Sluggish draw feels more like a loss, Pumas now need help to win division

#16 Jamel Wallace makes the first-half stop for the Kitsap Pumas. (David Falk)

The Kitsap Pumas have a built-in excuse for Sunday's sluggish, uninspired 1:1 draw at Bremerton Memorial Stadium against winless Vancouver Whitescaps Residency. It was the club's 4th match in eight days. Well, maybe an excuse for the sluggish part. As for the lack of urgency shown by Kitsap in the embarrassing home draw, the players and coaches will have to do some soul-searching. The step forward taken after Friday's big win over Victoria has been met by a step back.

From the beginning the Pumas were slow and out of sorts. The younger Vancouver side had lost 5:2 to Washington Crossfire in Seattle on Friday night while Kitsap were topping Victoria, but certainly they looked to be the more-rested side.

The Pumas kept some starting speed on the bench (Cameron Hepple, Mark Lee) and it showed with plodding, hardly-creative work up front by both Tye Perdido and Stephen Phillips in the early going. Eli Gordley came in for Phillips and scored the lone Kitsap goal in the 43rd minute (see video). Gordley coolly finished after finding himself open on the left side of the Residency defense. “I was just going to rush the keeper and I was able to get to it before he did,” Gordley said. “Then I just slid it into the open net.”

Gordley's goal could have, maybe even should have been not only enough, but followed by more. Even a rash of second-half substitutions failed to inspire Kitsap play or change the scoreboard. In fact, it was Vancouver who drew level and had the better chances to win it late on.

Alex Sements beat goalkeeper Dustyn Brim from about 10 yards out in the 58th minute for the equalizer. Sements was in open space when he received the ball and slipped between two defenders, setting up an open shot.

“He came inside on his preferred right foot, 12 yards out and curled it into the back post,” Brim said.

In the recent history of the PDL this must be considered one of the bigger 'upsets,' and certainly Kitsap's worst home league result ever. The Pumas have never lost a league match at home, but now have another draw to go along with their first ever home match (1:1 against Tacoma) in 2009.

“For us it’s like a loss, especially at home,” Fewing said. “We can’t make excuses."

“We’re not happy at all,” said Kitsap goal-scorer Eli Gordley. “We all have high expectations for ourselves and we didn’t get it done today. We should have had a win.”

Kitsap is now 8-1-1 with 25 points, in second place, and will need help from other teams if they are to catch the 9-0-0 Portland Timbers U23's for the regular season division crown. Vancouver remain winless and in last place in the table with 3 points and a 0-3-4 record (W-D-L).

Feeling good about this upset will be Tacoma Tide FC and Victoria Highlanders FC. Both clubs have been given a lifeline for second place and the final playoff spot by today's result.

Victoria can jump level with the Pumas later on Sunday when they host Washington Crossfire. Tacoma have their match of the year so far when they host Portland this Wednesday June 30th.

The Pumas' next match is in Victoria on July 3rd.

UPDATE: Washington Crossfire helped the Pumas out today when they scored their own upset draw on the road, a 2:2 final at Victoria. The Highlanders saw two points slip away when Crossfire scored the tieing goal in the 84th minute.

Kitsap Sun match report and gallery