If you haven’t been paying attention to the USL W League, my goodness, you are missing an amazing opportunity to watch some of the best young female soccer players in the country battle it out. The league features an incredibly condensed regular season, which is rapidly drawing to a close. Playoff spots are at a premium so every match matters, especially at the top of the table, because most of the divisions will be reduced to a single playoff spot. Certainly that’s the situation in the Northwest Division, where five clubs are battling for a single playoff spot.

Tonight, the undefeated club in the top spot, FC Olympia, will host second place (and also undefeated) United PDX. And while both clubs are undefeated, FC Olympia has the benefit of winning every match its played, while PDX has taken a draw. Another advantage for FCO is the fact that the club has won all its matches AND played a match more than United. A perfect 21 points out of 7 matches.

The Northwest Division is pretty top heavy, like many divisions in the USL W League, with only the top two clubs with winning records, let alone undefeated. These two are running away with it, so this match will have massive implications. It will be a rematch when these two clubs meet again for the final match of the regular season, so there’s a chance for revenge.

FC Olympia Head Coach Raphael Cox is business as usual when he was asked about the match. “I expect us to bring our best and a collective effort. We believe in our process. Our team is built on trust, collaboration, and relentless effort. I would expect to see these qualities tonight.” And if managing an undefeated team gets you anything, it’s got to be the confidence in your approach. The proof is in the pudding.

If Olympia wants to keep rolling, it’s all about the attack. In 7 matches, the team has scored 36 goals and surrendered a solitary one on defense. Forward McKenna Martinez has been a big contributor this season, with 8 goals and 2 assists. She’ll need to be aggressive against a tougher opponent this match.

- Dan Vaughn