Pumas get early brace from Phillips to tame Seattle Wolves 2-0; extend division lead

In a match that meant something for both sides in terms of playoffs and division titles, the Kitsap Pumas beat Seattle Wolves FC 2-0 Tuesday night at Bremerton's Memorial Stadium.

UPDATE: Jenni Conner's match gallery now online here. Preview below.

Before more than half of the late-arriving Tuesday night Kitsap crowd of over 1,100 had even found their seats it was already 2-0 Pumas. The Seattle Wolves were reeling and Stephen Phillips was stealing the show.

It was all the Pumas needed as they coasted past the Wolves and extended their lead over the Seattle club to nine points in the PDL Northwest Division. Kitsap leads second place Portland Timbers U-23's by seven points.

The top three clubs make the playoffs. Right now Seattle Wolves sit third on 23 points, just one ahead of 4th place Cascade, who have a match in hand on the Wolves.

Stephen Phillips celebrates after putting the Pumas up 1-0 in the 3rd minute at Bremerton Memorial Stadium. (Jenni Conner photo)

Phillips scored his first goal in the 3rd minute when he played himself a great touch along the right side that led to a far post shot that beat the Wolves' goalkeeper.

Eight minutes later it was deja vu all over again as Phillips again tortured the right side and put Kitsap up 2-0 with another soft, accurate touch. “My dad always told me to never slow down, so I just try to keep going– especially when you have that little burst of pace on them and you're ahead of them,” Phillips said of his second score. “That slide toe poke – it was just instinct, I guess.”

“Just seeing him fight those two guys off – every time he gets in a dangerous space, I'm on my toes knowing he's going to score,” Kitsap goalkeeper Dustyn Brim said.

Pumas head coach John Wedge praised Phillips for yet another strong performance.“He's amazing,” he said. “You don't think he's going to get to a ball, but he stretches out (and gets it)... he's so composed out there."

From there on the Pumas and Wolves each had a few chances and the match at times was reduced to a lot of midfield give and take. In the end Kitsap got their desired result and remain undefeated in league play after twelve matches with 10 wins and  2 draws.

“We know we're playing well and we're a good team,” Wedge said afterward. “We just keep rolling.”

Brim felt the entire team gave its all on the pitch against the Wolves.

“Full credit (goes) to the team,” he said. “Bodies were flying – on every single opportunity they had we were throwing whatever we had in front of the ball. When you put in an effort like that, you're going to get a good result.” The season couldn't have gone any better for the Pumas so far, and Brim feels it's due to a sense of brotherhood that has developed within the side.

“The whole team has come together so fast and so tight,” he said. “We do everything together off the field. We're around each other 24/7. Normally you would get tired of people and you're not – we just keep plugging for each other and having fun with each other.”

The Kitsap crowd celebrated after the final whistle and many filled the field to congratulate the Pumas and to enjoy the win.

Kitsap travels to Portland on July 4th for another big division battle against the Timbers U-23's. The Seattle Wolves host the Victoria Highlanders this Friday July 3rd at Starfire Sports Complex.

Kitsap Sun: Pumas putting it all together

Over1,100 fans watched the Tuesday night match in sunny conditions.

Phillips' second goal a short while later brought this display from the Pumas. (Jenni Conner)