Bellevue Athletic Eye Playoff Berth with Road Match Against Snohomish Sky

Written by Adam Race

With three matches remaining in the Spring 2025 UPSL regular season, Bellevue Athletic are three points from clinching a playoff spot. Their first chance to lock up yet another postseason appearance will come this Sunday at 5:45 pm against the Snohomish Sky on the road at Lake Stevens High School. 

Following their 3-1 win this past weekend against Everett Jets, BAFC are in second place in the UPSL-Washington table, riding a four-game winning streak and a five-game undefeated streak. This stands as the second-longest active unbeaten run in UPSL-Washington, behind only league leaders SeaGam. Over their last four matches, Bellevue have averaged three goals per game and have only conceded three total goals.

As the Spring 2025 season comes to the final stretch, only Gala and Thurston County have been eliminated from playoff contention, but it is possible that after this weekend, all four playoff teams will already be decided. But amongst the top four current playoff contenders (SeaGam, Bellevue, Seattle Eagles, and 3 Cities), all four could still finish as regular season champions. 

This week’s opponents, Snohomish Sky FC, are currently 7th in the UPSL-Washington table, having won two and lost three over their last five matches. The Sky are coming off a 4-1 road loss against Seattle Eagles, and need a win or a draw combined with results elsewhere going their way this weekend to keep their playoff hopes alive. 

Despite what has been a so-far disappointing campaign, Snohomish have posted perhaps the biggest shock result of the season, beating playoff contenders 3 Cities FC 8-1 two weeks ago. This currently stands as the lone UPSL loss 3 Cities have suffered in 2025, as they entered that match as the last remaining undefeated team in the conference.

From Bellevue Head Coach Mike Mata, the message has been the same over the previous few weeks: every match is a final. This remains true for this weekend’s road game against Snohomish. “We respect Snohomish Sky a lot,” says Mata. “Winning this match will boost our confidence even more as we will achieve the first objective of the season, which is to qualify for the playoffs.”

If Bellevue can win their three remaining games, this weekend’s match, a huge home match against league-leaders SeaGam, and an away match against bottom of the table Thurston County, they will clinch the regular season championship for the second straight season.  “If we win this match, we will have an anticipated final waiting for us at home against SeaGam,” said Mata. “We are taking this game very seriously, and we will prepare for it as a final.”

The game this week has been chosen as one of the UPSL games of the week and will be broadcast live on the UPSL YouTube channel.

Know the Opponent: Snohomish Sky FC

Snohomish Sky are one of just three teams in this season’s Spring 2025 UPSL campaign that have competed in the UPSL for three consecutive seasons, going back to Spring 2024. The Sky were not originally founded to compete in the UPSL, but have now become league regulars. When the club started up in June 2023, they competed in the Western Indoor Soccer League (WISL), which they still compete in today over its annual winter season. The club has a squad in both the women’s and men’s divisions of the WISL, and expanded to the UPSL during Spring of last year.

“The natural next step was outdoor,” says club President Jamie French. “At the time, we were the only north-end team in the league. Now there are three in Snohomish County.” The Sky are joined by Gala FC and Everett Jets as UPSL Washington’s northern clubs, and represent Snohomish County proudly.  “I really push having an impact on and off the field,” said French. “We’ve proudly sponsored and hosted numerous fundraisers and local events. All of our players are encouraged to give back and be active participants in the community they represent. With all of our games, whether indoor or outdoor, I make sure that the community is involved with some aspect of the game.”

In their first-ever UPSL campaign in Spring 2024, Snohomish had an outstanding season, finishing second in the regular season and defeating 3 Cities 2-0 in the conference semifinals to make it to the UPSL-Washington finals at the first time of asking. “Joining the UPSL and making it all the way to the championship game in our inaugural outdoor season was an incredible achievement,” said French. “You always hope for that kind of success, but to actually reach that level in year one was truly special.” Snohomish would fall to eventual regional champs Bellevue in the final, but still hold Spring 2024 as one of their greatest achievement in the outdoor game.

The club’s greatest achievements overall, however, have happened in the format in which they started, indoor soccer. Snohomish Sky boasts one of the best semi-pro Women’s indoor soccer programs not only in Washington but in the nation. “Our women’s team has won the league title all four years of its existence—an unmatched accomplishment. Even more impressively, the team reached the National Championship two years in a row, finishing as the #2 team in the country. We have sold out all four championship matches at the Snohomish Sports Dome because it’s such a fun, family event and a great opportunity to support two talented women’s teams.”

Although the Spring 2025 season has been a somewhat rocky one on the field for the Sky, the club remains one of the pillars of the local soccer scene in Snohomish County, and look to finish Spring 2025 on a high note. “Our goal is to finish the season strong with three final wins and then come back even better in the fall. Of course, reaching the championship match remains the goal, but just as important is the continued growth of our players, both on and off the field. We want them to build unity, improve every season, and stay connected to the community.”

Old Friends and Familiar Foes

Out of the 10 teams Bellevue is competing with in the UPSL during the Spring 2025 campaign, no team has faced BAFC in UPSL play on more occasions than the Snohomish Sky. Going back to the Sky’s first UPSL season in Spring 2024, Bellevue has faced Snohomish five times, with the Eastside Boys leading the head-to-head series 4-1. Three of those five matchups have been decided by a single goal, and they have never been separated by more than a two-goal deficit. 

Bellevue vs Snohomish Head-to-Head History

But the connection between the two clubs runs deeper than just on-field competition. Bellevue ownership were the ones to encourage Snohomish to join UPSL in 2024, and a partnership between the two clubs saw interested Bellevue players play for Snohomish’s indoor team. This has led to a lot of player and even staff crossover between the two clubs, making every matchup highly competitive but rooted in mutual respect and friendship. 

Snohomish Sky President Jamie French says that one of the special things about competing in the UPSL is that many of the league’s players already know each other well, with many being current or former teammates. “There are a lot of friendships and familiar matchups, which brings a competitive but respectful dynamic to the field,” said French. 

Bellevue Head Coach Mike Mata’s first game in charge of Bellevue Athletic was matchday six of the Spring 2024 season, a game in which Snohomish defeated Bellevue 2-1. Bellevue would go on to get their revenge in the conference finals that season, and Mata is hoping to pick up his fourth straight win against the Sky on Sunday. “We have a healthy rivalry,” said Mata. “They have some of our ex-players, and it is going to be nice to see them again and compete against each other.”

Bellevue Athletic Sporting Director Anastacio Rivera had previously been on the board for Snohomish during their first WISL season, giving him a unique appreciation of the friendly rivalry between the clubs. “The connections between Sky and Bellevue are very deep, with each club having former players from the other,” said Rivera. “Every Sky vs Bellevue game day is electric, so we’re prepared and looking forward to a difficult but fun weekend.”

Bellevue Athletic 2025 UPSL Stats 

Individual: Outfield

Individual: Goalkeeping

Team: Overall

UPSL Washington Standings/Schedule

Playoff Qualification Zone

E = Eliminated from playoff contention

How To Follow

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