WEST SEATTLE, WA — West Seattle Junction FC continued its strong home form on Sunday afternoon, earning a convincing 3-0 victory over Midlakes United in the latest edition of the Lake Washington Derby at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.
The Blues struck early and never looked back, securing their second home clean sheet of the 2026 USL League Two season while maintaining their unbeaten record against Midlakes since both clubs joined the league in 2024.
Junction FC wasted little time finding the breakthrough. In just the second minute, Taisei Iida (#8) capitalized on a Midlakes turnover in midfield, racing onto the loose ball and finishing into an open net to give the hosts an early 1-0 advantage.
The match remained tightly contested through much of the first half, with Junction’s defense limiting Midlakes’ opportunities and goalkeeper Lucas Martin (#29) organizing the back line effectively.
The Blues doubled their lead midway through the second half when Alex Mejia (#9) stepped up over a free kick and drove a dangerous effort toward goal. The shot took a slight deflection before finding the back of the net, extending Junction’s lead to 2-0.
Moments later, Junction delivered the final blow. Asher Hestad (#5) unleashed a spectacular free kick from approximately 25 yards out, curling his effort into the net to put the match beyond reach and cap off a dominant 3-0 performance.
Junction’s defense remained resolute throughout the afternoon, recording another clean sheet and frustrating the Midlakes attack from start to finish. Martin was called upon several times to make key interventions as the Blues secured all three points in front of their home supporters.
The victory adds another chapter to a growing rivalry between the two clubs. Since entering USL League Two together in 2024, Junction FC and Midlakes United have frequently found themselves near one another in the standings, but Midlakes remains in search of its first-ever
win over the West Seattle side.
“It’s always important to take care of business in derby matches,” said Junction FC Head Coach Mike Mata. “The players showed great focus from the opening whistle, defended well, and took advantage of our opportunities on set pieces. It was a complete team performance.”
The two sides will meet again later this week as the Lake Washington Derby shifts to the Eastside for the return fixture, providing Midlakes an immediate opportunity for redemption and Junction FC another chance to continue its strong run of form.
Junction FC returns to action on the road later this week before returning home on June 21 for the club’s highly anticipated “The Red, White & Blues” World Cup Doubleheader, featuring both Junction FC and Rhodies FC wearing their special edition third kits in a celebration of West Seattle, the U.S. Men’s National Team, and America’s 250th anniversary.
