Written by Adam Race
Defending UPSL PNW-Washington champions Bellevue Athletic will face league newcomers SeaGam this Saturday in Shoreline as the Eastside Boys look to extend their 15-game unbeaten run in UPSL Washington Premier Division play.
Bellevue is coming off of a dominant 21-2 win over Thurston County Soccer Academy in their regular-season opener in Bellevue and top the league table on goal-difference heading into their first road game of the UPSL season. Bellevue has made the UPSL national round of 16 in back-to-back campaigns and has not lost in UPSL regular-season play since the final game of the Spring 2024 UPSL season.
Bellevue has now played five matches in 2025, including a Washington Super Cup first-round win against United Sports, friendly wins against Everett CC and Northwest University, and a friendly loss to MLS NextPro side Tacoma Defiance. “I’m very happy with our team’s performance during the preseason games. It was a reflection of starting early and preparing well. We played against very good college teams and were able to develop our game quite well,” said Bellevue Head Coach Mike Mata. “We’re also very grateful for the opportunity we had to face Tacoma Defiance. The club has taken a giant step forward by offering these opportunities such as playing against a professional team at the Seattle Sounders’ facilities. The game helped us greatly to correct weaknesses and understand the real demands of playing at the next level.”
SeaGam, a long-time Greater Seattle Soccer League powerhouse, are coming off of their inaugural UPSL Premier match on Sunday where they fell 3-2 on the road against Seattle Eagles in Tukwila. The league debutants are still searching for their first points in UPSL play but have already recorded a marquee win in the 2025 Washington Super Cup, upsetting back-to-back defending Super Cup champions Yakima United 2-1 in a first-round matchup in Yakima.
This will be the first-ever matchup between the two clubs, and with both squads looking to compete near the top of the league table in 2025, it is certainly a marquee early-season fixture with a lot of anticipation surrounding it. “We’re going to approach the game with great responsibility and intensity, as we know they could be direct rivals in the fight for the title,” said coach Mata.
The game will take place at 5:00 PM at Einstein Middle School field in Shoreline, and will also be available to watch via livestream at: veolive.page.link/et6k
Record-Setting UPSL Opener
Bellevue Athletic looked the part of defending state champions in their UPSL Premier season-opening win against Thurston, netting a club-record 21 goals in a 21-2 victory at Bellevue College on Saturday. “We approached the game against Thurston like a final,” said coach Mata. “We were excited to start the league and play in front of our fans, so our motivation was high.”
Eight different players scored for Bellevue, including four-goal performances from Jacen Stein, Tyler Hopp, and Kenny Mansally. 12 different players recorded a goal contribution as the Eastside Boys dominated from whistle to whistle, emphatically setting the tone for their Spring 2025 campaign. “It was a great opportunity to rotate players, and I’m convinced we have the most complete roster in the UPSL,” said Mata. “I’m very happy with the players who came in, who not only maintained their level but also made a difference.”
Through just one game in the Spring 2025 UPSL Premier season, Bellevue has already topped their total goals scored mark over all 10 regular-season games of their 2024 Spring UPSL Premier campaign when they scored 18. Jacen Stein’s four first half goals officially made him Bellevue’s top goalscorer in club history with 15 goals in just 12 competitive games for the club.
Goal Contributions Against Thurston
Player | Goals | Assists |
Tyler Hopp | 4 | 3 |
Kenny Mansally | 4 | 3 |
Jacen Stein | 4 | 0 |
Kaydin Wall | 2 | 2 |
Kiran Menezes | 3 | 0 |
Nii Engmann | 2 | 1 |
Marc Pedrosa | 1 | 2 |
Scott Burkholder | 0 | 3 |
Jackson Finn | 1 | 0 |
Brady Minor | 0 | 1 |
Miguel Guevara | 0 | 1 |
Edgar Lopez-Ramirez | 0 | 1 |
Bold = Bellevue Athletic Debut
Know the Opponent: SeaGam
SeattleGambia, better known as SeaGam, may be new to the UPSL, but have been competing in the Seattle area for 25 years. “Founded in September of 2000, SeaGam emerged as a grassroots initiative to bring the Gambian Community together in the Seattle area” said club manager Ibrahim Drammeh. “Our first game, played with only nine players on a cold, muddy morning behind Shoreline Community College, marked the beginning of a remarkable journey. Despite losing 1-0 that day, the match symbolized the start of a powerful tradition that has lasted more than two decades.”
The club began competitive play in the Greater Seattle Soccer League, going on to win several George Washington Tournaments and establishing themselves as a force in Seattle’s local amateur scene. Ismaila Tunkara, a founding member, recalls “We were fearless. We hated losing, no matter how bad we played.” By 2003/2004, SeaGam had found consistent success in the GSSL, and had made deep runs in the Washington State Adult Soccer Association All Nations Cup, including a semi-finals appearance. “SeaGam didn’t just build a team, it built lifelong friendships,” said Tunkara.
Although experiencing a dip in form over the last few years due to changes in coaching management, SeaGam has remained a pillar of the community, promoting unity, culture, and youth engagement. “The club’s entry into the UPSL, spearheaded by head coach Sulyman “Poboy” Ceesay, was a natural next step” said Drammeh. “With strong backing from veteran players and overwhelming support from the community, SeaGam FC became the first Gambian-American club in the region to join the UPSL.”
In addition to their UPSL debut, SeaGam also entered the Washington State Adult Soccer Association Super League. In their first knockout match, SeaGam stunned reigning champions Yakima United with a 2-1 come-from-behind win in Yakima. “The victory against Yakima was more than just a win, it was a statement,” said Drammeh. SeaGam conceded early but were able to come back and win courtesy of goals from Chukwudi Nwokoye and second-generation SeaGam striker Babucarr Cham. “The game was played during Ramadan, and many players were fasting,” said Drammeh. “The hunger and drive shown that day were reminiscent of SeaGam’s glory years.”
SeaGam boast a seasoned core of players that have been building chemistry in a preseason where they won all four matches before picking up their first loss of 2025 against Seattle Eagle 3-2 in their UPSL opener. “Former players and coaches have stepped up-not just financially but also mentally. That’s what I’m most proud of,” said Head Coach Sulyman “Poboy” Ceesay.
You can support SeaGams journey into semi-pro competition through their GoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/every-contribution-helps-SeaGams-journey-in-the-upsl
Bellevue Athletic’s Gambian Connection
Saturday’s match against SeaGam carries a little extra weight for Bellevue Athletic striker and former Gambian international Kenny “King” Mansally.
Mansally was capped 16 times by his home country of The Gambia’s senior national team between 2008 and 2015, as well as competing in two FIFA Youth World Cups for the African nation.
“Playing against SeaGam is something wonderful and exciting,” said Mansally. “For these young talented players who watched me represent The Gambia on various levels both national and international, the opportunity to play against me in this league will mean a lot to them.
Mansally is a 13-year professional who made 138 MLS appearances and scored eight goals during stints with New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo. He has been a part of Bellevue Athletic since the fall of 2024 and has tallied seven goals for the club, including four goals as a second-half substitute in Bellevue’s season opener on Sunday.
“They have such strong and fast young players,” Mansally said of SeaGam. “Them joining the league this season is a wonderful thing and I wish them all the best of luck in their future endevours.”
King Kenny is one of two Gambians within Bellevue Athletic, joined by assistant coach and former Bellevue player Dawda Dibba. Dibba enjoyed a successful collegiate career at NWAC powerhouse Peninsula College, has played overseas in Turkey and Thailand, and scored four goals for Bellevue in Fall 2024 before transitioning from the pitch to the touchline.
“We expect a tough fight from a very talented SeaGam team,” Dibba said. “But part of being back to back state and regional champions is having to overcome teams that will push you to the limit, and we are confident in our squad and coaching staff to make another run this time for the national championship!”
UPSL Washington Standings/Schedule
Team | W-L-D | GD | Points | |
1st | Bellevue Athletic | 1-0-0 | +19 | 3 |
2nd | United Sports FC | 1-0-0 | +3 | 3 |
3rd | Seattle Eagles FC | 1-0-0 | +1 | 3 |
4th | 3 Cities FC | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
5th | Gala | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
6th | Everett Jets | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
7th | SeaGam FC | 0-0-1 | -1 | 0 |
8th | Snohomish Sky FC | 0-0-1 | -3 | 0 |
9th | Thurston County | 0-0-1 | -19 | 0 |
UPSL-Washington Matchday Two Schedule: |
Saturday, April 12th: Bellevue Athletic at SeaGam, 5 pm United Sports at Thurston County, 6 pm Seattle Eagles at 3 Cities, 7 pm Sunday, April 13th: Gala at Snohomish Sky, 7 pm Sunday, April 20th: Snohomish Sky at Everett Jets, 2 pm |
How To Follow
Fans can follow Bellevue Athletic online at bellevueathletic.com and via social media on Instagram (@bellevueathletic), Facebook (@bellevueathletic), and YouTube (@bellevueathletic).