Kitsap Pumas News Release -- www.kitsapsoccerclub.com
Sunday, July 31, 2011
FRESNO, Calif. - The Kitsap Pumas are coming home to host the PDL Championships next weekend after finally winning the club’s first-ever Western Conference Championship.
The Pumas, who had lost the last two Western Conference finals to Ventura County and Portland, respectively, got over the hump on Sunday afternoon with a thrilling, last-second 1-0 victory over the host Fresno Fuego in the Western Conference championship game at Chukchansi Park. The match saw the Pumas score in the final minute of regulation and then save a penalty kick in stoppage time to clinch the victory.
Kitsap will host next weekend’s PDL National Championships -- the title decider for the 64-team league which covers North America and the Caribbean -- in Bremerton, Wash. The event will feature the Laredo Heat, Thunder Bay Chill, and Long Island Rough Riders, along with the Pumas. The PDL Championship Game will be broadcast live on FOX Soccer.
“It’s (darn) exciting,” said a jubilant Pumas head coach Peter Fewing said. “Like Fresno, we have good support in the community so it’s nice to have the chance to play at home. Our game day operations are outstanding so I’m confident we’ll put on a great show for the fans and the league."
Puma defender and team captain Daniel Scott headed home the winning goal past the far post with only 15 seconds left in regulation. Fellow defender Steve Mohn, who on Saturday played a perfect deep through-ball to Bryan Burke to set up the lone goal in the Pumas’ semifinal victory, played a free kick from midfield deep into the left side of the goal box, where Scott was waiting.
“We’ve been working on set pieces all season,” Scott said. “Mohn played a great ball in and I dipped in and finally got a goal.”
Kitsap (14-1-3) wasn’t on to the PDL’s version of the "final four" quite yet, though. The Fuego (14-1-3) still had one last gasp in them. In the lone minute of stoppage time, Fresno was able to get a ball into the Kitsap box and in an attempt to clear, Puma defender Taylor Hyde committed a foul earning his second yellow card of the match - and giving the Fuego a penalty. Hyde will have to sit out the semifinal match next weekend due to the ejection.
Fresno’s Milton Blanco - the leading goalscorer in the league this season - stepped up to the penalty mark and stared down Pumas rookie goalkeeper Bryan Meredith.
“It was a bit unfortunate, but if you let that situation rile you up, it messes up your focus for the PK,” Meredith said. “I just stayed calm, kept my emotions in check and focused on the shooter.”
Blanco blasted a low liner to the left. Meredith made a spectacular leap and made the save. Three Kitsap defenders pounced on the ball to clear it before any damage was done and the match was over. The loss was Laredo’s first of the season.
“I have my own technique to predict which way the shooter will go, and I almost jumped past the ball,” said a smiling Meredith, who posted his 11th shutout of the season.
The Pumas were playing on back-to-back days in Fresno’s 90-plus degree weather. Despite this, the team never showed signs of fatigue and was able to dictate play throughout both matches this weekend.
“I am real proud of my guys - we are not used to this heat at all,” Fewing said.
The first half featured few chances and play centered around the midfield on the small pitch. Play opened up in the second half, and the chances began to come a lot easier for both sides.
“We played better the second half once we settled down,” Fewing said. "We have been a fantastic second-half team this year."
The best chance of the second half belonged to the Pumas’ Bryan Burke. He was able to get behind the Fresno defense and was alone on goal, but his shot went too close to Fuego goalkeeper Gilbert Vega. Vega made a great diving save which was then cleared by his defense.
The Pumas have now advanced further in the postseason than ever before.
"This organization - from top to bottom - has overcome so much adversity this year," said Pumas executive director Ben Pecora. "I’m so proud of Pete and the boys. Most of all I’m excited for our community and what this event will bring to Kitsap - this is an incredibly high level of soccer coming our way. We’re lucky to host an event of this magnitude."