Midfielder

Age: 22

Position: Midfielder

Hometown: Mekelle, Ethiopia

Height: 6-0

Abeselom Zemenfes is a first-year player for Ballard FC. Before coming to Seattle, he played in the Ethiopian Premier League with Saint George SC and won a league title in the 2022-23 season. Unfortunately due to the country’s Civil War, Zemenfes had to flee Ethiopia and came to the United States, specifically Seattle. He found Ballard FC through Open Tryouts where he impressed and made the final roster. Zemenfes joins Kaydin Wall as the second player on the 2025 roster to make the team from Open Tryouts.

Age: 22

Position: Midfielder

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

School: San Diego State University

Height: 5-10

Beto Apolinar is a first year player for Ballard FC. Before college, he played for El Camino Real Charter High School where he received All-West Valley Team Honors. Apolinar joined San Diego State in 2021, utilizing his redshirt season. Then in 2022, he began to make a real impact on the aztec program. Apolinar played in all 18 matches, starting five, and assisted twice as a redshirt freshman. In his sophomore season, he started 16 matches, dished out another two assists, and played the most minutes of any Aztec midfielder. Then as a junior, Apolinar started 17 matches, assisted four times, and played over 1,500 minutes as the Aztecs won the regular season Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championship. In October, he received WAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Apolinar still has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining.

Age: 23

Position: Midfielder/Defender

Hometown: Everett, WA

School: Western Washington University (Graduated)

Height: 6-0

Kaydin Wall is a first year player for Ballard FC. Before college, he played for Crossfire and Kamiak High School where he was All-WESCO Honorable Mention. Wall joined Western Washington University (WWU) in 2020 where he played in four matches as a freshman during the COVID season. Due to the shortened season in 2020, Wall was a freshman again in 2021 where he played in 12 matches, made his first collegiate start, and recorded his first two assists. His breakout season came as a sophomore in 2022 as he played in all 19 matches, started seven, and scored his first two collegiate goals. In his junior season, Wall appeared in all 18 matches and started double digit matches (10) for the first time. Wall would save the best for last, starting all 18 matches as a senior in 2024. He scored four goals, recorded seven assists, and received GNAC Offensive Player of the Week once on his way to First Team All-GNAC and Second Team All-Region honors. Upon graduation, Wall will join Ballard FC after making the roster through Open Tryouts.

Age: 20

Position: Goalkeeper

Hometown: San Diego, CA

School: Seattle University

Height: 6-0

Andre Philibbosian is a first year player for Ballard FC. Before college, he played for Torrey Pines High School alongside Ballard FC teammate Charlie Kosakoff. Philibbosian joined Seattle University in 2023, but took a redshirt in his first year. After playing a summer of USL 2 soccer with FC Olympia, he returned to Championship Field in 2024. As a redshirt freshman, Philibbosian played in all 20 matches and made 18 starts while scoring two goals and dishing out three assists for a Redhawk team that won the WAC Tournament Title. His efforts earned him WAC All-Freshman honors as well as a spot on the Top Drawer Soccer Postseason Top 100 Freshmen list. Philibbosian still has three years of collegiate eligibility remaining.

Age: 21

Position: Midfielder

Hometown: Tacoma, WA

School: Seattle Pacific University

Height: 5-11

Connor Tollan is a first year player for Ballard FC. Before college, he played for Silas High School where he received Pierce County First Team honors twice. Tollan joined Seattle Pacific University (SPU) in 2022. As a freshman, he played in 19 of 20 matches for the Falcons and made seven starts while scoring his first collegiate goal and dishing out five assists. Tollan’s breakout year came in his sophomore season where he made 17 starts and received GNAC Honorable Mention honors. Then this past fall, he got even better. In 2024, Tollan received First Team All-GNAC honors after scoring five goals and dishing out eight assists (the most in the GNAC). Tollan still has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining.

Age: 19

Position: Midfielder

Hometown: Redmond, WA

School: University of Washington

Height: 5-10

Zach Ramsey is a first year player for Ballard FC. Before college, he played club soccer for Crossfire and played for Mount Si High School where he won Washington Gatorade Player of the Year. Ramsey then joined the University of Washington in 2024 and made an immediate impact. He played 17 matches and made three starts while scoring two goals and dishing out two assists. Ramsey’s efforts earned him Big Ten All-Freshman honors. Ramsey still has three years of collegiate eligibility remaining.

Age: 19

Position: Midfielder

Hometown: Bellevue, WA

School: Seattle Pacific University

Height: 6-0

Cristian Chel Lara is a second year player for Ballard FC. Before college, Chel Lara played for Sammamish High School and won First Team All-League honors. Then, Chel Lara trained with Ballard FC for a summer before joining Seattle Pacific University (SPU) as a freshman in fall 2024. In his freshman season, Chel Lara appeared in 15 of SPU’s 18 total matches. Chel Lara still has three years of collegiate eligibility remaining.

Age: 21

Position: Midfielder

Hometown: Seattle, WA

School: Claremont Mckenna College/Claremont Mudd Scripps (Graduated)

Height: 5-6

Rafi Otero is a second year player for Ballard FC. Before college, Otero played his club soccer for Seattle United and also played for Lakeside where he won a state championship in his senior year. Otero then attended Claremont Mckenna College in 2021 and joined the Claremont Mudd Scripps soccer team. As a freshman Otero received Second Team All-SCIAC honors as he appeared in 16 matches, scoring five goals and assisting once. Then the following year, Otero started in nine matches for the Stags while adding a goal and an assist. In 2023 Otero earned his first First Team All-SCIAC selection, leading his team with nine goals and adding three assists. After a summer with Ballard FC, he returned to CMS for his fourth and final season in fall 2024. Otero finished his career with Third Team All-American, First Team All-Region, and First Team All-SCIAC honors while leading his team to a SCIAC Tournament Title and an NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen appearance.

With Ballard FC: Otero’s first Ballard FC contributions actually come in 2023. Although he was not officially announced to the roster, Otero trained with Ballard FC that summer and even appeared in a friendly win over Cultures United. Then in 2024, Otero was a key part of the Ballard FC midfield. Otero’s best performance came in a 8-1 win over CFC Atletico, where he scored an incredible volley from just outside the box and was named Player of the Match.

Age: 22

Position: Midfielder

Hometown: Yakima, WA

School: Seattle Pacific University

Height: 5-9

Ray Mendez is a second year player with Ballard FC. Before becoming a falcon, Mendez played two years of Junior College at Columbia Basin College where he won all-conference honors twice and received all-region honors in his second year. Then, Mendez transferred to Seattle Pacific University in 2023. In his first season at SPU, Mendez scored 13 goals and assisted twice to earn himself First Team All-GNAC honors as well a GNAC Newcomer of the Year. Then after playing with Ballard FC in the summer, Mendez came back to SPU in fall 2024. His second season as a redhawk was even better, leading the conference in goals scored (13) and also dishing out three assists. His efforts earned him GNAC Player of the Year, Second Team All-Region, and First Team All-GNAC honors. Due to a recent NCAA rule change regarding Junior College, Mendez still has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining, but it must be at the Division One level. Therefore, Mendez is currently in the transfer portal.

With Ballard FC: Although hampered by injury, Mendez was still able to play 10 matches for Ballard FC in 2024, starting three of them. Mendez scored a goal in the home opener against Midlakes United, helping Ballard FC secure the 4-1 victory.

Age: 20

Position: Midfielder

Hometown: Seattle, WA

School: University of Washington

Height: 5-7

Cameron Cruz is a second year player for Ballard FC. Before college, Cruz played his club soccer for PacNW and also with Franklin High School. Cruz started his collegiate career with Grand Canyon University in 2022. In his freshman season, Cruz appeared in 18 matches and started eight, playing the second most minutes amongst freshmen on the team. The following year, Cruz led Grand Canyon in assists (5) as a sophomore, averaging an assist every 180 minutes. After the 2023 season with Grand Canyon, Cruz took a gap year where he played with Ballard FC as part of our Open Cup and USL 2 rosters. After the USL 2 season ended, he continued to train independently and coach with the Bridges United Foundation. Then in spring 2025, Cruz enrolled at the University of Washington and is currently part of their spring 2025 roster. Cruz still has two years of collegiate eligibility remaining.

With Ballard FC: Cruz was a very versatile member of the Ballard FC 2024 roster, playing both on the wing and in midfield. Cruz played in 11 matches and started three across all competitions while scoring two goals and adding four assists. Cruz’s two goals came on his birthday in a 8-1 win against CFC Atletico.