The University of Washington men’s soccer team is back on the national stage and Final Four round after charging through the 2025 NCAA Tournament with an Elite Eight 3–1 road victory over No. 4 Maryland.
For FC Olympia, that achievement feels personal.
Five Huskies on this year’s College Cup roster – Connor Lofy, Gabe Fernandez, Chad Sovde, Alex Hall and Conner Leber have all been a part of FC Olympia’s USL League Two program. Each leaving a lasting mark for the Artesians but now their sights set on the coveted Final Four opportunity.
Washington’s 2025 season has been one of the most impressive in the country. The Huskies sit at 14-6-2 overall and 7-3-0 in Big Ten play, battling at the top of one of the deepest conferences in college soccer. The Huskies rode a mid-season five-game winning streak including a 2–1 road win at Penn State where goals from Connor Lofy and Zach Ramsey powered the Dawgs to sole possession of first place in the Big Ten.
“We want to take this time to congratulate this current UW squad and their exciting run to the final four teams in the nation. There have been many UW players that have helped build FC Olympia’s badge and they all have helped this tremendous UW Huskies team. The USL League Two Northwest is filled with UW players and we wish them all good luck this Friday in Cary, NC.” – FC Olympia Coach Jason Smith
FC Olympia joined USL League Two as part of a broader “path-to-pro” vision for the Olympia region in 2022 under then head coach Jason Smith who decided to jump back into USL coaching with Seyti Sidibay for 2026.
Connor Lofy | Midfielder
FC Olympia USL 2024 | 4 goals | 2 Assists | 10 Games | 804 Minutes
UW Soccer 2025 | 4 Goals | 22 Starts (out of 22 possible games) | 1904 Minutes
Lofy has turned minutes into moments with goals at Penn State and Oregon State helping fuel a mid-season surge, while his late equalizer vs the Beavers and his SMU “wonder goal” have been central to the NCAA run.
Gabe Fernandez | Defender
FC Olympia 2023 Stats | 8 Matches
FC Olympia 2024 Stats | 5 Matches (transferred to USL2 Nat’l Champions Vermont Green mid-June)
UW Soccer 2025 | 11 Starts out of 14 Games | 771 Minutes
Gabe was on the 2023 USL League Two National Playoff clinching team for FC Olympia and Head Coach Liviu Bird. Fernandez returned to the Artesians in 2025 for half a season before a planned trip to play for eventual USL National Champion Vermont Green, one of the most heralded path to pro clubs in the United States.
Chad Sovde | Midfield
FC Olympia 2024 Stats | 12 Matches | 4 Goals | 758 Minutes
UW Soccer 2025 | 10 Matches | 2 Goals | 2 Assists | 234 Minutes
Chad had some incredible USL2 highlight reels during his FC Olympia tenure in 2024.
Alex Hall | Midfield
FC Olympia 2025 Stats | 2 Matches (transferred to USL Nat’l Champions Vermont Green Mid-June)
UW Soccer 2025 | 17 Starts out of 22 Matches Played | 5 goals | 7 Assists | 1778 Minutes
Alex Hall had a short stay with FC Olympia to get minutes in between spring UW soccer and his planned stay with Vermont Green.
Conner Leber | Defender
FC Olympia 2023 Stats | 2 Games | 102 Minutes
UW Soccer 2025 | 8 Games | 2 Goals | 2 Assists
Conner had minutes in the 2024 campaign under Sounders A-League legend Jason Dunn.
The Elite Eight / College Cup stage now regularly features players who’ve worn an Artesians crest, whether for FC Olympia itself or for USL clubs like Vermont Green that have direct ties back to Olympia’s rosters.
The club’s investment in USL League Two as a development platform is clearly paying off: local kids, regional elite and out-of-state college stars are using Olympia summers as a launching pad to NCAA success and beyond. Make sure to get your USL League Two Season Ticket Deposits to watch the next wave of college and professional talent summer 2026. Tickets can be found at FC Olympia website
