The Spokane Soccer Show

Benji and Mike start the show catching up on changes to USL League One for 2026 before Benji provides a brief update on USL collective bargaining and implications for the Super League and League One. They then give a few shoutouts that includes the University of Washington Men and the 2A State Champion West Valley Eagles Girls. Benji and Mike also provide an in-depth breakdown of the Zephyr FC draw with Lexington SC as well as their thoughts on the team overall ahead of the winter break. Finally, they go over the details of the roster decisions for Velocity FC, including all the players announced so far by the club. There will be one more episode of the show before the New Year so be sure to check Instagram for updates. Happy Holidays, everyone!Host: Benji WadeCo-Host: Mike PellicioFollow on ⁠Instagram⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/spokanesoccershow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the podcast on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SpokaneSoccerShow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show with a donation:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.spokanesoccershow.com/donate⁠

Benji welcomes 2025 Impact FC champion head coach Mike Pellicio back from conquest in Houston, Texas! They also give thanks to all their favorite things related to Spokane soccer. Then, they revisit the anguish of Velocity FC's trip to the League One championship final, including the awful penalty decision and soccer being played on a baseball infield. Finally, Benji issues some thoughts and feelings about where things stand with Zephyr FC and how supporters have an important role to play going into the winter break.Happy Thanksgiving, Spokane!Host: Benji WadeCo-Host: Mike PellicioFollow on ⁠Instagram⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/spokanesoccershow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the podcast on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SpokaneSoccerShow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show with a donation:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.spokanesoccershow.com/donate⁠

Benji is joined by Velocity FC manager Leigh Veidman and defender David Garcia to get hyped about the upcoming final against One Knoxville. They start with a conversation about the swings of 2025 that led here and the preparation going into the final. Then, Benji revisits some of the incredible moments from Velocity FC's thrilling win over Portland Hearts of Pine in the semifinal. The show closes with appreciation from Benji and reflection from Leigh on how much Velocity FC's success has meant to the city. Host: Benji WadeGuests: Leigh Veidman and David GarciaFollow on ⁠Instagram⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/spokanesoccershow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the podcast on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SpokaneSoccerShow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show with a donation:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.spokanesoccershow.com/donate⁠

Benji and Mike are joined by Spokane Zephyr FC head coach, Nicole Lukic. Their conversation begins with some shout-outs of Velocity FC following their thrilling first round playoff win vs. South Georgia Tormenta that went to penalty kicks. Then, they welcome Coach Lukic to Spokane and learn about her earliest experience with the sport of soccer and how she went from player to coach. Lukic also shares stories about her incredible success with Minnesota Aurora FC in the USL W League as well as her time working with Emma Hayes through the US Youth National Team. Finally, there are many questions that were submitted by local Zephyr FC supporters where Lukic gets a chance to describe her philosophical outlook on soccer, player development, and what comes next for the team. Host: Benji WadeCo-Host: Mike PellicioGuest: Nikole LukicFollow on ⁠Instagram⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/spokanesoccershow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the podcast on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SpokaneSoccerShow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show with a donation:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.spokanesoccershow.com/donate⁠

Benji and Mike start the podcast with shoutouts of the Gonzaga women’s soccer team, Velocity FC, former Shadow and current UW goalkeeper Jadon Bowton, and our beloved friend of the pod, Jesse Retan. Then, they break down recent results for Velocity FC, including their win on the road against Naples which ensured there will be a playoff game at One Stadium on November 2nd. Finally, they discuss the first two games for Zephyr FC head coach Nicole Lukic and how both Velocity and Zephyr FC are performing overall in each respective league. Host: Benji WadeCo-Host: Mike PellicioFollow on ⁠Instagram⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/spokanesoccershow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the podcast on YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SpokaneSoccerShow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show with a donation:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.spokanesoccershow.com/donate⁠