The Vancouver Victory FC will finish their second season in the Evergreen Premier League on Sunday — and it will end without a championship.
But the amateur men’s soccer team can take pride in a national title.
Victory forward Timur Zhividze helped South Sound FC of Tacoma win the United States Adult Soccer Association Under-23 National Tournament, which took place July 14-19 in Virginia Beach, Va.
“It was awesome,” said Zhividze, who contributed one goal and three assists to South Sound’s championship run.
Victory owner Barrett Goddard, who served as an assistant coach for South Sound at the tournament, said the national title helps establish the second-year EPL Washington as a top-flight amateur league.
Twelve teams from around the country participated in the national tournament. It was the fourth consecutive year that South Sound FC has played in this national tournament — and its first national title. As a member of the EPL Washington, the club was eligible to enter the national tournament.
Goddard said he recommended to South Sound FC owner John Crouch that Zhividze join South Sound to give his team another dangerous forward. South Sound also took Wenatchee forward Eleazar Galvan to nationals.
Zhividze said he was welcomed to the Tacoma team right away. Surprised to start the first tournament game, Zhividze forced a turnover that set up the first goal eight minutes into the competition.
South Sound outscored its opponents 22-4 on its way to the national title, including a 7-1 win over a team from Long Island, N.Y., in the title match.
“It was really important to win this for the league,” Goddard said.
Season ends Sunday — The Victory wrap up their EPL Washington schedule by hosting Yakima United at 2 p.m. on Sunday at McKenzie Stadium. Tickets cost $7.
For the second season in a row, the Spokane Shadow won the league, South Sound finished second and Vancouver in third place. The Victory (7-5-1) won their first seven matches but have a draw and five losses since.
