Kitsap Pumas 'storm' past Vancouver 4-0 on Father's Day

June 21, 7:51 PMSeattle Soccer ExaminerDavid Falk

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Bremerton, WA - In West Sound this Father's Day there were spots of heavy hail, thunder, heavy rain and lightning. The 1:00 PM kick off time for the Kitsap Pumas - Vancouver Whitecaps (PDL) soccer match was pushed back for over half an hour by officials to let the storm cells pass through. When the match was finally allowed to be played it was the Pumas who stormed past the Whitecaps 4-0.

PDL soccer continues to draw well in Bremerton, even  on a stormy Father's Day matinee.

It was a lively crowd on the Pumas' first Sunday matinee match. Forced to the grandstand to take cover from the weather, the crowd of 564 looked and sounded bigger than their official numbers. Amongst the crowd was Pumas centerback Max Lipset, who was serving a one-match red card suspension. Lipset visited with photographer Jenni and myself in the first half. You can see Max in the video below trying to grab the spotlight away from assist man Tony Kerr. Some people just don't know their place. (Seriously, it will be good to have you back in the line-up next match, Max.)

It was all smiles and cheers from the gathering when Kitsap went ahead 1-0 on a goal from Matt Friesen in the 8th minute (see video highlights). It was just the start the Pumas were hoping to plant on the tired Whitecaps.

In the 31st minute Friesen made it 2-0 when he connected on a ball delivered by Kyle Johnson in front of the box and lined the shot past the helpless Vancouver goalkeeper. It was really match-over at this point. Vancouver had done very little offensive challenging.

It was 3-0 at the half after Tony Kerr caught a ball on the left side and crossed it across the goal before it could reach the endline. On the end of the cross was Kyle Johnson, who headed it sharply home for one of the better goals of the year for the Pumas in the 43rd minute. (See video highlights) The celebration by Johnson and the Pumas was some kind of strange over the back shirt collar grab. Obviously an inside joke. I am almost afraid to ask.

A strange goal celebration is performed by Kyle Johnson (center) and Stephen Phillips. Do we even want to know?

Mark Conrad (right) of the Pumas streaks down the sideline in the second half against the Whitecaps' Paul Hamilton.

The second half saw multiple substitutions and Kitsap closed things out late when Jesse Wheelock tapped a ball home a few minutes from the final whistle (89th minute) on an assist from Zack Sampson. It was North Kitsap resident Sampson's first scoring sheet mark as a pro and Wheelock's first league tally as a Puma. The crowd erupted, and the fourth goal meant all in attendance would be getting a free "Chalupa" from local Taco Bells. Woo-hoo! What was the score again?

The victory keeps the Pumas undefeated in league play with 8 wins and 2 draws. Kitsap's 26 points are 4 ahead of Seattle Wolves and Portland Timbers U-23's. Portland edged Tacoma Tide FC today in a wild 4-3 affair in Oregon. All three clubs have now played an equal ten matches.

Kitsap outshot Vancouver 13-7 and had the distinct advantage of being able to rest a day between matches. On Friday the Pumas edged Victoria 2-1 at home. Last night the Vancouver club lost 1-0 in Seattle in a match that ended around 9:30 PM. Roughly 16 hours later the Caps were playing again. They were naturally a step off and a bit behind the first-half action. Credit to the Pumas for talking advantage and putting the match out of doubt early on.

Kitsap will try to remain undefeated when they host the Spokane Spiders this coming Saturday night June 27th at Memorial Stadium in Bremerton at 7:00 PM. Max Lipset is expected to be back as a starter. However, we'll reserve a spot next to Bill and Jenni for him, just in case.

Official match stats page.

Club match report.

Pumas-Whitecaps match photos from Jenni Conner and GOALKitsap.com

My match photos gallery.

Kitsap Sun: Pumas pound Whitecaps

Frenchman has finallly arrived: French midfielder Aziz Dieng arrived today after nearly two months of attempting to gain his visa. Pumas staff  member Vicki Williams worked tirelessly in conjunction with Congressman Jay Inslee's office to get him here. He arrived at the Bremerton ferry terminal just as today's match was ending.

Tony Kerr and Matt Friesen (goal scorer) head for the team bench to celebrate after the Pumas went up early 1-0.