PDL NW Weekly: Crossfire wins twice, race for second spot stays tight

The Portland Timbers U23's edged Tacoma Tide FC 2:1 last week to take a commanding division advantage. (Jenni Conner)

Seattle's entry in the PDL Northwest, Washington Crossfire, caught fire last week and won two matches to raise their season total to five victories. Crossfire will have a big say in the playoff race as they host Portland, Kitsap and Tacoma at Interbay Stadium in the coming weeks.  Meanwhile, the Portland Timbers U23's will win the 2010 division title unless they have a complete meltdown. The 11-0-0 Timbers have a favorable schedule the rest of the way and even if they were to lose their final weekend (July 17, 18) matches in Victoria and Kitsap, they would likely still take the crown (barring upset losses beforehand).

Kitsap, Tacoma and Victoria will battle it out for second place and the final playoff spot. The Pumas hold the advantage in this race with five matches still to play, though three of those are away, and two of those are against Portland (home) and Tacoma (away). The Tide appear to have the 'softest' remaining schedule with three home matches and a trip to Seattle to face Crossfire. Victoria are near the end of their chances with only three matches left to get enough points to beat out Kitsap or Tacoma.

This Week

Wednesday July 7: Portland Timbers U23's at Washington Crossfire (Interbay, 7 PM)

Thursday July 8: Yakima Reds at Spokane Spiders (Joe Albi, 7 PM)

Friday July 9: Abbotsford Mariners at Portland Timbers U23's (Gresham, 7 PM)

Vancouver Whitecaps Residency at Tacoma Tide FC (Curtis HS, 7:30 PM)

Saturday July 10: Abbotsford Mariners at Tacoma Tide FC (Tumwater, 7 PM)

Yakima Reds at Kitsap Pumas (Bremerton Memorial, 7:30 PM)

Sunday July 11: Vancouver Whitecaps Residency at Portland Timbers U23's (PGE, 2 PM)

Last Week

Tacoma Tide FC 1:2 Portland Timbers U23's The Timbers got an 84th-minute winner to snap Tacoma's nine-match unbeaten string.

Abbotsford Mariners 0:6 Washington Crossfire Ryan Luke scored four goals as Washington destroyed Abbey in BC.

Vancouver Whitecaps Residency 3:4 Washington Crossfire Cullen Wilson scored a brace to help Washington hold off Vancouver.

Portland Timbers U23's 9:0 Spokane Spiders UW Husky Brent Richards scored four of Portland's first five goals in the complete rout.

Victoria Highlanders 0:0 Kitsap Pumas The Highlanders had the better chances but Kitsap held on to earn a draw and take an advantage in the race for second place.

Yakima Reds 6:2 Spokane Spiders The Reds won their third match as Spokane fell into last place.

Abbotsford Mariners 1:2 Vancouver Whitecaps Residency Vancouver crawled out of last place by finally winning their first match of 2010. The match-winning strike came in stoppage time.

"Yellow Fever" supports the Tide in Tacoma, but they got bad news this week when the club owner told Examiner that the Tide could move or fold after this season. (Jenni Conner)

League News

Tacoma Tide FC revealed they are looking at all options for 2011, including moving the club to Olympia, elsewhere or folding altogether.

Based on point totals, here are the top five clubs in all of the PDL (nationally):

1. Portland Timbers U23's (33)

2. Thunder Bay Chill (31)

3. Ironbound Express (28)

4. Orange County Blue Star (27)

5. Four clubs, including Kitsap Pumas, on (26)

Playoff Format

The 2010 PDL playoff format is different than it was in 2009. This year the number of clubs making the post-season has been cut from 24 to 16, with the top two in each division getting spots. Each division has been matched with a counterpart for Conference Finals. The Northwest is partnered with the Southwest. In a playoff series to be hosted at a yet-to-be-named venue, the four clubs will play to advance. NW #1 will play SW #2 and SW#1 will play NW #2 in the first matches on a Friday, with the winners facing each other on Sunday.

As of today the playoffs would pit Portland Timbers U23's against the Hollywood United Hitmen, and Orange County Blue Star against the Kitsap Pumas.

It is expected that the Kitsap Pumas have placed a bid to host this playoff weekend should they qualify for the playoffs.