Ballard FC Flexes Depth and Dominance in 5–0 Rout Over Midlakes FC

Ballard FC continued their strong early-season form with a commanding 5–0 victory over Midlakes FC on Friday evening at Bellevue College’s Soccer Complex. Under sunny skies and brisk spring air, the 7pm kickoff set the stage for a confident, and cohesive performance by the visitors.

From the opening whistle, Ballard’s defensive shape was dialed in, and each and every yell could be heard over the crowd. Christian Engmann and Khai Brisco stood out early, smothering Midlakes’ attacks and setting the tone with composed ball movement out of the back.

The breakthrough came early in the 12th minute. Ray Mendez pounced on a loose ball at the top of the box following a defensive deflection and slotted a low shot into the left corner to give Ballard the 1–0 lead.

Just six minutes later, Ballard doubled their advantage. Luke Hammond delivered a pinpoint cross to Brisco who rose up and drove a header into the lower left corner. The celebration was just as sharp, with Brisco punctuating the moment with a backflip, sending the visiting Ballard fans into a frenzy.

In the 24th minute Richie Aman was taken down in the box, earning a penalty for the visitors. Elliot Spatz stepped up and calmly buried the spot kick into the top left corner, giving the keeper no chance and pushing the lead to 3–0.

Ballard nearly added another in the 36th minute, as Abeselom Zemenfes fired a rocket that forced a diving save from the Midlakes goalkeeper. Tensions flared late in the half when Aman was fouled again, resulting in a yellow card for Midlakes’ Francisco Magaña. After two minutes of added time, the halftime whistle blew with Ballard firmly in control.

The second half saw no let-up with Ballard pushing to increase the goal differential. In the 62nd minute, Davis Mungomba volleyed home a goal off of Rihcie Aman’s corner, finishing into the bottom right corner to make it 4–0.

Just a minute later, Coach Riley made a full wave of substitutions, using all seven that are allowed. Kaydin Wall, Isaac Ketcham, Zach Ramsey, Declan McGlynn, Rafi Otero, Dylan Wojdyla, and Cameron Cruz entered the match for a fresh injection of energy, replacing Aman, Beto Apolinar, Luke Hammond, Brisco, Joe Dale, Mendez, and Spatz.

The surge of fresh legs overwhelmed Midlakes, whose frustration boiled over late in the game. This led to another yellow card when Midlakes’ Mikey Sherlock was booked for dissent in the 81st minute.

Ballard was not finished. Cameron Cruz sealed the night in the 88th minute with a clinical goal. Receiving a well-placed pass from Abeselom Zemenfes, Cruz weaved past a multitude of defenders, cut inside at the top left of the six-yard box, and coolly tucked the shot into the bottom right corner to cap the scoring at 5–0.

The referee opted for no added time, and Ballard closed out the match with authority.

Player of the Match honors go to Davis Mungomba, whose second-half goal and defensive intensity helped steer Ballard to a complete, dominant win.

With another clean sheet and a diverse array of contributors across the pitch, Ballard FC continues to build momentum early in the 2025 USL League Two campaign.

Written by Emily Battistoni