Oly Town shares the spoils with Bellingham

In what could have been an easy routine win, the Oly Town Artesians FC settled for a point as they drew with a resolute Bellingham United FC, 6-6, as WISL action continued Saturday at the Bellingham Sportsplex.

Jason Fairhurst scored a hat trick for the Artesians as they took a 6-3 lead early in the fourth quarter before the party was spoiled with Danny Fazio of Bellingham mustering a hat trick of his own in the final stretch as the Artesians finally did not lose at Bellingham for the first time in WISL history.

“Jason led the offense with three massive goals. Jason was constantly a threat spinning his defender near half-field for two of his three goals. The thing I appreciate about [Jason] is he is able to play quick and go by himself, but he is also able to bring others into the attack” said Oly Town skipper Nick Boatright.

It was a promising start for the Artesians as they took a commanding 4-1 lead in the first quarter, which included two goals from Fairhurst along with an answer from Bellingham’s Spencer Wolfe in the dying minutes of the opener.

In response to this, the Hammers put together a tight defense, as they put two goals back and only allowed one goal from the Artesians as it approached 5-3, still, the Artesians holding their slim lead, approaching the final quarter.

It should have been an easy win for the Artesians coming back from their first defeat of the season last week against Everett, as Fairhurst completed his hat trick early in the fourth quarter, making it 6-3 two minutes in the final stretch.

But Fazio and Bellingham had other plans as he foiled a hat trick of his own in the fourth quarter for the home side to muster a point from a losing position. This is the first draw result of the whole WISL season.

Oly Town retained its position at the second top, still trailing 2 points with a game in hand from the leaders and defending champs Tacoma Stars Reserves.

The Artesians will travel up north to Bremerton to challenge the Oly-Pen Force, whom they have already thumped in the season opener at home, for the next fixture and their last competitive match of the year, on December 17th, 7:00 p.m. kickoff.