Several local players on the roster for pre-professional team

A number of local soccer athletes are getting ready for the Evergreen Premier League, playing for Vancouver Victory FC, which opens its season Sunday at Harmony Sports Complex.

The Victory, a team of adult soccer players – many still with collegiate eligibility – is in its ninth season with the EPL.

High school soccer fans from Clark County should recognize plenty of names. Among the local players competing this season for the Victory include:

Hunter Leach starred at La Center High School, then played at Clark College before finishing his college career at Warner Pacific, where he scored 32 goals with the Knights, to go with 10 assists.

Brandon Leach also played for La Center, Clark College, and Warner Pacific. He had two goals and six assists for the Knights.

Caleb Putney, a standout with Union High School this spring as the Titans try to chase down a state championship, is committed to Northwest Nazarene. He, too, is on the Victory’s roster. 

Another Union Titan, Liam Wendel, is committed to Emerson College.

Ethan Hundt, a Clark College athlete from Vancouver, is on the team, too. So is Mountain View graduate and former Clark College Penguin Maxwell Schaeffer. 

The Victory is coached by Jeff Lukowiak, Clark College men’s coach, and Timur Zhividze, associate head coach at Clark. 

The Victory went 4-2 last season, missing the postseason by one win. 

The Victory will play five home games, with the home opener at 10 a.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5, and children 12 and under are free.

The home schedule:

May 5: Vs. Artesian, 10 a.m.

June 1: Vs. Oly Pen Force, 10 a.m.

June 2: Vs. Spokane Shadow, 2 p.m.

June 8: Vs. Spokane United, 2 p.m.

June 22: Vs. Yakima United, noon

Stay connected with the Vancouver Victory FC on social media. The team can be found on Facebook (https://facebook.com/vancouvervictoryfc), Instagram (@vancouvervictoryfc) and on X (@V2FCsoccer).