Pumas fans report: Narrows Bell stays in Bremerton as Pumas crush Tide

The Kitsap Pumas outscored Tacoma Tide FC 12-1 this season in two lopsided Narrows Bridge Bell derby matches.

Pumas supporters Alison Slow Loris and Ian Logan were at Saturday night’s 6:0 mauling and have filed a match report for goalWA.net.

by Alison Slow Loris and Ian Logan

Mainstream media: Pumas finish off Tide (Kitsap Sun)

The Narrows Bridge Bell trophy will stay in Bremerton for another year, as the Kitsap Pumas defeated the visiting Tacoma Tide 6-0 last night, winning the home-and-away derby by an overall score of 12-1.  The win also strengthens Kitsap’s hold on the PDL Northwest division, as they now sit nine points clear of second-place Victoria.

This was Kitsap’s third match in five days, following their loss to the Seattle Sounders in the US Open Cup Tuesday evening and, even more disappointing because less predictable, a draw the next night against the North Sound Seawolves in league play.  Though many key players were clearly still tired, the Pumas were galvanized by missed opportunities and came in breathing fire.  After two days of rest for all, and more for some of tonight’s starters, their play against Tacoma was sharp and incisive from the opening whistle.

See a match photo gallery at Facebook.com/goalWA

The Pumas celebrate one of their four first-half goals in their eventual 6:0 rout of Tacoma Tide FC. (David Falk)

Coach Fewing’s adjustments to the starting lineup for this game included newcomer Sam Roca’s first start of the season.  Daniel Scott being held out due to an injury in Wednesday’s match, defender Roca played alongside Taylor Hyde in the center, and amply justified his place on the roster.  Chris Andre, who has seen field time as a second half sub, got his first start at left midfield in place of Cameron Hepple, on duty with the Bahamian national team. Elliott Fauske started his second straight game at left back for the absent Mark Lee.  Steve Mohn played his third full game in five days at right back.   Matt Friesen and Nik Besagno patrolled the middle, with David Gray at wide right.  Bryan Meredith played in goal and Robby Christner and Bryan Burke started at forward.

Extra: The Kitsap Pumas Elite filmed themselves at the match, and caught two Kitsap goals in the process. See the video below, which contains swearing.

The Pumas controlled much of the game, and were on the scoreboard in the 16th minute, as Robby Christner scored on a pass from Nik Besagno.  Nine minutes later Chris Andre scored from Matt Friesen’s assist, and no more than three minutes after that David Gray scored Kitsap’s third goal off a feed from Robby Christner.  Friesen coolly slotted a penalty kick right down the middle of the goal in the 42nd minute and the half finished 4-0 Pumas.

Robby Christner controls for the Pumas. (David Falk)

Three new players came on to start the second half: Kendell McFayden for Taylor Hyde, Kyle Johnson for Nik Besagno, and Tye Perdido for Robby Christner.  Tacoma began the second half well, holding the ball well and keeping the Pumas under pressure and on the back foot.  In one quick sequence Bryan Meredith was bailed out by the goalpost and the crossbar on successive Tacoma shots as the Pumas were unable to dispossess the Tide.  In the 60th minute Kitsap introduced Warlen Silva for Bryan Burke, and soon after that Graham Davidson came on for Matt Friesen.  The Pumas gradually found their rhythm again, and in the 73rd minute Tye Perdido scored his first goal of the season on a lovely pass from Warlen Silva.  In the 90th minute Silva scored a breathtaking goal of his own as he volleyed home a David Gray cross to complete the scoring.

With Sam Roca’s memorable play in his first match and six different players scoring goals, four of them providing assists as well, choosing a single Man of the Match was difficult, but the Hellcats finally settled on forward Tye Perdido.  Though on the field for less than half the match, his tireless and dynamic play energized the whole squad just as they were beginning to flag.  Perdido started slow this year but has been getting better and better throughout the season.  Last night he was the fastest and most focused we’ve seen him yet.

The Pumas announced a crowd of 817 at the match. (David Falk)

Random Noise:

The Pumas’ next match is this Tuesday at the Abbotsford Mariners, a game originally scheduled to be played in June.  Abbotsford was kind enough to reschedule to give the Pumas time to travel to El Paso for the first round of the US Open Cup.  Kitsap returns to Bremerton next Saturday at 7pm, when they face the Washington Crossfire for the third and final game between the two teams this season.  (Due to the uneven number of teams in the division this year, each side has one extra away match and one extra home game; the Pumas will meet North Sound a third time in Everett on July 13.)
Meanwhile, the Pumas’ Cameron Hepple contributed a goal to the Bahamas’ 4-0 victory over Turks and Caicos Islands in its CONCACAF World Cup qualifying series.  They meet again on July 9.
According to his mother, Mark Lee is still in Georgia where he has been trying out with the NASL pro side the Atlanta Silverbacks—no word yet.

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