Midlakes Leads, Then Falls in Hard-Fought Loss to Ballard
Midlakes United 2, Ballard FC 3
Last Saturday was the sixth time Midlakes United has played the four-time conference winners and former national champions Ballard FC. In the previous five matches, the Bellevue squad had never so much as scored a goal. But this game was different. In front of a large home crowd, Midlakes made Ballard scramble in one of the team’s best performances of the season, even as the visitors rallied for the win.
Midlakes struck first in the 13th minute. Defender Miguel Regino fed Ilya Mohov in midfield, and Mohov quickly threaded a through ball to Trey Mitchell, who was speeding forward. Mitchell’s pressure forced a miscommunication between defender Cianole Nguepissi and goalkeeper Noah Newman, who collided and left the ball loose in front of an open net. Mitchell easily put it away.
Eight minutes later, Midlakes doubled the lead. Pressing a bit forward, Tommaso Casadei stepped up to dispossess a Ballard midfielder, played a give-and-go with Dan McKay to secure the ball, and sent Reise Corpuz dribbling down the right wing. Corpuz cut the ball back, and a deflection off Riley Cotton found Mitchell alone to finish. Ballard appealed for an offside call, but Mitchell had been careful and stayed level with the second-to-last defender.
The goals were Mitchell’s sixth and seventh of the season. His total is both the current team’s highest and the all-time Midlakes record, with three matches remaining for him to tack on more.
Ballard answered before the half. In the 31st minute, former Midlakes midfielder Jack-Ryan Jeremiah collected a through ball in a gap in the Midlakes back line and cut it back to Zach Ramsey, who sent a blast into the net from near the penalty spot. Momentum swung after the break. Ramsey doubled his tally in the 57th minute, finishing off a sequence built by Cameron Cruz and Anton Hjalmarsson. And Hjalmarsson headed in a Cruz cross in the 82nd to complete the comeback.
Will Ficek kept Midlakes within reach. In a highlight-reel moment in the 74th minute, he flew across his line to punch away a hard, curling Hjalmarsson shot, drawing a roar from the stands. He finished with seven saves on 10 shots on target.
Mitchell and Corpuz shared Player of the Match honors: Mitchell for his finishes and some selfless, creative passing; Corpuz for a tireless shift up and down the right side and several dangerous crosses. Mohov also impressed in a central attacking role, adding three shots on top of his assist.
The loss dropped Midlakes to 3-7-1 and ended the team’s playoff hopes. But after five lopsided fixtures with the Seattle side, Ballard had a real fight on its hands.
Next up is Midlakes’ final home match against the Portland Bangers.
photos by Ruben Becerril-Geiger
