SPOKANE, WA—(Shadow release) The reigning Evergreen Premier League champion Spokane Shadow enter the second half of the EPLWA schedule Saturday when they play host to Bellingham United at Spokane Falls CC Stadium. Kickoff is at 7:00 pm, and it is First Responders Night – all police officers and firefighters get in free with presentation of work ID.

With a 4-3 win last week at home against previously unbeaten South Sound and previously perfect Vancouver losing in Wenatchee, the Shadow are one of three teams in the top half of the table with just one loss in the league.

Karl Muelheims comes into the match with three goals in his last two games and is the league’s current Offensive Player of the Week honoree. He is the third Shadow player to receive the recognition this season, joining fellow striker Adam Talley and goalkeeper Jeff Srock.

EVERGREEN PREMIER LEAGUE – 2015 Pts GP W L T GF GA GD VANCOUVER VICTORY FC 21 8 7 1 0 26 7 +19 SOUTH SOUND FC 17 8 5 1 2 26 11 +15 WENATCHEE FC 15 9 5 4 0 20 25 -5 SPOKANE SHADOW 14 7 4 1 2 18 8 +10 YAKIMA UNITED FC 10 9 3 5 1 20 22 -2 SEATTLE STARS FC 10 8 3 4 1 15 20 -5 OLYMPIC FORCE 9 9 3 6 0 20 28 -8 BELLINGHAM UNITED FC 0 8 0 8 0 7 31 -24

Bellingham is the final opponent in the league the Shadow have not yet faced this season. A year ago Spokane lost in it’s home and season opener 2-1 to the Hammers, who rallied from an early deficit with a goal in each half to down the Shadow. Later in the season Spokane posted a 2-0 win in Bellingham with goals from defender Colin Shockman and Timmy Mueller.

Midfielder Graison Le is suspended for the match for receiving a red card last week as a result of two cautions in the match versus South Sound.

New to the pool of players joining the squad this week are a pair of players from the University of California-Davis of the Big West Conference. Kyle Higgins, a native of Montana, was a freshman striker for the Aggies last fall, and is joined by fellow freshman forward Matt Baringer.

About the Opposition: Bellingham United

A year ago, Bellingham was a contender for the championship for much of the season. This year, however, has been a completely different story. Eight games into the season, the Hammers have yet to register a point, losing each game by at least two goals. In three of the five games in which the team has scored, Bellingham got on the board first, but was unable to hold the lead. Last week, the Hammers fell 4-2 on the road against Olympic Force in the second of three consecutive road games for the side.

Coming Up – Road Trip – June 27 & 28

The club embarks on a tough trip next week with a pair of road matches. First, they travel to Vancouver to face the current league-leaders Saturday, June 27 at 7:00 pm. Then on the way back home to Spokane the team will stop in Yakima to face the Hoppers at 6:00 Sunday.

Shadow Player Pool for 6/20 v Bellingham

Baringer, Matt… UC-Davis

Beaulaurier, Matt… Univ of Portland, St Martin’s Univ/ Ferris HS

Bray, Matt… Whitworth University / Ferris HS

Bukoski, Chance… Hawaii Pacific University

Estrellado, Trevan… Peninsula College / Cheney HS

Ferger, Dustin… Gonzaga University / East Valley HS

Higgins, Kyle… UC-Davis

Hudson, Zach… Gonzaga University

Jaramillo, Juan… University of Great Falls

Mikkelsen, Halvor… CC Spokane / Sandpoint HS

Mota, Anthony… University of Great Falls

Muelheims, Karl… Whitworth University / St George’s HS

Retan, Jesse… Whitworth University / Cheney HS

Shockman, Colin… Whitworth University / Mead HS

Singh, Avinash… Chaminade University

Srock, Jeff… Whitworth Univ, CC Spokane, Gonzaga Univ / Mt Spokane HS

Starkovich, David… Whitworth University

Talley, Adam… North Idaho College / East Valley HS

Tateishi, Kazuki… CC Spokane

Thompson, Ben… University of Redlands / Lewis & Clark HS

Ulen, Brady… North Idaho College / Post Falls HS

Ulowetz, Nick… Gonzaga University

Watters, Tony… Whitworth University

Wolfe, Spencer… Whitworth University

Zimmerman, Derek… Western Washington University / Pasco HS

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