Tye Perdido, center, is congratulated by his Pumas mates after scoring on Saturday night against the USL Division One Portland Timbers. (Jenni Conner)
Two clubs who are planning to go up another level met Saturday night at Memorial Stadium in Bremerton. It was the USSF DII (formerly USL-1) Portland Timbers, headed to Major League Soccer in 2011, against the USL Premier Development League Kitsap Pumas, planning to join the USL Second Division (USL-2) in 2011. For the second straight time the Pumas came out on top over Portland, this time 3:2. The Pumas also beat the Timbers 1:0 in Portland last fall. Kitsap had been away at camp previously getting ready for the Portland match. The two clubs also held a closed-door scrimmage on the last day of March at Silverdale Stadium.
Newcomer Robbie Christner scored two goals for the Pumas. Christner, a 24-year-old forward who played soccer at Oregon State University, put Kitsap up 2-1 in the 61st-minute when he found himself open with the ball from 27 yards out. He didn't hesitate, sending in a rocket that beat goalie Steve Cronin for the lead.
Robbie Christner scored two second-half goals to lead Kitsap over the USL-1 Portland Timbers 3:2 Saturday night in Bremerton. (Jenni Conner)
After Portland's James Marcelin tied it up two minutes later, Christner put Kitsap up for good when he received a cross from Greg Miley who was just outside the penalty box on the right wing.
Christner immediately sent in a grounder that got past Cronin to nestle in the left corner of the goal. “The first goal was right place, right time," he said. “The defense was dropping back and so I was able to come forward on the ball.
“Greg put a beautiful ball in,” Christner continued. “He got his head up and found me making a run in. I did the easy part. He did all the work.”
Head coach Peter Fewing said he was not only impressed with Christner's play on the pitch, but his attitude off it. “He came to us well recommended,” Fewing said. “You can just tell that he's got ability and can score in pressure situations... when we talked, I told him about our dilemma and how we had a lot of guys over the (age-limit.) “He said 'I'd like to try it anyway,” Fewing continued. “I liked that response.”
The Pumas responded after Ryan Pore put the Timbers up in the 40th-minute. He connected with an unmarked header off a corner kick from Rodrigo Lopez that settled into the left of the net.
Robbie Christner, fist raised, celebrates his match-winning goal against the Timbers. (Jenni Conner)
But with the crowd just getting settled in for the second half, the Pumas’ Cameron Hepple found fellow-newcomer Tye Perdido with a great cross as the two center-halves closed in on Hepple. Perdido did the rest, pulling Cronin out of goal far enough to chip a shot over his head in the 48th minute.
“Those were three good goals, “Fewing said. “Cronin is a fantastic keeper. To score three goals on him is very impressive. All three of those goals would go in in a lot of places.”
The Pumas also got a break when Lopez was sent off in the 60th-minute after a hard tackle on Hepple. He had received a yellow card in the 58th-minute already for dissension.
The win is a big step for the second-year franchise, but Fewing said they not only need to be ready for the teams they face in the future, but they can't rest on their laurels. The win is notable in that the Pumas play at the PDL level and the Timbers are at the USL D1 level and will be a Major League Soccer side next season.
“I'm pleased (with the win) but as I told them afterward, we take this win and we put it behind us and move on to the next thing,” he said. “Everybody we play, they're going to say ‘If we can beat these guys, we can beat anybody.’”
The Pumas continue their pre-season schedule with a match against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at noon next Saturday at Bainbridge High School. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 4-12.
Examine Further:
Pumas cut down the mighty Timbers (Kitsap Sun)
Timbers end preseason trip with loss to Kitsap (PortlandTimbers.com)
This report features content from a Kitsap Pumas press release.
No goals, but some action from the match thanks to the Conners:
Comments
So PROUD!
SIGN ROBBIE!!! :)
Fantastic game by our PUMAS! #23 Jason Cascio was impressive. It will take a while to put names, faces and numbers together for the new guys; the program was missing #s for some Pumas and others did not have their name on the back of their jerseys.
So happy to see Timers #8 Lopez get sent off for his second yellow card. He scored the game-winner for Ventura County Fusion against the Pumas in Laredo, TX last summer knocking the Pumas out of the playoffs. That was his only game he played all year long for the Fusion - was on the roster most of the season, something about problems getting out of Mexico.
Doing what Sounders FC couldn't do: the Kitsap Pumas
So I guess this means Pumas > Sounders. :)
#15 was impressive as well. Good show from all of them.
@Chris, I agree about Lopez. I imagine he is going to be a liability for the Timbers. Obvious attitude problem and general lack of respect.
How did Nik Besagno play?
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