Kitsap Pumas back in first place after 3-1 victory in BC

The Kitsap Pumas were out of first place in the PDL Northwest division for a little less than one day. Last night the West Sound club scored a 3-1 victory over the Abbotsford Mariners in Chilliwack BC to regain the top spot. The Pumas are undefeated in league play after eight matches (half-way through the regular season) with six wins and two draws and 20 standings points.

It was Bremerton native Kyle Johnson who scored the winning goal for the Pumas in  the 33rd minute.

In other Northwest division action Yakima beat Tacoma Tide FC 4-1 on a hat trick from Sounders Super Search winner Vini Oliveira, the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency woke up to clobber the Spokane Spiders 6-0 in BC, and the Cascade Surge beat the Victoria Highlanders 2-1 before 1,500 fans in Victoria. Sunday the Portland Timbers U-23's visited Vancouver and came away 2-0 winners over the Whitecaps.

Portland and Seattle are tied with 19 points in the standings, just one point behind leaders Kitsap. The top two clubs will qualify for the regional playoffs.

Kyle Johnson, UPS graduate and Bremerton High School alum, scored Kitsap's second goal last night.

Here is a report from the Pumas:

Chilliwack, British Columbia - The Kitsap Pumas retained their grip on first place in the Northwest Division of the United Soccer League’s Premier Development League with a dominant 3-1 win tonight over the Abbotsford Mariners tonight under sunny skies and before a crowd of 135. 

The win maintains the first-year franchise’s unbeaten status atop its division at 20 points (6-0-2) as the club hits the mid-point of its season. Abbotsford falls to 2-4-1 (7 points). Kitsap also grew its goal differential to +14 (19 for, five against) – fourth-best in the 68-team PDL. Kitsap is one of only five unbeaten teams in the PDL and the only unbeaten side in the Northwest Division.  

“We played well in patches and were up 2-1 at half,” said head coach John Wedge. “After we got it to 3-1 we were pretty well all over them until the close. I think their goal was offside and I’m sure we should have had a penalty – but regardless of all that it’s a very solid win.”

Kitsap forward Spencer Schomaker opened the scoring in the 5th-minute, getting a shot off a great move and an assist from speedy winger Mark Conrad. 

Abbotsford’s Justin Cordick leveled the score a minute later off an assist from forward Gibson Bardsley. 

Pumas Midfielder Kyle Johnson notched his first goal as a professional with a near-post blast in the 33rd-minute giving Kitsap the lead for good.  

Max Lipset added insurance off a long throw from D Mark Lee, which the balletic 6’ 5” defender poked in from the far post to close out the scoring. 

The Pumas outshot their hosts by a whopping 20-8 margin – its highest shot total on the season and in the club’s brief history. Further proof of the Pumas’ attacking mindset tonight were the corner totals – seven for the visitors and none for Abbotsford. 

The victory and the lead are also enhanced by the fact that Kitsap still holds a game in hand over its nearest competitors in the division. 

The Abbotsford goal broke a string of 456 consecutive shutout minutes for Pumas goalkeeper Dustyn Brim who made four saves.

Eli Gordley, far right, was called "Man of the Match" by Pumas' head coach John Wedge. 

The Pumas next face Victoria at home Friday Night then turn around for an afternoon match versus Vancouver a week from Sunday – Father’s Day. 

“(Forward) Eli (Gordley) was the Man of the Match as far as I’m concerned,” said Wedge, “he was outstanding.” The match marked Gordley’s first start for Kitsap.

“Kudos to (Abbotsford General Manager) Brad Nichol and his staff for pulling this match off in such short notice,” said Kitsap Executive Director Ben Pecora. “He is one of the unsung heroes of the PDL.”  The match had to be moved after damage to the Mariners' usual home pitch.