goalWA.net welcomes Laurie Hodges as a contributing writer and photographer.
Before the Kitsap Pumas and Seattle Sounders FC kick off in their United States Open Cup third-round battle Laurie spoke with Pumas head coach Peter Fewing about the task ahead.
By Laurie Hodges
It’s just minutes before kickoff at Starfire Sports tonight. The matchup: Kistap Pumas vs. Seattle Sounders FC in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tournament. Pumas head coach Pete Fewing spent a few minutes with me on the phone this afternoon during preparation for the big match. It’s a bittersweet moment for Pete, as he is a part of the Sounders FC broadcast team and now he must face them on the field. But he and his team are physically and mentally prepared for battle. Here is what he had to say.
LH: Going into the game tonight, where are you and the team emotionally?
PF: I am excited, like the team, to play. We haven’t had a game in a few days, just having played three games in six days, we are ready to play again and the timing is good, so regardless of who it is, Sounders or otherwise, our guys are ready to play again, excited to play again. I am thrilled to be at Starfire for this game and watch our guys battle. For me, the mindset is to make sure and give them as much information as possible, but not overkill. Because they know how to play, I want to give them instruction but not too much. And manage their energy and keep them on task.
Peter Fewing directs the Kitsap Pumas. (David Falk)
LH: What are the keys to this match against the Sounders?
PF: Sounders have a lot of weapons. So getting numbers behind the ball and making it difficult for them to play. We need to avoid restarts and be very organized on restarts. Key for us is to get comfortable with the game, get comfortable with the pace, get comfortable with the crowd, at the beginning of the match. And then when we are on the ball, keep possession of the ball. Keep it simple. Start to string passes together, get balls wide to the flanks, find our forwards up front. And start to play. We have a good team, they have a very good team as well. I think that’s the big thing, can we get numbers behind the ball, stay on task, and string passes together.
LH: Who are the players to watch on the Kitsap Pumas team?
We have a great striker up front named Brian Burke, a big physical presence, scrappy and unpredictable. Robby Christner has been getting goals for us, he’s from Oregon State. Those two guys are terrific. Bryan Meredith has played very well in goal, also a Sounders fourth string goalkeeper. The way he’s been playing I am very excited about his future. And in the center midfield, Nik Besagno, who I think is a fascinating player to watch because he uses his body so uniquely to protect the ball.
LH: This isn’t your first appearance at the Open Cup.
PF: No, we played the first year of the club’s existence, and lost in the first round. Last year we lost to Portland in the second round. So this is the third year in the Open Cup. This is the furthest we have gone in the tournament, which is very exciting. We had to play five games to get this point. But it’s obvious, this is the big one.
LH: With an undefeated season, and getting this far in the tournament, do you feel a victory in the accomplishments alone?
PF: Yes, but we aren’t just excited to play the game. I don’t think the mindset of our team is satisfied at this moment. The goal is to come out and play our best soccer. It may sound cliché or obvious, but we are still trying to play better and have a complete game. We are coming into this game fully aware. They sunk us last year in a 70-minute scrimmage. But we are going to come in with a very good effort and hopefully make people say “Wow, look at that team, they are pretty good.”
I was saying last night, “Wow, look at that team, they are pretty darn good”