Salmon Bay FC is headed to the national semifinals after defeating Capo FC 3-0 to win the Western Conference championship, earning the first trophy in club history.
The conference title comes just over a week after Salmon Bay FC captured its first Northwest Division championship, earning the right to host the opening rounds of the USL W League Western Conference playoffs at Interbay Stadium. The club defeated Capo FC in the conference final to advance to the national semifinals.
The victory sends the Northwest Division champions into a semifinal matchup against Central Conference champion Minnesota Aurora on Saturday at Interbay Stadium, with a spot in the national championship match on the line.
After a competitive opening half hour, Salmon Bay broke through in the 37th minute when Samiah Shell cut in from the right wing and curled a shot into the far top corner to give Salmon Bay, aka “The Coho” a 1-0 lead.
Shell helped double the advantage just before halftime. In the 42nd minute, she sent a cross to Ameera Hussen, who headed the ball into the net to make it 2-0.
Capo FC challenged Salmon Bay early, matching the home side’s shots and shots on goal for much of the first half. But Salmon Bay carried a two-goal lead into the break after scoring twice in the final 10 minutes of the opening half.
Salmon Bay controlled possession throughout the second half, limiting Capo FC’s scoring opportunities while extending its lead in the 81st minute. Hussen collected a loose ball outside the penalty area and scored her second goal of the match to seal the 3-0 victory.
The win also marked several milestones for the club.
Shell became the first Salmon Bay player to reach 10 career goals while recording her ninth career assist. Hussen’s two-goal performance brought her season total to seven, placing her among the team’s top three scorers this season and in club history.
Goalkeeper Elena Milam and the Salmon Bay defense recorded their second consecutive playoff shutout and have now gone 210 minutes without conceding a goal during the 2026 postseason.
The victory also extended Salmon Bay’s unbeaten home record in 2026 to eight wins and one draw.
Rachel Reitz recorded the assist on Shell’s opening goal for her first goal contribution of the season, and every outfield player named in the 20-player matchday squad saw action.
Scoring summary
- 37′ — Samiah Shell, assisted by Rachel Reitz
- 42′ — Ameera Hussen, assisted by Samiah Shell
- 81′ — Ameera Hussen, unassisted
Salmon Bay will host Minnesota Aurora on Saturday at Interbay Stadium with a berth in the national championship match at stake.
Photo: Salmon Bay FC