Bellevue Athletic Defeat SeaGam in 3-2 thriller, Move Within Reach of Regular-Season Title

Written by Adam Race

When the final whistle sounded, Bellevue head Coach Mike Mata sprinted out from his technical area, jumping and punching the air in excitement. Bellevue Athletic had just picked up their biggest win of the season, 3-2 over a SeaGam FC squad that had beaten them two months prior.

“This win means a lot. It’s been the goal of this team to win back-to-back titles, and I am super happy and proud of the team.”

Two goals from Owen Gortner and one from Eyal Shectman proved just enough to win a back-and-forth battle for Bellevue. Now, all that stands between BAFC and a second consecutive UPSL-Washington regular-season title is a match against a winless Thurston County team this coming weekend. 

The Eastside Boys extended their division-leading winning streak to six games and have now beaten every team in UPSL-Washington this season.

The match started off with a bang, with Bellevue Athletic opening the scoring in the 3rd minute, when a quickly-taken Lunden Fenster corner caught the SeaGam defense off guard, leaving Eyal Shechtman wide open at the top of the six-yard box where he confidently headed home the opener. This mirrored the start of the reverse fixture in Shoreline, in which Jackson Finn gave Bellevue the lead just 60 seconds into the match. The goal was Shechtman’s second of the year, and the first UPSL assist of the season for Lunden Fenster, who is second on Bellevue’s all-time assists leaderboard. 

SeaGam, however, was not going to go down without a fight. Just as they did back in April, the visitors would find their way back into the match. In the 13th minute, an intercepted pass led to a shot from SeaGam striker Chukwudi Nwokoye, which was saved by Bellevue Goalkeeper Matt Janke. The parried save fell straight back to the feet of Nwokoye, who fired a second shot off the post and right into the path of Kebba Danso, who would tap in the equalizer.

SeaGam have made a habit this season of seizing momentum and scoring in bunches, and this match was no exception as they would find another breakthrough just a couple of minutes later. In the 16th minute, a perfectly timed through-ball from Danso would find the run of Omar Kongira, who slotted it just beyond the outstretched leg of Janke to complete a three-minute turnaround and make it 2-1 to SeaGam.

The second SeaGam goal would prompt an early substitution from Mike Mata, who brought in experienced University of Portland center back Mikey Hatcher to shore up his backline. The change would prove effective as SeaGam would not force another save out of Janke in the first half, with Bellevue going back on the offensive in search of their own equalizer. 

BAFC had only trailed for 10 minutes all season, the final 10 minutes of the reverse fixture against SeaGam, and in previously uncharted waters, they were able to find a familiar hero in Owen Gortner. 

In the 35th minute, a Bellevue move down the left wing would run through Lunden Fenster, who had an excellent match out wide, creating chances at will. Fenster would dance his way into enough space for a far-post cross to a wide-open Cameron Yriondo. Yriondo, the University of Virginia Cavalier, had the presence of mind to flick his header back into the middle to Gortner, who would finish off a great move with a point-blank headed goal. 

This was Gortner’s 5th consecutive match finding the back of the net for Bellevue, who has scored in every appearance he’s made this season for the Black and Gold. Yriondo’s assist was the first goal contribution of 2025 for the late-season roster addition. Fenster wouldn’t be credited for an assist, but was crucial in the build-up as part of an excellent first half. 

The teams would go into the break level, losing energy in the later stages of the first 45 on a brutally hot day in Bellevue. 

The second half would start out in favor of the hosts, as BAFC pushed to retake the lead in front of a large crowd of both Bellevue and SeaGam supporters. 

Once again, the Eastside boys would find their breakthrough early in the period. Eyal Shechtman and Beckham Mischel would link up in the penalty area in the 48th minute, with Shechtman flicking a header towards Mischel, Mischel returning a pass on the turf, and Shechtman being tripped and earning a penalty kick. This was surprisingly Bellevue’s first penalty kick of the season, and as expected, the big frontman Owen Gortner would step up to take the all-important chance from the spot.

Gortner sent the keeper the wrong way, calmly rolling into the bottom corner to complete his brace and give Bellevue their second lead of the match. Gortner’s two tallies on the day pushed his season goal total to nine in just five matches, averaging an incredible two goals per 90 minutes played.

Bellevue would continue to control the flow of the match, with only scattered opportunities materializing for SeaGam in the second half despite a relentless push from perhaps the most dangerous attack in the division. Janke would make his second save of the match in the 54th, holding a long effort from Badou Ngum. 

Bellevue’s best chance to add an insurance goal would come in the 80th when Lunden Fenster would once again find space down the left wing on a counterattack, feeding it into the middle for substitute Tai Iida, but Iida’s effort rattled off the bar, with Fenster’s follow-up missing wide.

SeaGam would continue to push for an equalizer to keep their hopes of a top-two finish alive, earning a free kick from shooting range in the 5th minute of stoppage time. Badou Ngum would step up to take the set piece, but wasn’t able to put enough power on his shot, which was saved and held by Janke, shortly followed by the final whistle and a jubilant Bellevue celebration.

Several performances stood out for the Eastside Boys in an all-around effort, and among them, Lunden Fenster was a creative dynamo down the wing, creating chances at will and showcasing his elite technical ability. “This was a team performance, we all bought in, and we finished our opportunities,” said Fenster, who recorded the assist on the opener and had a large part in creating Bellevue’s second goal. The win brings Bellevue one result away from securing hosting rights throughout the UPSL-Washington playoffs, which is significant for a team that hasn’t lost on the Eastside in over a year. “In some seasons past, we haven’t gotten that top spot, and now we’ve done it back-to-back seasons,” said Fenster. “It’s gonna be huge to be back at home.”

Eyal Shechtman played the game on Sunday at a whole other gear, bringing the energy early and often, firing up his squad, scoring a goal, and drawing a penalty in an all-around great performance. “I’ve been at this club for two years now, and every time we win something, it’s the best feeling in the world,” said Shechtman. “I knew that in the second half we had 45 minutes to win the title, and everyone did their best.” The win is a benchmark for a squad that has played with a chip on their shoulder since losing to SeaGam back in April, and they have now proven themselves to be the leaders in the division. “I think we’re just not the same team that lost to SeaGam the first time. I think we’ve gotten so much better, the squad has gotten closer, and we’ve gotten so much better at playing together.”

There was no happier face among the Bellevue players and staff than Head Coach Mike Mata, who celebrated the win emphatically with his players post-match. Mata had been using the SeaGam loss as something to grow off of for the entire season, and his focus on mentality shone through in Bellevue’s performance, as they picked up their first come-from-behind win of 2025. “I think we were comfortable and we were the better team,” said Mata. “It’s the mentality we have been talking about all season, the resilience showed up in this match, and I am very proud.”

Bellevue does technically still have one more hurdle in this regular season. The Eastside Boys will travel to play Thurston County Soccer Academy next week. BAFC beat Thurston 21-2 in their season opener, and if they can win again against a 0-0-9 Thurston club, they will mathematically lock down the top spot going into the playoffs.

SCORING RECAP