From left to right Stephen Phillips, Tony Kerr and (goal scorer) Spencer Schomaker celebrate Kitsap's score in the club's historic home opener Friday night at Memorial Stadium in Bremerton, WA. (Jenni Conner)
The Kitsap Pumas played their first home match in club history Friday night and drew 1,572 fans to Bremerton's Memorial Stadium. The Pumas also 'drew' Tacoma Tide FC in the first match of the new Narrows Bridge Bell rivalry. The Bell is tied 1:1 and the outcome of the rematch between Tacoma and Kitsap in July in Tacoma will decide which club gets the Bell for the first year.
Spencer Schomaker gave Kitsap the lead in the 12th minute when he made the most of a defensive error from the Tacoma back line and chipped Tide goalkeeper Jordan Jennings. Schomaker was not only mobbed by teammates, he was mobbed by coaches and players on the bench as he ran over to the sideline to celebrate. “I was able to jump on a bad pass and jump on the opportunity,” he said. “The goalie came out and I was able to chip it over.”
Tacoma drew level in the 72nd when a rolling cross into the middle of the Kitsap box couldn't be contained by Pumas 'keeper Dustyn Brim. The Tide's Machael ("Michael") David scooped the ball into the net for the leveler. “It's my bad, bottom line. It's never easy to drop a 1-0 lead at home," said Brim after the match.
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Highlight reel of the opener includes Kitsap's goal and an interview with the scorer Spencer Schomaker.
Missed opportunities, such as Mark Conrad putting a direct shot right into the goalkeeper's hands in the fourth minute, came back to haunt Kitsap when the Tide scored in the second half.
“They came out with a lot more energy,” Schomaker said. “They were able to control the ball a lot more, and that's something we need to work on.
“I felt like it wasn't so much that we let up, they started taking it to us more,” he continued. “I don't know if it was nerves or what.
They just did a better job of keeping the ball from us.”
Despite the tie, the crowd created a festive atmosphere that the Pumas appreciated. “The energy they brought was fantastic and the turnout was really good,” Brim said as he signed numerous autographs for kids. “To actually get out here and play was a blast.”
Schomaker agreed. “It was awesome,” he said. “To hear fans chanting your name, chanting everything, it definitely picks you up.”
Head coach John Wedge was a bit worried that the atmosphere would emulate their past two road wins (Spokane and Yakima, respectively) or when they went to scout the Tide at the Seattle Wolves. “It was like a bloody morgue,” he said of the atmosphere in Seattle Wednesday. “I was focused on the game but I must say I was delighted with our atmosphere and the passion our fans brought.”
But even with the hyped crowd, Brim said they should have held onto the lead. “We kind of let off a bit in the second half,” he said. “We thought we could expose them with some long balls and we kind of got tunnel vision on that.”
Brim also said he'll be eager to get back out there and pitch another shutout next weekend. “If you let it stay on your mind, it'll bring down your confidence,” he said. “And confidence is fifty-percent of a keeper's game. “I'll suck it up, take the pain from it tonight and learn from it.”
A crowd of 1,572 was on hand for the match. It is a solid start at the gate for the Pumas. As a reference, Tacoma Tide FC debuted in 2006 and drew about that many fans for their entire first season of eight home matches.
Kitsap (2-0-1) hosts the Cascade Surge next Saturday at 7 p.m. The club's supplier, Puma, will be providing seat cushions and other official Puma merchandise to the first 750 fans.
Report includes information supplied by the Kitsap Pumas.
Kitsap's Tony Kerr talks about the opening night match.
Pumas' assistant coach James Ritchie talks with Prost Amerika about the match as we listen in (Exclusive).
Comments
Sounds like the Cascade Surge better bring it. Thanks for the coverage.
Way to represent the 3-6-0, Pumas! What a night to be out watching our boys debut and hang with the Kitsap soccer gang!
A night to remember! I am already looking forward to May 23 when our Pumas host Cascade at 7:00 PM. ALLEZ PUMAS!
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