First-year Pumas clinch Northwest Division PDL Regular Season Crown

The Kitsap Pumas are the regular season champions of the Premier Development League Northwest Division. The first-year club beat the Abbotsford Mariners 1:0 last night in Bremerton to clinch a first round bye in the upcoming playoffs before over 1,000 fans. Stephen Phillips' header in the 67th minute was the decider. After the match Pumas players, staff and fans gathered on the middle of the pitch and celebrated the accomplishment.

Meanwhile, east and south of the Pumas the rest of the division playoff spots were also decided, though final positioning still must play out. The Seattle Wolves beat the Cascade Surge 3:0 in Salem to clinch a spot, and the Portland Timbers U-23's won in Yakima 4:2 to clinch as well. Now the Wolves and Timbers will battle for second place to see who gets the right to host their eventual first round playoff match. The Seattle-Portland playoff match winner will travel to Bremerton to play the Pumas when the playoffs begin the weekend of July 24-26. No dates or venues have been finalized yet. The Pumas and Timbers U-23's are both in their very first seasons. The Wolves are in their first season in the PDL.

Here's the Pumas website match report:

"I’m thrilled,” head coach John Wedge said afterward. “I was honored to accept the position in the first place and I’m proud of (owner) Robin (Waite) and (executive director) Ben (Pecora). They’ve been great. Everybody involved with the club – from the front office to the physiotherapy people have been great.

“I’m pleased for the players,” Wedge continued. “They’ve worked so hard and they’ve played as a team. They deserve it.”

Substitute winger Alex Megson tracked a ball deep in Abbotsford’s (4-8-2) end in the 67th-minute that was also covered by two Mariner defenders.

But Megson was the one who hustled harder to the ball, which had stopped a few feet from the line, and got it past  both with some of this season’s most incredible footwork. He then made a pinpoint cross to a streaking Stephen Phillips, who had run right past his marker. 

Goalkeeper Kris Johansson raced toward Phillips but his reaction was way too early. The lethal Phillips took full advantage, heading the ball into the right side of the goal sending the Pumas and the 1,097 in attendance in a frenzied celebration.

It was Phillips’ eighth goal of the season. He also leads the team in points with 19. Megson leads the team in assists with four.

“I knew if I won it – because I saw him (Phillips) closing down – I knew he was right there with the header to finish," Megson said. "I honestly didn’t even look up" to see where (he) was.

“He got right in front of his guy and pulled a sweet move,” Phillips said. “It was a perfect cross right at my head.”

Kitsap Sun: Kitsap Pumas take division title

GOALKitsap.com: Jenni Conner's complete match gallery