The Northern Peninsula Football Club women’s team “Blaze” celebrated its second year competing with an appreciation night on June 14 in Port Angeles.

The women’s recreational team held a brief ceremony at Monroe Athletic Field recognizing coaches, players, sponsors and supporters. After the ceremony, they played Sequim Junior Soccer Girls U19 team “The Queens” and won 6-0.

Team board member and player Jessica Haugen said at the ceremony that in their second season, they “are truly having a blast.”

“The team was created to give women on the peninsula a place to play 11v11 soccer at our highest possible competitive level, while developing our skills and having fun,” she said.

“Our motto, ‘Our Fuel, Our Fire’ reflects the heart of what we’re about — creating a space to play simply to bring ourselves joy.”

Haugen recognized board members Juan Carlos Cisneros, Steve Shively, David Breckenridge, Javier Gomez, and Victoria Jones, and thanked team sponsor RE/MAX Team McAleer (Molly and Michael McAleer) for funding the purchase of the team’s jersey kits and training tops.

Cisneros, also the team’s head coach, has “been the engine behind our development,” Haugen said.

“His thoughtfully crafted training sessions build not just skills, but true team play,” she said.

Haugen also thanked guest coach Kanyon Anderson for several special training sessions, and fellow team captains Kate Hall, Kelli Mishko, Amanda Anderson and Alli Roth.

The season is over for the Blaze, but those interested in trying out next spring, or for more information about team sponsorship, can email Northpenfc@gmail.com.

For more about the Northern Peninsula Football Club, visit northernpeninsulafc.com/ or find them on Facebook.

Photo courtesy of the Northern Peninsula Football Club/ The Northern Peninsula Football Club women’s team Blaze features this season, from front left: Sabrina Wilk, Christine Bekkevar, Kate Hall, Christina Dalton, Vianey Cadenas, Jess Haugen; back left: Lupita S Perez, Victoria Jones, Jeni Banks, Kelsey Chapman, Tenille Tosland, Ambur Taft, Aliina Lahti, Monica Jacobs, Bethanie Robbins, and Laura Gray.

Photo by Devin Beck/ Aliina Lahti kicks the ball to a teammate on June 19 at the Albert Haller Playfields. She and the Northern Peninsula Football Club women’s team “Blaze” won 6-0 against the St. Paul U19 Blackhawks.

Photo by Devin Beck/ Tenille Tosland with the NPFC Blaze looks to advance the ball past a swarm of players with the St. Paul U19 Blackhawks on June 19. The Blaze won the match in Sequim 1-0.

Photo by Devin Beck Sabrina Wilk with the Northern Peninsula Football Club women’s team “Blaze” advances the ball on June 19 against St. Paul U19 Blackhawks at the Albert Haller Playfields in Sequim. The Blaze won 1-0.