Bellingham United showed its grit and determination in a 4-2 win over the Seattle Sounders academy on Saturday April 7, at  the Starfire Sports Complex.
            United went down a goal in the first half, but fought hard to equalize before halftime. 
            Head coach Lance Calloway again stressed that the win wasn’t priority one since it is still preseason.  He said before the game that he wanted to see his team be aggressive from the start, to not let them have any chances.
            The team started off great and didn’t score solely because the Sounders keeper played a phenomenal first half.  A fully stretched out diving save was needed on a few occasions to keep the home team in the game.
            United’s defense was broken down eventually though.
            “I’m a little upset about the goals we gave up,” Calloway said. “We can’t be ball watchers, we should know better than that.”
            Bellingham United didn’t allow many chances after that, but would capitalize on one of their own right before halftime.
            Joel Grossman put himself in the right spot on a corner and had a beautiful diving header to tie the game.
            The second half would be much better played by United.  The team came out quick and scored an early goal to take the lead.  Tyler Bjork took the ball from a Sounders player, turned and shot from outside the box.
            “We were a lot more composed today,” Bjork said. “Yesterday we played a little more frantic, but you can see that we’re starting to learn each other more.”
            Bjork assisted on the third goal.  He fought to get the ball at the end line, passed it back it Kellan Brown who put it in.  That goal would retake the lead for United as the Sounders had scored on a scramble in the box earlier.
            Brown scored again to put the game out of reach for the Sounders and the team finished the game strong. The play started to open up as United found a way to play over the top and get players in behind to attack. 
Calloway had been talking with the team about doing just that.
            “We started to create more in the second half,” Calloway said. “We played more of the way we have been working on in practice.”
            Bellingham United is now 2-0-0 in preseason and will play its next two games at WCC to prepare for the upcoming PCSL season.
            More information can be found at www.bellinghamunited.com

            Any semi-pro team would love to have 50 people come to a preseason match.  Bellingham United FC had over 200. 
             United took on San Carlos All-Stars from Mount Vernon on Friday night in front of a crowd of eager fans.  The home team sent the fans away with a finish to remember.
             A stoppage time goal by Matt Hardin sealed the win for the Hammers.
             Bellingham United head coach Lance Calloway didn’t expect the support showed.
            “I’m shocked actually,” Calloway said.  “There were a couple hundred or so people for a non-advertised game.  It’s awesome to see”
           The first goal came in the 27th minute by Andy Mihovilovich.  The team had had a few earlier chances, but the opposing keeper could not keep this one out and Mihovilovich put it in using the crossbar for some help.
The fans went home happy with the end result, but Calloway didn’t think it was most important to win.  He wanted to use this game as a chance to see who can play where and see what the players in preseason camp can do.  The team still has about 30 players in camp, which will get cut down before the season starts. 
          United didn’t field its full roster for the game.  The team will travel to play the Seattle Sounders FC academy team on Saturday April 7 with a few new players integrated in that were kept out this game. 
“The biggest thing for us is to get to know one another,” Calloway said. “We have players that haven’t played together and we need to make sure we are all on the same page.”
            The defense looked solid throughout the game and goalkeepers Drew Smiley and Riley Liddle didn’t have much to do during the game.
            “Our center backs did a great job owning the field,” Calloway said. “They went in great for 50/50’s and challenged hard throughout.”
            The forwards also did a better job in the second half, having more chances and playing a more open game.  They even had a diving header goal near the end wowing the crowd, but it was waved offside to much booing from the fans.
             The team will play four more preseason games, two away and two at Whatcom Community College.  Both games at Whatcom are free and open to the public.  The team starts off the season on the road April 28 at Victoria Highlanders.  The home opener is May 6 at Civic field.
            Full schedule can be found at www.bellinghamunited.com.