Submitted by Oly Town Artesians
Oly Town Artesians defender Collin LaBranche was named the Evergreen Premier League Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday. The Olympia High School alum was playing in his first game for the Artesians this season after graduating from Saint Martin’s last week and led the club to a 3-0 win over the Tri-Cities Alliance in Pasco.
Despite a talented squad, the Artesians got off to a rough start to the season but got a nice boost with the return of LaBranche and a couple of other Saint Martin’s players. They played their most complete game on Sunday at Edgar Brown Stadium and picked up their first win of the season and are very much alive in the EPLWA’S Cascade Conference. LaBranche, who will return for one more season with the Saints this fall, won every challenge that came his way and solidified a backline that had struggled over the first two weeks.
This is the sixth time that an Oly Town player has been honored with a Defensive POTW award in their three seasons in the EPLWA. Nate Boatright and Kyle Wiese won the award in 2017 and JJ Olson, Crisantos Chavez and Marcos Borja were all honored during the 2018 season.
The Artesians will give LaBranche and their players a well deserved break for the Memorial Day weekend but will be back in action on Sunday, June 2nd when they host the second round of the Washington State Super Cup at Black Hills High School. They will face either BeSea FC of Bellevue or ISC Gunners of Issaquah in the second round of the statewide, single elimination tournament. First kick is set for 4:00 p.m.
Oly returns to EPLWA action on Sunday, June 9th when Bellingham United visits Black Hills. It is Artesians 500 night and Oly Town will attempt to pack the park by offering soccer clubs, teams and other non-profits the opportunity to raise some funds by selling tickets. If your club or non-profit would like to raise some money, watch some soccer and have some fun, contact the Artesians at artesians@olytownfc.com or by calling Brandon Sparks at 360-561-7252.
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