Kitsap Pumas News Release -- www.kitsapsoccerclub.com
Sunday, May 8, 2011
BREMERTON, Wash. – There were some tense moments for the Kitsap Pumas, but they ultimately broke through thanks to some impact substitutes that contributed to a 2-1 win against the Victoria Highlanders on Sunday at Bremerton Memorial Stadium.
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Pumas central midfielder Matt Friesen connected on a penalty in the 80th minute and Cameron Hepple scored the game-winner in the 86th minute.
Head coach Pete Fewing gave credit to subs Warlen Silva, David Gray and Elliott Fauske for making things happen.
Silva was caught by Victoria defender Jack Pearson in the box after receiving a pass and performing a fantastic spin move to get by Pearson and another defender.
Friesen connected on the penalty after getting Victoria goalkeeper Elliott Mitrou to commit to Friesen’s left. Mitrou had stopped two penalty shots in Victoria’s 1-0 win over the PDL defending champions the Portland Timbers U23s in Portland on Saturday.
“Elliott played a real good ball into Warlen,” Fewing said, "and Silva made a great turn in the box and forced them to make a foul.”
Hepple’s game winner came after Gray fed him with a pass in the box. The Bahamian speedster was able to get his left foot on it to send it past a stock-still Mitrou to spark a wild celebration in the stands and on the Puma sideline.
“It was a great ball from David Gray and Cameron did extremely well to get on the end of it,” Fewing said.
It was a much more nerve-wracking time in the first half as Taylor Hyde committed a foul in the penalty area just a few minutes before
halftime. The Highlanders’ Jordie Hughes easily scored on the attempt to give the visitors the lead.
The goal marked only the third time ever Kitsap has trailed on its home turf.
The Pumas threw a few more bodies into the attack in the second half, but couldn’t connect on anything. Friesen came the closest to a goal when his shot in the box and had Mitrou beat but a Victoria defender deflected the ensuing shot off the bar and out of play.
“I thought it was going to be one of those games where you think, ’Is this going to be one of those days?’ ” Fewing said. “But
it was good that the guys kept pressing. I was really pleased with that.”
Kitsap hosts the Washington Crossfire next Saturday at 1 p.m. May 14. Tickets are available through the front office or through www.brownpapertickets.com.