Pumas Insider

The 2013 season was the first time the Kitsap Pumas failed to make the postseason in the Premier Development League. I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise then that no Pumas made it on the PDL’s All-Western Conference team (another first). Here are the all-conference teams.

Here is a story about a new team — Lane United FC — joining the Premier Development League’s Northwest Division next season. Lane United FC is based in Eugene, Ore. With eight teams in the division, that should mean each teams plays every opponent twice. This season, the Pumas played four teams twice and two teams (Portland and Washington) three times.

Usually that’s a question left for later in the summer, but with the Pumas missing the playoffs for the first time after a fifth-place finish in the PDL’s Northwest Division, it’s a topic worth discussing now.

So who gets the nod? Is it Neil Shaffer, who led the team with five goals and — somewhat out of need due to injuries — became a dependable performer at right back? What about defender Brandon Scott, who started every minute of every game? Or Kasy Kiarash, who scored four goals in eight games after missing the early part of the season with an ankle injury?

Here is my story on the Pumas submitting a letter to the Premier Development League, claiming that Portland Timbers U23s coach Jim Rilatt directed his own players to target and hurt Kitsap players during last Friday’s game in Portland.

A Kitsap fan asked me to inquire about what went down at the game, which featured eight yellow cards, four red cards and saw both Rilatt and Pumas coach James Ritchie get ejected late in the second half.

Ritchie told me on Wednesday about overhearing Rilatt’s instructions during the game. On Thursday, assistants Andrew Chapman and Dustyn Brim shared similar details of the incident. Both said they’ve never heard of a soccer coach blatantly calling for what Brim described as “head-hunting” of players on the other team. The fact that Rilatt openly directed his players to commit hard fouls — and then applauded them when the fouls were committed — struck Brim as bizarre.

Chapman, who wrote the letter, said he wanted to make sure the incident was put “on file” with the league office.

The Kitsap Pumas are bringing back one of their top players from the 2012 season.
Kitsap has reached a loan agreement with the Carolina RailHawks for forward Ben Truax, who scored eight goals for the Pumas last season.
Truax is in town and should be available to play Saturday when Kitsap (1-2-4) faces Portland at Gordon Field at 7 p.m.
“He’s ready to go,” Pumas owner Robin Waite said.
Truax didn’t make an appearance this season with the RailHawks, who play in the North American Soccer League, one level below Major League Soccer.

The good news is that in seven games, the Kitsap Pumas have lost only twice.
The bad news is that the Pumas only have one win over that same span of games.
“I’m sick of ties,” Kitsap coach James Ritchie said on Monday, two days after his team recorded its fourth consecutive tie with a 2-2 result against Vancouver. “It’s number one in the nation.”
Kitsap (1-2-4) is the only Premier Development League with four ties. FC Tucson and CFC Azul each have three.
Against Vancouver, Kitsap outshot the Whitecaps 15-4. Vancouver goalkeeper Simon Thomas made several outstanding saves, including three in the final 10 minutes, Ritchie said. Kitsap also hit the crossbar.
“I think we were really the better team,” Ritchie said. “We just came up against a goalkeeper who was on.”
Note: Defender Marc Tonkel has joined the team and is expected to be eligible to play Saturday against Portland at 7 p.m. Tonkel formerly played for the Timbers U23s.

Last week’s game against Washington Crossfire was considered almost a must-win for the Kitsap Pumas after the team opened the Premier Development League season with two losses to Victoria and Vancouver.
Kitsap beat Crossfire 1-0 to earn three points and the Pumas find themselves tied for third place in the Northwest Division behind Victoria (3-0) and Portland (3-0).
Hosting the Pumas on Friday at Curtis Stadium at 7 p.m., the Sounders FC U23 could view the game as must-win. The team has already lost to Portland and Victoria and certainly doesn’t want to start the season 0-3.
The Sounders might be a tired group facing the Pumas having played four games since May 14. On Tuesday, the Sounders lost to the Charlotte Eagles of USL PRO in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup.

Before the season started, I wondered if playing the first games of the season on the road would come back to hurt the Pumas.

After two games, the team hasn’t persuaded me to change that opinion.

Coming off a 3-0 loss to Victoria, the Pumas made an improvement on the scoreboard Friday, losing to Vancouver 2-1. Kitsap led 1-0 in the first half before allowing goals in the 69th and 70th minutes in the second half. I’m told it’s only the second time the Pumas have lost after 1. scoring first, and 2. leading at halftime.

I’m not saying the results wouldn’t have been different had the Pumas played one or both of these games at home. But picking up zero points after two games isn’t good and Kitsap currently finds itself in last place in the Northwest Division (five teams have yet to play a game, so there’s that).

Dare I say Kitsap’s May 18 game at Washington Crossfire is …. must win at this point?

The Kitsap Pumas are taking part in the Rumble in the Rainforest Soccer Exhibition Extravaganza in Port Angeles on Apr. 27.
Games at Peninsula College’s home venue — Sigmar Field —will be played throughout the day.
St. Martin’s University takes on Peninsula College in a men’s game at 9 a.m., followed by St. Martin’s and Peninsula College women at 10:50 a.m.
Play continues with St. Martin’s men taking on the Pumas at 12:40 p.m. The Victoria Highlanders, one of the Pumas’ division foes in the Premier Development League, take on the University of Washington at 2 p.m.
The Pumas play the next two matches, facing Seattle University at 3:50 p.m., then Peninsula College at 5 p.m.
The final match of the day matches Seattle University against Victoria.
There will be a free car show and food vendors will be attending (no outside food/drink will be permitted).
Admission is $10 for fans 16 and older; $5 for youth ages 9-15; children eight or younger are free. A family of four or more pays $30 for admittance.

Kitsap Pumas owner Robin Waite confirmed Thursday that Gordon Field near the Fairground will be the Pumas’ home venue for the next three seasons.

Waite signed a three-year lease agreement with Kitsap County Parks and Recreation on Thursday.

Waite said upgrades to the field will include a scoreboard and press box. He is also in the process of getting the necessary permits to have a beer garden open during games.

Kitsap’s first home game is June 1 against Portland. The Pumas open the Premier Development League season with five road games.