, 2020 . Community sports roundup: Everett Jets FC to join men's league . The Everett Herald . March 28, 2020.
  9. Web site: Everett Jets FC Flies Into Evergreen Premier League. October 17, 2019. Evergreen Premier League. en. December 29, 2019.
  10. News: Falk. David. March 11, 2022 . EPLWA Adds FC Northstar Bellevue for 2022 season. Evergreen Premier League. April 2, 2022.
  11. News: Falk . David . January 22, 2015 . Bremerton's Olympic Force join the EPLWA . Evergreen Premier League . March 26, 2015.
  12. News: Graham . Jeff . January 21, 2015 . Olympic Force joining Evergreen Premier League . . April 25, 2015 . April 26, 2015 . https://archive.today/20150426014335/http://www.kitsapsun.com/sports/olympic-force-joining-evergreen-premier-league_66745973 . dead .
  13. Web site: PacNW Becomes Tenth Evergreen Premier League Member. November 29, 2018. Evergreen Premier League. en. December 29, 2019.
  14. News: Falk . David . August 19, 2013 . Spokane Shadow to make historic return in 2014 . Evergreen Premier League . September 19, 2014.
  15. News: Falk . David . September 4, 2013 . Vancouver Victory FC accepted as eighth EPLWA club . Evergreen Premier League . September 19, 2014.
  16. News: Falk . David . August 11, 2013 . South Sound FC becomes second club accepted into Evergreen Premier League . Evergreen Premier League . September 19, 2014.
  17. News: Falk . David . January 21, 2014 . Yakima United joins Evergreen Premier League . Evergreen Premier League . September 19, 2014.
  18. News: Falk . David . August 14, 2013 . WestSound FC Men join EPLWA, open doors for players on the peninsula . Evergreen Premier League . September 19, 2014.
  19. News: Falk . David . August 12, 2013 . Wenatchee United Football Club brings EPLWA soccer to the Valley . Evergreen Premier League . September 19, 2014.
  20. News: Falk. David. March 4, 2022. Club Updates: Artesians Reserves In, Narrows Out. Evergreen Premier League. April 2, 2022.
  21. News: Falk . David . August 13, 2013 . Seattle Stars FC will return to statewide play in EPLWA . Evergreen Premier League . September 19, 2014.
  22. Web site: Tacoma Narrows FC Joins Evergreen Premier League. October 15, 2019. Evergreen Premier League. en. December 29, 2019.
  23. News: Falk. David. March 4, 2022. Club Updates: Artesians Reserves In, Narrows Out. Evergreen Premier League. April 2, 2022.
  24. News: Falk . David . October 17, 2017 . Tri-Cities Alliance accepted into Evergreen Premier League . Evergreen Premier League . April 30, 2018.
  25. News: Falk. David. March 11, 2022 . EPLWA Adds FC Northstar Bellevue for 2022 season. Evergreen Premier League. April 2, 2022.
  26. Web site: Standings . July 26, 2022 .
  27. News: Falk . David . August 26, 2015 . Drawing a crowd harder for EPLWA clubs in league's second season . Evergreen Premier League . September 15, 2015.
  28. Web site: Evergreen Premier League Cancels 2020 Season. April 2, 2020. Evergreen Premier League.