This is the biggest match in the history of the Kitsap Pumas. Three years old and hailing from Bremerton, Washington, the Pumas visit Starfire tonight to tackle two-time defending United States Open Cup Champions Seattle Sounders FC.
by David Falk
I gave some of my match-up impressions over at Sounder at Heart today.
Steve Mohn (left) and Mike Fucito in action during a 2009 scrimmage between the two clubs. Both players are still with their sides and will likely see action in tonight's USOC battle.
See a Kitsap Sun report of the 2009 scrimmage match here.
The Sounder Insider was there back in the 2009, and filed this video report featuring Pumas fans.
The Seattle Times reported the line-ups and goal scorers in 2009:
LINEUPS:
Seattle: GK Terry Boss, defenders Daniel Scott (brother of Zach), Zach Scott, Lamar Neagle, Evan Brown, midfielders Nate Sturgis, Sanna Nyassi, Michael Fucito, Osvaldo Alonso, forwards Sebastien Le Toux and Roger Levesque. Alonso came out after one half, replaced by Nik Besagno.
Kitsap: Gordley, Sampson, A. Megson, Johnson, Dieng, Phillips, Lee, Hyde, W. Sturgess, Mohn, GK Brim.
GOALS:
1. Seattle, Levesque 8
2. Seattle, Fucito, 9
3. Seattle, Nyassi, 14
4. Seattle, Le Toux, 36
Second half
5. Seattle, Nyassi
6. Seattle, Le Toux
Of the listed Kitsap starters that day, only three are still with / or starting for Kitsap: defenders Mark Lee, Taylor Hyde and Steve Mohn. Nik Besagno and Dan Scott played that day for Seattle, but both are now starters for Kitsap. Scott in central defense, and Besagno in midfield.
Lamar Neagle played for the Sounders 'reserves' in the 2009 scrimmage with Kitsap.
Bringing up this scrimmage is certainly more for nostalgia that reference. It is an entirely different scenario tonight: two different clubs wearing the same badges they did back in that July 2009 meeting, but with new names and an entirely different purpose.
Peter Fewing didn’t join Kitsap as head coach until 2010.
The 2010 scrimmage between the two clubs took place over Memorial Day Weekend. In that meeting I noted afterwards:
Zach Scott guards Tye Perdido in a May 2010 Seattle-Kitsap scrimmage match. (Jenni Conner)
Seattle Sounders FC reserves met the Kitsap Pumas on Memorial Day for an 11:00 AM scrimmage at Starfire Sports Complex. The ‘closed door’ match was still attended by fans and player families. Neither club is releasing a match report, but the Sounders topped the Pumas 4:0. Taylor Graham scored the first Seattle goal, and Roger Levesque netted two more. David Estrada scored for Seattle, too. Prost Amerika has a short report here.
The Sounders did release a quote from head coach Sigi Schmid about the scrimmage: “It’s always good when you see people score goals. So Roger [Levesque] in the last couple of reserve games, obviously he got the goal against Boca, he got two here today. The reserve game before he got another one as well. So he is starting to score goals, which he wasn’t doing early on so that was good. I though David Estrada had some good moments. I thought Michael Seamon played well again. I thought [Nathan] Sturgis was good. Taylor [Graham] organized us in the back well. Sanna [Nyassi] had some good moments also. From that standpoint, it’s good. But what I really like most of all is they came out, especially in the first half where they dominated the game, they came out with a really good spirit. They came out with a really good team attitude and work rate.”
Jenni Conner took photos at last year’s scrimmage. You can see a gallery here.
USOC match-up In the news:
Sounders, Fewing have friendly rivalry
Stop and chat with Peter Fewing
Serious opportunity for the Scott Brothers
Underdog Pumas get a chance at Sounders
Sounders face Kitsap, coached by a “Sounder”
