Behind a hat trick from Alex Mejia, Ballard FC was in sync for the 5-0 victory on Music Night at Interbay. Ballard FC proved why they are in the top three of the USL2 power rankings and may continue to climb after Friday night’s win. Going into Friday’s match, Oly Town FC sat only three points behind Ballard FC in the division standings, but now Ballard has opened up a sizable lead atop the division table.
The night was heavily marked by rain, but a sold-out crowd still packed Interbay. Before the match, rapper and Ballard High School graduate, Grynch, got the crowd going with a performance in the Beer Garden alongside Geo Quibiyen from the Blue Scholars. Despite the rain, Ballard FC got the match off to a quick start as is usual for the home side.
In the 10th minute, Alex Mejia would get his first goal of the night after flicking on a Danny Robles free kick past the goalkeeper. Robles has provided quality set-piece delivery all season long and with Mejia, Burney, Engmann, and Korzeniowksi there to attack the ball, it is a dangerous situation for opponents.
Speaking of set-piece danger, Peter Kingston almost scored directly from a free kick in the 23rd minute. His shot beat the wall and the keeper but was kept out by the crossbar.
Ballard FC would grab a second goal before the half as Stas Korzeniowski was brought down in the box on a late challenge. The referee awarded the penalty, and Korzeniowski calmly slotted the spot kick down the middle to score. The goal is Korzeniowski’s fifth goal in five USL2 matches.
The first half would finish with Ballard FC leading 2-0. However right after the 2nd half kicked off, Lars Helleren was forced into a big one-on-one stop to keep the lead at two. Outside of that chance, the first 30 minutes of the second half were rather even, with the ball mostly in midfield and neither team creating too many chances.
Ballard FC would put the game to bed however by scoring 3 goals in the last 15 minutes of the match. The first of the three was Mejia’s second of the night. Mejia was put through on goal by a Peter Kingston through ball and then finished with his left foot past the keeper.
The fourth goal of the night came in the 85th minute as a trio of substitutes linked up. Zane Baumgardt collected the ball on the edge of the box and backheeled it to Peter Yaro. Yaro then quickly sent in a cross which was knocked home with a looping header from Cameron Yriondo. Friday night’s match was the first USL2 appearance for both Yaro and Yriondo this season, and they will be pushing for more after their performance.
The fifth and final goal would come from Mejia again in the 90th minute. After a lazy back pass from an Oly Town defender, Mejia was able to steal the ball off the goalkeeper and easily tap in his third goal of the night for his hat trick. Friday’s hat trick gives Mejia 7 goals in 5 matches so far in the 2023 USL2 season, picking up right where he left off as 2022’s Northwest Division leading scorer. The duo of Mejia and Korzeniowksi have now combined for 12 goals in 5 matches, a scary sight for any opposing defense.
The match would finish 5-0, another clean sheet for the Ballard defense. Led by USL2 Team of the Month left-back Lesia Thetsane, the Ballard FC defense has only allowed one goal all season and zero goals at home.
To end the night, the team and fans were serenaded by the Ballard High School drumline after the win. It was one of many great performances from Ballard Performing Arts as the jazz choir performed the national anthem and the drumline also played at halftime.
Ballard FC will be back in action next Friday, June 16th at 7:00 PM as they head to Eugene, Oregon to take on Lane United. Later that weekend, they will have another match on the road against PDX FC on Sunday, June 18th at 2:00 PM. Both matches can be watched live in the Reuben’s Brews Taproom and streaming details will be provided closer to matchday.
Ballard FC will return to Interbay Stadium in two weeks’ time as they will take on Oly Town FC once more on Friday, June 23rd at 7:00 PM. Ballard FC has sold out all three of their home matches in league play, so make sure to get your tickets now!
Photos courtesy of Sandra Agbotse
