PDL NW Weekly: Three clubs bolt ahead of the pack, locals all at home this week

USL soccer returns to the city of Seattle this Thursday when Washington Crossfire hosts its home opener against the Spokane Spiders at 7:00 PM at Interbay Stadium. Here Jamie Finch is seen getting ready for a throw-in. (Dale Garvey)

What a week it was for the Portland Timbers U23's. Last Tuesday they edged Tacoma Tide FC 1:0 before over 2,200 fans at PGE Park. Last Friday they beat the Spokane Spiders in Spokane 3:0. Saturday they topped off a perfect week with a 2:0 win in Yakima over the Reds. Their door prize for their great week? It will have to be their three-way tie for first in the PDL Northwest Division, because Portland lost out on goal differential to the Kitsap Pumas for the lone division US Open Cup berth.

The top of the table clubs are pulling away from the pack, and in the early season it is looking like the title contenders are Kitsap, Portland and Victoria.

Puget Sound area soccer fans will be happy to note that all three clubs have home matches this week. See the schedule below that includes the home openers for Washington Crossfire (Thursday night at Interbay) and Tacoma Tide FC (Friday night at Curtis High School).

Crossfire has declared Thursday's opener as "Blackout night," and they are encouraging fans to wear black Crossfire colors. Watch Examiner for more details on return of USL soccer to Seattle later this week.

Last week's matches:

Portland-1 Tacoma-0 The U23's stayed undefeated but only scoring once did not help their Open Cup chances. The match was played before 2,200 school kids as part of a health day. Tacoma remains winless. Report.

Portland-3 Spokane-0 The U23's needed to win big to stay with Kitsap, and they did so in Spokane. Brian Ramsey scored twice. Spokane remains winless. Report.

Portland-2 Yakima-0 The Timbers moved into a first-place tie with Kitsap and Victoria (third on goal differential) but lost out on an Open Cup spot. Yakima remains winless. Report.

Kitsap-2 Washington-0 The Pumas have now won their first four league matches by a combined scoreline of 12-0, good enough to take the US Open Cup spot. Crossfire remains winless. Report.

Victoria-5 Abbotsford-1 The Highlanders got a hat trick from Jordie Hughes to rout the Mariners before 1,200 fans on the island. Abbotsford remains winless with a draw. Report.

This week:

Thursday May 27: Spokane Spiders at Washington Crossfire (7 PM)

Friday May 28: Yakima Reds at Tacoma Tide FC (7:30 PM)

Saturday May 29: Abbotsford Mariners at Kitsap Pumas (7:30 PM)

Sunday May 30:

Victoria Highlanders at Portland Timbers U23's (TBD)

Spokane Spiders at Tacoma Tide FC (3:00 PM)

Yakima Reds at Washington Crossfire (3:00 PM)

All of the Puget Sound area PDL clubs have home matches this week. The match of the weekend looks to be Victoria at Portland.