Forward

Age: 25

Position: Forward

Hometown: Shoreline, WA

School: Duke University

Height: 6-1

Nii Engmann is a first year player for Ballard FC. Before college he played for Crossfire, winning two Surf Cup titles and one state championship. Engmann started his collegiate career at Duke University in 2018. Since leaving Duke, he has played locally for Bellevue Athletic and Midlakes United. In summer 2024 Engmann played in 12 USL 2 matches for Midlakes, starting eight of them and scoring four goals. Then in the fall, he joined Bellevue Athletic where he won a conference championship. Now Nii is joining his brother, Christian, on Ballard FC.

Age: 20

Position: Forward

Hometown: San Diego, CA

School: University of Washington

Height: 5-11

Charlie Kosakoff is a first year Ballard FC player. Before college, Kosakoff played for Torrey Pines High School where he won a CIF Championship. He also played club soccer with the San Diego Surf where he won the Surf Cup and ECNL California. Then, Kosakoff moved to Seattle to start his collegiate career in 2023. As a freshman he played in 11 matches and made six starts, scoring his first collegiate goal against Indiana. Then after a summer of USL 2 soccer with the Tacoma Stars, Kosakoff returned to Montlake for his sophomore season where he would have a breakout year. In 2024, Kosakoff was second on the team in goals (5) and points (14), while finishing third for assists (4). He was a key member of the attack for a husky team that made the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Kosakoff still has two years of collegiate eligibility remaining.

Age: 20

Position: Forward

Hometown: Bellevue, WA

School: Connecticut College

Height: 5-11

Elliot Spatz is a second year player for Ballard FC. Before college, Spatz played his club soccer locally for Eastside FC. Spatz plays his college soccer for Connecticut College, recently finishing his junior season this past fall. As a freshman in 2022, Spatz made 10 appearances, scoring once and assisting twice. Spatz made 20 appearances as a sophomore, scoring five goals and assisting three times. Then after a summer with Ballard FC, Spatz returned for his junior season with the Camels. In 2024, Spatz and Connecticut College won the NESCAC Tournament Title and made it all the way to the National Championship match. Spatz caught fire at the right time, scoring a goal in NESCAC Championship match and then grabbing four more goals in the NCAA Tournament. Spatz still has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining.

With Ballard FC: In his debut season with Ballard FC, Spatz scored twice in USL 2 play. His first goal came in a 4-0 win against FC Olympia. Then late in the season, Spatz scored a goal and was named Player of the Match in a 2-2 draw against CFC Atletico.

Age: 20

Position: Forward

Hometown: Hanover, NH

School: University of Washington

Height: 5-9

Richie Aman is a second year player for Ballard FC. Before college, Aman played his club soccer for Seacoast United before joining the University of Washington in 2022. In his freshman season, Aman was named to the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Freshman Best XI and then made both the Midseason Top 100 Freshman (ranked at 71) and Postseason Top 100 Freshman (ranked at 98) lists. That season Aman appeared in 19 matches, made two starts, scored one goal, and assisted twice for a University of Washington team that won the PAC-12 Championship and made the NCAA Tournament. Then the following year, Aman started 10 matches, scoring once and assisting four times to earn himself PAC-12 Honorable Mention recognition. After winning a division title with Ballard FC, he returned to Washington for his junior season. In 2024 Aman was named a Big Ten Player to Watch in preseason and then played in all 21 matches for the huskies, scoring twice and assisting three times for a team that made the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Aman’s efforts earned him Third Team All-Region honors and an invite to the 2024 MLS College Showcase. Aman still has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining.

With Ballard FC: Aman was a huge part of the Ballard FC attack last season, leading the team in shots and was third for most key passes. In a 2-1 win against Midlakes United, Aman scored a goal and was named Player of the Match.

Age: 21

Position: Forward

Hometown: Bow, NH

School: University of Connecticut

Height: 6-0

Austin Brummett is a second year player for Ballard FC. Before college, Brummett played his club soccer for both the Seattle Sounders and New York Red Bulls Academies. Brummett made his professional debut with the Tacoma Defiance at 15 years old and then would go on to make over 20 USL Championship appearances with the New York Red Bulls. Brummett started his collegiate career with San Diego State University in 2022, joining the program as the 35th ranked prospect nationally. Brummett made 16 appearances and started 13 matches as a freshman, recording two goals and two assists. Brummett’s breakout season came in 2023 as a sophomore when he lead the aztecs in goals (7) and points (17). That season, he won PAC-12 Player of the Week in mid September. After playing up top for Ballard FC in the summer, Brummett returned to San Diego for his junior season. In 2024, Brummett led the aztecs in assists (5) and was second for both goals (5) and points (15). Brummett and San Diego state won the WAC Regular Season Title in the first season in the conference while Brummett earned both Second Team All-Conference, and Second Team All-Region honors. Brummett will be transferring to the University of Connecticut (UConn), joining Ballard FC teammate Charlie Holmes, for his final year of eligibility.

With Ballard FC: Brummett was the main main in the 2024 Ballard FC attack, leading the team in goals with eight while also adding three assists. His two goal performance in a 2-1 win over Lane United earned him Player of the Match honors. Brummett was named a Player to Watch heading into the 2025 USL 2 Season

Age: 21

Position: Forward

Hometown: Seattle, WA

School: University of Connecticut

Height: 6-3

Get to know Charlie:

If you’ve seen the Bridges in action the past two seasons, you’ve no doubt seen Charlie Holmes somewhere out on the pitch. Playing any position along the sidelines as well as attacking midfield and forward, the Swiss-Army Knife of the squad returns for a third season with Ballard FC. #16 looks to use whatever tools he can to help the team, explaining, “Whether that’s starting or coming off the bench, I just want to impact the game as much as I can… I like to be dynamic and direct, do whatever I can to get us back to that winning standard that Ballard FC has been known for, with winning the conference and then making a run in the playoffs.”

When reflecting on the success of Ballard FC throughout the seasons, the Seattle native was quick to note, “I know what it takes to be at that level. Here, the level is so high on a day-to-day basis that it becomes an elevated standard. I don’t think you can find that anywhere else in the area playing USL 2.” Mentality remains key for the club to deliver results on the scoreboard, with Holmes asserting, “I like to be constructive in a positive way and applaud my teammates’ hard work and good plays. I’m first to say, ‘hey, next one, keep going’ and sometimes that’s all they need.” A veteran presence within the Ballard squad, Holmes supports his teammates through his natural desire to set the bar and be match-ready at all times. He exclaimed, “I don’t have trouble staying motivated in the offseason. I love to work out and stay healthy. I’m looking forward to my last year of college, which is motivating me to have a really good season this summer.”

Biography

Charlie Holmes is a third year player for Ballard FC. Before college, Holmes played in the Seattle Sounders Academy and for Lakeside School where he was team captain and twice received First Team All-Metro honors. He started his collegiate career with Bucknell University in 2022 where he played in all 17 matches and made 16 starts as a freshman. Holmes scored two goals and one assist in 2022, receiving Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors once. Then after winning a national title with Ballard FC, Holmes returned to Bucknell for his sophomore season. Holmes started in all 16 matches as a sophomore, scoring three goals and dishing out two assists in 2023. His efforts earned him Third Team All-Patriot League honors as well as a transfer to the University of Connecticut (UConn). After another summer and second straight division title with Ballard FC, Holmes arrived for his first season at UConn. He would go on to play in 17 matches, and make 15 starts for the huskies this past fall. Holmes scored a goal in his UConn debut and would go on to have two goals and two assists on the season. Holmes still has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining.

With Ballard FC: Holmes has been a very versatile player for Ballard FC over the past two summers. He has primarily been a winger for both Bucknell and UConn, but for Ballard FC he has also played in midfield and defense. In 2023, Holmes made his Ballard FC debut and scored his first goal in a 5-2 win against Cultures United. Then in 2024, he played in six matches across all competitions and made three starts as he helped the club win its second straight division title.

Age: 20

Position: Forward/Midfielder

Hometown: Seattle, WA

School: University of Washington

Height: 5-9

Joe Dale is a fourth year player for Ballard FC, having been at the club since our inaugural season. Before college, Dale played club soccer for Seattle United and received All Metro League honors with Roosevelt High School. Dale was also a member of Ballard FC’s 2022 inaugural roster before his freshman year. That summer with Ballard FC helped Dale earn a spot on the University of Washington men’s soccer team. Dale redshirted his freshman year in 2022. Then in 2023, Dale made six appearances and three starts as a redshirt freshman. Dale recorded his first assist against UCLA, and then went on to score his first career goal against Oregon State. As a redshirt sophomore, Dale played in 20 of UW’s 21 matches, and made 13 starts. He had two goals and three assists, while also scoring the game winning penalty in the Big Ten Tournament against Michigan State. Dale still has two years of collegiate eligibility remaining.

With Ballard FC: Joe Dale made the inaugural Ballard FC roster through open tryouts and hasn’t looked back since. Dale has always been incredibly versatile for Ballard FC, playing midfield, outside back, and on the wing. This is why in both 2022 and 2023, Dale made the trip to the Midwest for the Western Conference Championship. Dale’s versatility meant coaches Jason Farrell and Ethan O’Neill could trust him as cover in many spots. Dale scored his first Ballard FC goal in 2023 in a 3-2 win against PDX FC. Dale has always been a key member of Ballard FC, but he really started to find success in 2024. Dale started in eight of Ballard FC’s 16 competitive matches in 2025, including a start in the Open Cup against Spokane Velocity and scored this stunner in our USL 2 home opener.