PDL NW Weekly: Kitsap takes early US Open Cup berth lead

Kitsap Pumas forward Tye Perdido is partially eclipsed by a soccer ball during warm-ups between Kitsap and Yakima Saturday night in the Sun City. The Pumas were ahead 3:0 after only twelve minutes and eventually won 4:0. (David Falk)

United States Open Cup qualifying is underway for Premier Development League American sides around the country and in the Northwest. See more at TheCup.us.

The Kitsap Pumas took the lead in that race and in the Northwest Division after routing the Yakima Reds 4:0 in Yakima Saturday night. The Pumas jumped out to a 3:0 lead after only twelve minutes of play and coasted to the victory.

Yakima Reds entered the match suddenly down at least three of their better players. They were not declared eligible by match time.

Washington Crossfire held tryouts last week. Among those onhand and likely to start for Crossfire this season is former Seattle Sounder forward Kevin Forrest. Forrest scored the match-winner last year when Sounders FC advanced in the US Open Cup over Colorado. He is a Washington graduate and is familiar with Crossfire head coach Seth Spidahl. Crossfire will play Western Washington University Friday at Redmond High School as they continue to assess their roster options. Washington opens its season Saturday May 15 with a 2:30 PM clash at Portland against the Timbers U23's.

Portland Timbers U-23's have signed U-20 New Zealand National Team goalkeeper Jake Gleeson.

The inaugural Coast Capital Cup goes to...Vancouver Whitecaps Residency. (Victoria Highlanders photo)

The Victoria Highlanders and Abbotsford Mariners met on Saturday in the pre-season Coast Capital Cup before over 1,000 fans. The Highlanders came away with a 3:1 win. On Sunday the cup came down to a match between Victoria and the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency. Vancouver took home the trophy with a 1:0 win.

Vancouver won the Coastal Cup after beating Victoria and previously drawing 1:1 at Abbotsford on Friday.

The Highlanders are making all kinds of news up north. They are working with Sheffield Wednesday. See two Wednesday player profiles here. They had their opener previewed, along with their new roster, here.

The Spokane Spiders have a new sister in the Lilac City, the Black Widows of the WPSL.

Recently, goalkeeper Vito Higgins played in goal for Spokane in a pre-season match with Yakima. The former MLS 'keeper had also spent some time in Kitsap tryouts. If Higgins, who is a coach at Gonzaga, can recruit some of his Zags to the Spiders, then Spokane might be able to surprise in 2010.

This week's matches:

May 8: Kitsap Pumas at Spokane Spiders (7:00 PM)
May 8: Vancouver Whitecaps Residency at Victoria Highlanders (7:00 PM)