Kitsap Pumas pull ahead of Victoria with second-half surge

Pumas supporters break out the blue smoke to celebrate a Kitsap goal last night in Bremerton. (Jenni Conner)

Pumas' central defender Dan Scott pushes up on offense for this first-half header. (Daniel Simpson)

The Kitsap Pumas took exactly one half of soccer action to 'pounce back' from their United States Open Cup loss on Tuesday. After a first 45 that saw both the Pumas and the visiting Victoria Highlanders unable to string passes and dangerous attacks together, the Pumas struck for two just after the break and thus moved ahead of Victoria in the battle for a PDL NW Division playoff spot.

“I’m glad,” Pumas head coach Pete Fewing said after the win. “Tuesday was tough for us… We have very high hopes and expectations in this organization.”

Matt Friesen broke through for the Pumas in the 51st minute, igniting a column of blue and white smoke set off by supporters behind the Vancouver goal. Before the smoke had cleared supporters were already lighting up another round for Cameron Hepple's blast in the 55th.

Friesen took a pass from Tye Perdido at the top of the penalty box, turned and squeezed a low shot past a pair of Victoria defenders, finding the inside of the right post.

“I just tried to steer it to toward the outside post,” Friesen said. “Luckily for us, it went in.”

“It’s big. We’re looking to win every game, so it’s another step toward wining the league again,” Friesen said. “It’s good to get on track again.”

Hepple's goal just four minutes later took a lot out of the visiting Highlanders.

The Bahamian international took a beautiful chip from Stephen Phillips - who lofted a smart chip over the Highlanders’ back line, corralled the ball with his left foot and volleyed the ball home with his right.

The goal resulted in a wild celebration on the pitch and in the stands, including a Pumas-blue explosion of smoke from a particularly spirited supporters section.

“I just made a run and it was a perfect ball over the defense,” Hepple said. “I took a touch and put it near-post.”

Victoria defender Jamie Cunnigham tracks the progress of Kitsap forward Tye Perdido. (Daniel Simpson)

This was the third match in six days for Kitsap, who beat Spokane 4:1 on June 19 and lost to the Portland Timbers in the US Open Cup on June 22. The Pumas players were exhausted but relieved after the match as hundreds of fans mingled with them on the pitch amidst the lingering smell of supporters' smoke bombs.

“Our guys did well,” Kitsap coach Peter Fewing said. “I’m very proud of them.”

The Pumas will play their 4th match in eight days on Sunday June 27 when they host the winless Vancouver Whitecaps Residency at 1:30 PM at Bremerton Memorial Stadium.

Notes

Sometimes you just need to be a fan. I didn't shoot video of the match because I was in the supporters' end with the Hellcats and Elite making noise and lighting off smoke bombs. Most fun I've had at a soccer match in quite some time.

The Pumas players showed a lot of class and unity with their supporters by wearing black armbands during last night's match. Last Saturday one of the Hellcats supporters was called to the press box during the match to get bad news that a relative was critically ill. During the week the brother passed away.

The Pumas continue to suffer along with the rest of the region in terms of lousy weather. Every league match has been either overcast and colder than usual, or raining. Only the USOC match with Portland has seen sunny skies. 506 fans attended the Victoria match.

Last year's matinee with the Whitecaps produced a few highlight-reel goals and a 4:0 Pumas win.

With the win Kitsap are now 8-0-1 on the season with 24 points (win-draw-loss). The Pumas trail the Portland Timbers U-23's, who are 9-0-0, by three points for first place. The Highlanders fall to third place with 22 points but have already played two more matches than Portland and Kitsap.

See also: Kitsap Sun match report

As the match wound down the Pumas supporters' smoke became a part of the action. (Jenni Conner)