Kelley guides NWU to tournament title / Soccer

By Jim Waller • June 21, 2018 1:30 am
Matt Kelley, right, and teammate Nathan Berg of Lynden show off the trophy they won at the Firecracker Championships. (Photo by Diane Kelley)
Matt Kelley, right, and teammate Nathan Berg of Lynden show off the trophy they won at the Firecracker Championships. (Photo by Diane Kelley)

Oak Harbor’s Matt Kelley led the Northwest United Boys FC-03 soccer team to the title in the Firecracker Championships last weekend in Burlington.

Kelley scored five of his club’s 16 goals in four matches. Northwest United was also tough on defense, shutting out all four opponents.

The team played up a level, competing in the U17 Men’s 02 division, for more of a challenge, but had little trouble advancing to the title.

Kelley, who just finished his freshman year at OHHS, scored two goals in a 5-0 win over Seattle’s Emerald City Men’s 02 team, then NW United beat Seattle United Men’s 02 3-0.

Kelley chipped in with a goal in a 3-0 victory over Snohomish United Men’s 02.

In the title game, a rematch with Seattle United, Kelley punched in two more goals in the 4-0 win.