Pumas squash Spokane Spiders with six-goal outburst

June 27, 10:43 PMSeattle Soccer ExaminerDavid Falk

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Stephen Phillips (left) attacks for the Pumas.

If all of the goals called back by officials tonight in Bremerton had stood then the Kitsap Pumas would have hit double-digits in the goal column. As it was six were let stand and the Pumas squashed the out-matched Spiders of Spokane 6-1 at sunny Memorial Stadium.

With the victory Kitsap maintains distance atop the PDL Northwest Division with 29 points. The Pumas remain undefeated in league play after 11 matches with 9 wins and 2 draws.

The soccer was local and smoke from dollar-sized 'brats' was wafting across the pitch during the match at noisy Memorial. New on the scene were giant checkered Pumas-colored blue and white flags brought by supporters who stood the entire match and chanted from the endline beachers. The Sounders FC "North End Supporters," with roots in Kitsap County, brought the flags. In the first half at the opposite end shirtless pot-bangers serenaded the Spokane goalkeeper. In the second half the two groups united and it was a frenzy of support for the Pumas all in one place. They celebrated each Kitsap goal with throaty vigor and flags aloft.

It was one of those post-to-post wins where thePumas started well early and then smelled blood late. Tony Kerr converted a penalty kick in the 4th minute after Eli Gordley has been fouled in the box. Gordley made it 2-0 in the 17th when he curled a ball to the far side. Several Pumas goals were called back before Stephen Phillips made it 3-0 just before halftime.

Kitsap fans were calling for a fourth goal so they could get free "Chalupas" from Taco Bell (a club promotion) and Mark Conrad answered their hunger pains in the 63rd. It was Conrad again in the 75th to make it 5-1 after Spokane had surprised the Pumas defense with a goal in the 64th.

Spencer Schomaker converted the 6th goal via a penalty kick strike in front of the flag-waving, drum-beating Pumas supporters to end the convincing rout.

Players and fans streamed the pitch after the final whistle to thank each other and put a capper on the night. I was just about off the pristine green grass field when a kid from the concession stands who was now working the mob on the pitch yelled "Puma dogs now only one dollar!" He didn't have a quick taker, so he headed for the middle. "What are you doing?" said a friend who was with him. "Hot dogs are one buck, but for the players they are free," he answered. Sure enough a look behind saw Tony Kerr taking advantage of the 'free player dog.' He looked down at the hot dog and back up at the kid, still on the pitch, still sweating from the match in his soaked uniform.

"Got any mustard on you?" he asked.

Kitsap will now rest up for Tuesday's big showdown match with the Seattle Wolves at Bremerton Memorial Stadium. The winner of that match will take big strides towards a playoff spot and winning the 2009 division crown.

Mark Conrad scored two second-half goals in the Pumas rout of Spokane.

See Jenni Conner's Match Photo Gallery from GOALKitsap.com

Kitsap Sun: Pumas leave Spiders spinning

Match stats page from USLsoccer.com

 Club match report as posted at SeattleSoccerTalk.com