As new fish in the pond, Salmon Bay FC are prepared to swim the upstream fight as they kick off their first-ever season in Seattle on May 18 against WS Rhodies. The all-women's soccer team, founded last summer, will represent the Ballard neighborhood, in a league already packed with Pacific Northwest representation. But it is the district's cultural connection to Lake Washington that ultimately inspired the team's name.

Although Salmon Bay has a total of 33 players, only 11 are in the starting lineup, and given that it's brand-new, the standout players are a toss-up. This is a unique group of seasoned veterans, developing college seniors, and baby-faced first-years.

Ameera Hussen is a proven powerhouse who, with 122 games under her belt, will bring veteran experience to the team. Last year, she played for a dominant FC Olympia team, scoring six goals and five assists as a forward.

Last summer, Olympia built themselves an undefeated record in the regular season, only for it to be unexpectedly threatened during the last game. United PDX led 1-0, until Hussen swooped in with a last-minute goal, which secured both a tie and FC Olympia's undefeated season for the record books.

Among the forwards is Maia Tabion, an Ivy League junior from Columbia who excels in her flexibility by balancing goals with assists during any given season.

Testing the waters
Last December, Salmon Bay FC went through the unusual process of holding open tryouts - any member of the public could participate in and, potentially, become part of the team. That's how forward Maya Courteney, a current first-year student at Sonoma State University and Lake Stevens native, and midfielder Milly Bray, a recent high-school graduate and youth soccer talent, found their place on the roster. How often these two young players find themselves on-field will speak volumes as to how Salmon Bay plans to develop its least experience players.

Defense wins championships
When it comes to protecting the goal, Mercedes Cullen is one of the best goalies that her school, Seattle Pacific University, has ever seen. She's finished 17 "clean sheets," games in which the goalkeeper doesn't concede a goal for the entire match. Cullen's also tied University records for the most saves before halftime (7) and across a whole game (13).

Another goalie on the roster is Elena Milam, a Ballard native who proved her ability to play under pressure with the DePaul Blue Demons. In a first-round playoff game against Bulter University, Milam's endurance enabled her to survive eight kicks across a brutal penalty shootout, ultimately advancing her team to the semifinals.

The SGN will follow Salmon Bay FC throughout its first season. Follow us on social media for updates.