Central Blogging Source for Puget Sound

I have been blogging FOUR (Yes 4!) different blogs about soccer over the last year. There is GOALKitsap, GOALTacoma, GOALSeattle and also the Examiner blog on Examiner.com.

This is about to change.

While I am not closing the GOALKitsap and GOALTacoma blogs for good, they are going to go on hiatus when it comes to covering the Kitsap Pumas and Tacoma Tide FC.

The NEW place to find my blogs about Kitsap Pumas Soccer Club news is in the centralized GOALSeattle.com blog, right HERE.

The GOALSeattle blog and website has the motto "The Sound of Soccer," so now I will work on living up to that rally cry by covering Sounders FC, Kitsap, Tacoma, and local colleges in the GOALSeattle blog.

Questions? Want to volunteer to blog local Kitsap soccer news here?

Contact me! David Falk goalseattle@gmail.com

Kitsap Soccer Club Season Tickets

Bremerton, Wash. – Season tickets for the new, professional Kitsap Soccer Club are now on sale to the public. The release of season tickets follows the club's exclusive pre-sale to the military including Active Duty, Retirees, Reservists, DoD Civilians and family members this past week.

The official 2009 league schedule is undergoing approval by the United Soccer Leagues' office and its release is imminent.

The league season will consist of 8 league matches and 2 pre-season matches on the pristine natural grass of Bremerton Memorial HS Stadium and runs from approximately April to early August.

2009 Kitsap Soccer Club season tickets are priced as follows and include a 10 percent discount off walk-up/retail pricing:

• Covered Grandstand - $90 each
• Open Grandstand - $75 each
• End Zones and Family Seating - $45

"This is a big day for soccer in Kitsap County," said Pumas owner Robin Waite. "We've waited and worked for a long time to get to this point. This is great for the community – particularly kids – to see the sport played at the highest level possible."

"There are only 4,000 seats at the stadium (Bremerton HS Memorial) and tickets have been moving briskly with very little advance marketing," said team executive director Ben Pecora. "We've built our ticket packages to make them extremely affordable for everyone."

To order, please call club headquarters or visit the website at www.kitsapsoccerclub.com.

For further information please contact Ben Pecora, Executive Director, at 360-377-6008.

Seattle to join Pumas in 2009 PDL competition

The United Soccer Leagues today released information about the 2009 structure of the Premier Development League (PDL).

The eye-opening development is that Seattle is listed as a club competing along with Tacoma Tide and the new Kitsap Pumas next season.

Seattle (as well as Kitsap) both have a "TBA" (To be announced) listed after their names:

Northwest Division: Abbotsford Mariners, Cascade Surge, Kitsap (TBA), Portland Timbers U23, Seattle (TBA), Spokane Spiders, Tacoma Tide, Vancouver Whitecaps Residency, Victoria Highlanders, Yakima Reds.

It is not yet known who will be running the Seattle club. Will it be Sounders FC, since MLS recently disbanded its reserve league? Could it be Seattle Wolves FC, who hope to join the USL Second Division in 2010? The Wolves have previously told me that they will be in the Pacific Coast Soccer League again in 2009, but perhaps after the recent league meetings this has changed.

Exclusive Pumas' season Ticket Pre-Sale Now Underway for Active and Retired Military

Bremerton, Wash. – The new, professional Kitsap Soccer Club has placed its first-ever season tickets on sale today. This limited-time, exclusive pre-sale is open to Active Duty, Retirees, Reservists, DoD Civilians and family members for one week only.

2008 Kitsap Soccer Club season tickets are priced as follows*:

• Covered Grandstand - $10 each SEAT
• Open Grandstand - $8 each SEAT
• End Zones and Family Seating - $5 each SEAT

*Groups of four or more receive an automatic 10 percent discount.

"There are only 4,000 seats at the stadium (Bremerton HS Memorial) so offering the good folks in the military first crack at tickets is a highly appropriate gesture of good will," said team executive director Ben Pecora. "Plus we've built our ticket packages to make them extremely affordable."

To order, please call club headquarters and present CAC or ID to ensure eligibility until midnight, Dec. 12, 2008. Season tickets will be released for public sale thereafter.

For further information please contact Ben Pecora, Executive Director, at 360-377-6008.

Will Pumas wear these Pumas in 2009?

Here's a sneak peek at possible jersey combinations for Kitsap Pumas in 2009. Owner Robin Waite favors the Puma brand, and blue and white stripes. The shorts could be either blue or white, and the socks will stand out in either stripes, or more likely yellow. Waite says the socks color would help the club better differentiate from the opponent when passing on the go.

NOTE: The Puma 'design' above is NOT the club logo / crest. It is a preliminary concept to introduce the name 'Pumas' and the club mascot Pedro. A final crest has not been decided upon, but could include a puma or it could even honor Chief Kitsap in some way.

Pirates finish 4th in NWAACC

After a fantastic year that had the Pirate Soccer team winning 11 straight games and going undefeated in 15 games the Pirates streak finally ended.

Saturday Playoff Game

The Pirates went head to head with #1 rank Walla Walla going into double overtime tied at 0’s. Walla Walla was able to capitalize on a free kick from 23 yards out in the 108 minute to win in sudden death overtime. The Pirates played hard all game and it was a tough match.

Shots: PC 11 WWCC 10

Jase Hall had 5 saves in goal

Sunday 3^rd-4^th Place Game

Trying to rebound after a long hard fight the day before the Pirated fell to Spokane CC with a score of 1-0. Spokane scored in the 70^th minute off a free kick from 23 yards out (just like the day before).

Shots: PC 8 Spokane 6

It was a great season for us and the guys represented the college really well. They played hard all weekend and had their chances to play for a championship. The guys played good soccer and we only lost because the other teams hit fantastic free kicks that resulted in goals, the other teams really had to work for their win.

Andrew Chapman

Head Men's Soccer Coach

Peninsula College

Pumas plan outreach to West Sound

In the final video to be posted from the Kitsap Pumas' name announcement, I talked with owner Robin Waite about how the new club will reach out to soccer fans in West Sound.

Where will Pumas' players come from?

Robin Waite talks briefly in the video below about where Kitsap Pumas might get some of their players for the 2009 season.

Waite also says that local talent will be a priority and he hopes that the club can convince athletes who don't have the size for basketball or football to play soccer and take it to the pro level.

A chat with Kitsap Pumas' James Ritchie

In the coming days the GOALKitsap.com blog will be featuring video clips taken on the day of the Kitsap Pumas' club name announcement. Today's video features James Ritchie, a relocated Scotsman who is the new youth development coordinator for KSC. James is also attempting to lure some of his Scottish mates over to the states to play for the Pumas. Alongside James is South Kitsap Soccer Club President Dick Morhmann.

Coming soon watch for several video segments with Kitsap Pumas owner Robin Waite as he talks about how the new club will be presented to West Sound, acquire players, and more.

Here is a small gallery from the name announcement, including stadium photos.

'Waite' is over in Kitsap; Pumas to prowl Bremerton in 2009

Glass door entry to Kitsap Pumas offices.

More videos coming in the days ahead. Check back with this blog!

Kitsap Sun video

Bremerton, WA - The Kitsap Soccer club today announced fans have voted in the club name "Pumas" for the team that will kick off its first season in 2009.

Lucita Flores-Alvarenga, who voted for "Pumas" in the recent online name the club contest, was on-hand to receive the first two season tickets in club history. The announcement, held at the club offices, was attended by Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman, city council members, local soccer officials, fans, media and businesses.

Guests sign book as they enter before the announcement.

The club colors of blue, black and gold were displayed using a new logo for the club's mascot, "Pedro the Puma." An official club logo will be designed by Sungrafx of Silverdale, WA, and will be announced at a later date. The club will wear jerseys 'hooped' with blue and white, and blue shorts.

Shortly after the announcement the club sold its first six season tickets.

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Talk about the club & the name "Kitsap Pumas" in the GOALKitsap Forums!

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Kitsap Pumas will play in the Northwest Division of the Premier Development League of the United Soccer Leagues. Pumas will play clubs in Vancouver, Victoria and Abottsford BC, Spokane and possibly Yakima, WA, and Portland and Salem Oregon. Kitsap Pumas' closest rivals will be Tacoma Tide FC, who will play in the same division a mere 30 minutes to the south.

Pumas' offices full of excited supporters.

Owner Robin Waite and club Executive Director Ben Pecora spoke to the audience about the journey to founding, and then naming the club. Waite revealed hopes to host a "Kitsap Challenge Tournament" next season at the club's home, Bremerton Memorial Stadium. The tournament would feature out of state competition playing the Pumas.

Waite and Pecora are leaving in a few days for the United Soccer Leagues annual meetings. There the club will build its schedule and network with other clubs.

Robin Waite (left, owner) Lucita Flores-Alvarenga (ticket-winner) and Ben Pecora, KSC Executive Director.

Waiting game pays off

Robin Waite first looked into bringing professional soccer to West Sound back in late 2005. It was a bit less than two years after Seattle Sounders co-owner Adrian Hanauer's initial bid to bring Major League Soccer to Seattle had been edged out by Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA. As one of the owning 'partners' of the United Soccer Leagues Sounders, Waite was given permission to explore moving that club to Kitsap County. Initially Waite looked at the Kitsap Fairgrounds stadium site for a possible move. The county even spent money to look into design ideas to make the rodeo and car derby venue work for soccer.

Not the final logo: This is the mascot, Pedro the Puma. Waite says the final club logo might honor Chief Kitsap.

Later Waite took his search to Poulsbo, where he commissioned a stadium design on land he owns near the Wal-Mart complex and a satellite Olympic College campus. (See the GOALKitsap Museum page for more on this.) While Adrian Hanauer was successfully teaming up with new investors to bring MLS to Seattle, and thus doom the USL Sounders to extinction, Waite turned his focus to the largest city in Kitsap County, Bremerton. There he found willing city and school officials and a centrally-located venue in need of some TLC. Memorial Stadium has long been the home of the Bremerton High School Knights and the Olympic College Rangers. It has also seen semi-pro football when the West Sound Orcas played there a few years back.

Waite has been dealing with USL officials about how to 'transfer' the existing Sounders franchise while at the same time talking with Bremerton people about using Memorial. Waite's ambitions were high from the start: he wanted the USL Sounders to come over as-is and play in the top level of the league. That became a tough sell among other USL First Division club owners, some of whom reportedly balked at the idea of Kitsap being 'major league' enough for the still-minor league USL-1. In the end the league decided to grant Waite a Premier Development League (PDL) franchise in the third level of the league structure. Waite immediately went on record as saying his goal is to move the club up to the next-highest level (USL-2) as soon as other clubs on the west coast are ready to join the same division.



It's been quite a wait for both Waite and the Kitsap soccer fans who have been following the saga for over three years. In 2009 Seattle Sounders FC will kick off in Major League Soccer at Qwest Field. A few minutes west by air, but an hour by ferry, the Kitsap Pumas will also debut. Tacoma Tide FC sit ready to take on the Pumas in the 'Narrows Bridge Bell' rivalry cup next season.

East, South, West...Puget Sound has arrived as the 'Sound of Soccer.'

Peninsula men advance to final four

Whatcom (white) loses out to Peninsula (black) in a playoff shootout.
Photo from Pirates MySpace match gallery.

Bellingham Herald recaps match

After a tough fought match that went all 90 minutes, plus 2 (10min) overtimes, and a shootout, the Peninsula College soccer team will advance onto the NWAACC final four next weekend. The Pirates fell behind at the 30^th min mark when Whatcom was able to crack their defense. It stayed that way until the 79 min when Whatcom was able to go up 2-0. The Pirates, not losing in now 15 games, were not going to go so easily. With a couple of changes the PC men were able to score their first goal only a minute after Whatcom’s second giving the score 2-1 at the 80^th min. THE goal was scored by Sean Gaskins header off a Hugo Vasquez free kick. Only 1 min later the Pirates tied things up when Ernest Boham hit a rocket from 35 yards out that beat the Whatcom keeper, assist was Sean Gaskins.

Now tied with only minutes remaining the Pirates struck again in the 88 min when John Troka was able to get in behind the Whatcom defense and get a nice ball played by Gaskins that Troka was able to tuck in the back of the net. The Orcas then picked up two red cards but were able to capitalize on a free kick with only 30 sec. remaining to send the game into overtime. The Pirates were not able to take advantage being up two men and so the game went into a shootout.

The Pirates missed their first shot, but were able to make their next 4 while the Pirate GK Jase Hall saved two shots from the Orcas to give the Pirates the quarterfinal win. The Pirates will now play in the NWAACC Final Four semifinal on Sat. Nov. 22^nd at the Starfire Complex in Tukwila, WA at 4pm against Walla Walla CC. With the winner moving onto the final on Sun. Nov. 23^rd.
Andrew Chapman

Head Men's Soccer Coach

Peninsula College

Around the Sound of Soccer for November 13th

The Youth Media Institute in Seattle produced this soccer PSA.

It continues to amaze me that there is enough (pro) off-season soccer news in the Puget Sound area to run and have frequent content on three area blogs. Just this week Tacoma Tide FC published another player update and then issued a new 'toolbar' for supporters to use on their web browsers as a way of supporting the club.

Over in West Sound Kitsap Soccer Club will reveal their name, crest and club colors on Monday November 17th. GOALKitsap.com got a sneak peek at the colors and updated its look.

Seattle, HQ for the "Sound of Soccer," continues to churn out the news. Sounders FC held their first open tryouts in Spokane last weekend. This week the MLS club announced they will be debuting their new uniforms at a benefit fashion show on December 4th. The club website also took a look back at the first year of developing SSFC, and visited with GM Adrian Hanauer.


Beyond the pros, the college seasons are heading towards their playoffs. The Seattle Pacific Women and Western Washington Women will be in Seattle (Interbay) for the West Regionals the 13th-15th.

The Washington Women will be in Texas this Friday to play LSU in the NCAA's.

In North Sound, Matt Pele was named GNAC Player of the Year for Western Washington's Men, and Viking head coach Travis Connell was awarded Coach of the Year honors.

In South Sound the UPS Loggers Women earned a bye into the playoffs and will host a match this Sunday.

Pirates advance in overtime playoff thriller

The Pirates soccer team downed Clark 1-0 in Vancouver today. The game was an intense defensive match that resulted in only one goal, coming in the first overtime period. Ernest Boham scored from Cory Matthews only 7 minutes into overtime (97min) off of a corner from Hugo Vasquez. The Pirates outshot Clark 6-4 and Jase Hall recorded his 5^th shutout and the teams' 11^th. The Pirates remain unbeaten in the last 14 games and will now travel to Whatcom on Saturday for a quarterfinal match to determine who will go onto the semifinals.

Andrew Chapman

Head Men's Soccer Coach

Peninsula College

Portland could play Kitsap in 2009

The United Soccer Leagues and Portland Timbers announced today that the Rose City club will start a team in the PDL Northwest Division in 2009.

Read the press release here.

The likelihood is now that the new Kitsap Soccer Club, scheduled to be announced on Monday November 17th, will play the new Portland club in 2009.

The Premier Development League Northwest Division had eight clubs last year, but with the addition of Victoria, Kitsap, and now Portland, the division could have as many as eleven clubs for 2009.

Tacoma Tide FC won the division last season.

Kitsap Soccer Club announced November 17th

The day for officially announcing the birth of the Kitsap Soccer Club through United Soccer League offices is set for Monday, November 17th.

We have learned in advance that the club colors will be blue and white, with yellow accents, and that the club will wear blue and white 'hoop' jerseys (horizontal stripes).

Kitsap Soccer Club will become the second currently-operating professional soccer club in the Puget Sound region along with Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer. Both clubs will play their first seasons in 2009. Kitsap will begin life in the PDL, short for "Premier Development League," and will have an instant rivalry with Tacoma Tide FC, just half an hour away. The blue and white hoops will pay their players, making them professional, while most of the PDL clubs use college talent.

Kitsap will play at Bremerton's Memorial Stadium. While the pitch is deep, lush grass, the field dimensions will be a challenge for visitors. The pitch is a long and narrow one.

Owner Robin Waite and KSC's Ben Pecora have been busy lining up sponsors, finalizing facility details for Bremerton's Memorial Stadium, and dealing with the USL in last-minute odds and ends before the club can officially be presented.

Robin and Ben have also been overseeing the name the team contest. Based on recent hints from the Kitsap front office, it appears that "Pumas" has taken the lead over "Paladins" as the club name, though of course we won't know that officially until next Monday.

Is it only a coincidence that a puma was captured a few weeks ago just blocks away from the club office after living in the woods near Bremerton for years? Is it just happenstance that the blue and white 'hooped' jerseys Kitsap will wear will almost certainly come from supplier Puma?

Is the cat out of the bag?

More details on the announcement from the club:

"We have just concluded a "name the team" contest and will make a public announcement next Monday, the 17th. In bringing a professional sports franchise to the peninsula - we believe for the first time ever - we are not only creating unprecedented awareness for our region, we also firmly believe that we are initiating such important things as jobs creation, development - and adding an exciting entertainment option for the people of Kitsap. I hope you will be an important part of our plans - now and in the future - as we initiate and launch several important ventures.

We plan to make the announcement Monday, Nov. 17 at ten a.m. at either the stadium, pending the weather of course, or at our office at 4020 Wheaton Way in East Bremerton. It is our hope that the whole of the ceremony will last not more than an hour.

Media will be invited, along with Congressman Dicks, the Mayors of all Kitsap cities, other community leaders and of course, the contest finalists."

FIVE for State!

West Sound has soccer on the brain with five schools sending clubs to the State playoffs in various levels.

The Olympic Trojan girls are in after beating Hazen 3-0.

The North Mason Bulldog girls have qualified after edging Eatonville 1-0.

The South Kitsap Wolves girls are headed to State after a 5-4 penalty kick shootout win over Auburn-Riverside. The Wolves has previously used another shootout to top Stadium.

North Kitsap's Viking girls beat Lindberg 3-2 to advance.

King's West's boys are state-bound for the first time, too.

Go get'em, West Sound!

Pirates face Clark in must-win playoff Nov. 12

It was a wet sloppy day, but the Pirates prevail. In a game that was a throw away, both Whatcom and the PC Pirates wanted to make a statement. The Pirates scored first in the 15^th min from a goal by local native Jay Kang (PA HS) from a ball given to him by Omar Anderson. That remained the score at halftime, PC 1 Whatcom 0. The score stayed 1-0 until the 84^th minute when Whatcom was able to capitalize on a corner that PC was unable to clear. But, the Pirates not wanting to tie, dug down and John Troka hit a fantastic free kick from 35 yards out that bent past the Whatcom GK for the game winning goal in the 87min.

Shots: PC 6 Whatcom 6

Saves: Alec Risk had 3

The team played really well. We talked about how this game was really important and how we need to protect ourselves for Clark. We sat some starters and rested others and were able to play lots of players and the team still stepped it up to get the win. The defense played really well to stop Mirza Memic, who is the leading goal scorer in the NWAACC right now with 26 goals.

The Pirates remained undefeated at home this year, going 7-0-2 and have not lost a game in the last 13 games while scoring 31 goals and only giving up 6. The fact that we had such a great record at home is because of our fans. We have the best attendance than all the other schools we played this year, to have such bad weather and still have over 70 fans out at our game is honor to our players. Thank you to all the fans who come out and watch, you are big reason for our success this year.

The Pirates now travel to Clark on Wednesday Nov. 12^th for a 2pm first round playoff game. It is a must win game for the winner advances into the quarter finals to play

Whatcom at Whatcom on Saturday Nov. 15^th.

Andrew Chapman

Head Men's Soccer Coach

Peninsula College

Pirates win again, join ranked clubs

The Peninsula Pirates continued their unbeaten streak to 12 games, only giving up 5 goals in that time with 9 shutouts as they beat Skagit Valley 3-0. With today’s shutout, the PC soccer team set a team record of 10 shutouts in a season, best in the history of soccer at PC. Luis Medrano played in goal today because 2:30min into the game Jase Hall got kicked in the head and had to go to the emergency room. We had a lot of chances in front of the goal but we could not put the ball into the back of their net more. We missed 4 great 1v1 opportunities. Current standings.

Pirates Ranked 8^th

With the latest NWAACC rankings out, the Pirates claimed the 8^th spot this week. Unranked all season the Pirates were able to get into the top 8 going into the playoffs.

PC- 3 SVC-0

First half: Hugo Vasquez from Omar Anderson

Steve Williams from Sean Gaskins

Second Half: Sean Hummel from Steve Williams

Shots: PC 20 SVC 5

Saves: Luis Medrano 5 plus shutout

Andrew Chapman

Head Men's Soccer Coach

Peninsula College

Undefeated at home, Pirates head to playoffs

Peninsula topped Shoreline 1-0 to clinch a playoff spot.
(match gallery here)

Peninsula College Soccer teams clinched a playoff spot, the hard way. Needing only one point in today’s game to get the final playoff spot, the Pirates came out fired up but were unable to crack the Shoreline defense until the 73rd minute when Hugo Vasquez hit a free kick that went through the box and popped out at Teagan Cambier’s feet who with ease slotted home the game winner.

The Pirates out shot their opponent 17-11 and Alec Risk had 6 saves and the shutout, which is his 5th of the year and the teams 9th. The Pirates will now travel to Skagit Valley on Wednesday for a 3pm game and then will finish out their league play with Whatcom at Home at 2pm Saturday Nov. 8th at 2pm, which will be the last time to see the 2008 Pirates in action at home.

The Pirate soccer team continues its unbeaten streak to 11 games, scoring 30 goals and only giving up 5 in that time. Record is now 10-3-3 in league. The Pirates have not lost at home this season.


Playoff: The Pirates will travel to Clark CC on Nov. 12th for a loser out playoff game, game time to be determined.

Peninsula Pirates blank Olympic Rangers

Pirates remain unbeaten in last 10 games, scoring 29 goals and only giving up 5, with 7 shutouts.

Final Score: PC 3 OC 0

Goals: 14min Omar Anderson from a thru ball played by Ernest Boham

35 min Steve Williams on a great run from half, assisted by John Troka

51 min Sean Gaskins off a cross played by Omar Anderson

Shots: PC 15 OC 1 (yes only 1)

Saves: Jase Hall—None Records his 4 shutout 8^th team shutout

We had some great opportunities to put the ball in the back of their net and just couldn’t do it. It was great to hold them to only one shot, our defense played really well. We were able to play all of our players and try players in different positions.

The Pirates are now 6pts up on Tacoma going into the remaining 3 games. The Pirates need to pick up only 1pt out of the possible 9pts remaining to clinch a playoff spot. Next game will be this Saturday Nov. 1^st at 2pm here at PC against Shoreline.

Andrew Chapman

Head Men's Soccer Coach

Peninsula College

Pirates continue to plunder foes

At Everett

PC-1 Everett-0

Shots; PC 8 Ev 4

Goal: Sean Gaskins scored on a header in the 79 minute from a Tyler Scott free kick.

Alec Risk recorded his 4 shutout of the season and the teams 7. Everett put up a great battle and played a very defensive style. At one point in the game it looked like they were playing with 7 defenders. The Pirate defense was never really tested. The Pirates continue to be unbeaten in their last 9 games and continue to stay ahead of Tacoma for the last playoff spot. Now 8-3-3 in league. Next game will be at Olympic on Wednesday Oct. 29^th at 4pm.

Andrew Chapman

Head Men's Soccer Coach

Peninsula College

Kitsap Sun: Pumas & Paladins lead name vote

Chuck Stark says in today's Kitsap Sun:

The Kitsap Paladins, er, Kitsap Pumas, or the Kitsap Whatevers are moving along as the United Soccer League's Premier Development League franchise prepares for its inaugural season.

The online name-the-team contest runs through Saturday.

"We've had over 100 suggested," said owner Robin Waite, a former Eastside resident who now lives in Tracyton. "Some good, some not so good. The names are sort of enlightening. I learned something about Bremerton. Somebody recommended Bremalos. I never heard that expression before. You learn something everyday."

On a serious note, he said two of the club's four suggested names — Pumas and Paladins — are the leading vote-getters.

Pirates honored, play at home Wednesday

Teagan Cambier and Sean Gaskins were named to the NWAACC All-Academic Team for fall of 2008. Congratulations to those two young men for that academic recognition. Only sophomores are eligible and two of our five qualified this year. Teagan and Sean and the other 23 guys, meanwhile, haven’t lost in their last seven matches and they take on unbeaten Bellevue Wednesday at 4:00 here. If you want to see some great NWAACC soccer, please stop by. You won’t be disappointed. Admission is free. ---PCC Athletics

Holt tabs Kitsap for 2009 in interview

USL Vice President Tim Holt mentions the new Kitsap Club in an interview now posted at SoundersFC.com:

"We’re excited that in Seattle that the Sounders’ name and legacy will continue in Major League Soccer. With respect of the Sounders’ USL-1 franchise rights, those rights are in the process of being transferred to Robin Waite, one of their owners, for the purposes of establishing a PDL franchise in Kitsap County. We expect that team, subject to final paperwork, to compete in 2009, so that’s exciting for us. That allows fans on the other side of the Sound to have a home team to root for."

Pirates keep moving up

See more Pirates photos on their MySpace page!

See also Sequim Gazette Coverage: Pirates close in on playoff spot

The Pirates soccer team continues to stay unbeaten in the last 7 games. The Pirates went into half time locked up with Edmonds at 0-0. But PC game out firing getting a goal only 2 minutes into the 2^nd half when Ernest Boham was fouled from behind in the box resulting in a PK that Teagan Cambier was able to put in the back of the net. 9 minutes later PC was able to find the net again off a Cody Sloan corner kick that Sean Gaskins blasted in the back of the net. Omar Anderson put the nail in the coffin when he finished a deflected ball off the post from a Sam Greely shot at the 85 min.

Peninsula-3, Edmonds-0.

Shots: PC 14 Edmonds 13

Alec Risk recorded his 3^rd shutout and 6^th team shutout this season

Next game will be Wednesday 22^nd at 4pm home against Bellevue (West Division Leader)

Andrew Chapman

Head Men's Soccer Coach

Peninsula College

Kitsap Sun: OC's Gates has the touch

Photo by LARRY STEAGALL | KITSAP SUN Olympic College soccer player Brittnay Gates controls the ball against Highline CC on Wednesday.

By Terry Mosher
Wednesday, October 15, 2008

It's almost unheard of these days for a soccer player without much select team experience to land at a college and have an immediate impact on the program. But that is what Brittnay Gates has done at Olympic College

Gates, a freshman from Sequim has scored 15 goals for the 4-8-2 Rangers and is tied for the lead in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community College with that figure. Tahlia O'Loughlin of Walla Walla also has 15 goals.

Read the entire story HERE.

Pirate Parents post MySpace Page

Visit the MySpace page for the 2008 Peninsula CC Pirates soccer club!

Giving 1000% for Local Soccer!

We are kicking off a campaign to get our number of forum registrants up to 1,000 by Sounders FC kick off 2009!

There are lots of places around the web to drop by and talk about the Sounders and Kitsap Soccer Club, but let's pick GOALSeattle's forums as 'home base' where we all check in as often as we can.

The club's owners and players will read and are reading these boards. So do local and national journalists. So do hundreds of "guests" per day. Are you a frequent "guest?" We'd like to invite you to register and join the growing total!

Please register and add your voice to the growing throngs awaiting the arrival of Sounders FC!

Visitors to www.GOALTacoma.com and www.GOALKitsap.com should note that those sites now have forum areas at www.GOALSeattle.com!

Lowrys lead Olympic College

The Olympic College newspaper focuses on the Lowrys, who coach the Mens and Womens clubs as they try to turn around the programs in soccer.

Aaron Gould writes.

While father and son share a lot of teaching styles, they do differ on some accounts.
"(Dick) coaches with a real passion for his kids," said Kris. "I coach more from a playing background."
"I think I'm a little more mellow at times," said Dick.
Neither plan on leaving anytime soon.
"I'll coach 'till I'm tired of it," said Dick.
"I want to be here as long as I can," said Kris. "Coaching is something I want to do the rest of my life."

Pirates continue unbeaten streak

The Peninsula Pirates Community College soccer team (Port Angeles) continued their unbeaten streak to 4 games with a tie today against Whatcom (1^st in North Division). The game was played in a rain/wind storm with both teams ending the game with 2 goals each. Whatcom scored first in the 15 minute off a nice cross for a header on the backside. The Pirates scored next 36 minutes into the game off a John Troka Penalty Kick, created after John Troka was fouled in the box. Whatcom was able to utilize the foul weather to put a 20 yard free kick into the back of the net, only after a bad deflection redirected past Pirate GK Jase Hall. Ernest Boham ties the game in the 68 minute from a Troka corner kick with a great blast 20 yards out. And that is how the game ended. The Pirates had 6 shots with Whatcom having 4 shots and Jase Hall for the Pirates with only 1 save. “Under the weather conditions and the fact we were on the road again we played really well. We controlled most of the game”. Next game will be home vs. Highline on Wed. Oct. 8^th at 4pm (Highline is tied for 1^st in the West Division).

Ernest Boham breaks ALL TIME SCORING RECORD. With Ernest’s 4 goal of the season and 17 of his career he passed up Seth Ransom for most goals in a 2 year career at Peninsula College. We are now at our half way point in the season and I am confident he will be able to add to it. He has been shooting for this record for a long time and it is great that he finally reached it. Especially with the goal he had today, a fantastic hit ball from 20 yards out.

Andrew Chapman

Head Men's Soccer Coach

Peninsula College

Bremerton Patriot covers new club

The Bremerton Patriot has coverage of the birth of the Kitsap Pro Soccer Club.

“This is Kitsap’s team, this is for the people here,“ Pecora said. “There’s a big contingent of people connected to the sport. The phones are ringing off the hook.”

Along with establishing a team name and finalizing the stadium deal, Waite and Pecora are looking at coaching candidates, acquiring equipment, establishing a youth initiative, settling into an office on Wheaton Way in Bremerton and expanding the club Web site.

“It’s just two guys grinding it,” Pecora said. “We’re excited, we can’t wait.”

Vote for "Kayaks" by October 25th

What do you think of this logo idea?

This will be my last blog on the subject of what to name the new Kitsap Pro Soccer Club.

I think.

(You'll pardon my extra enthusiasm about this. It is a dream come true that a level of pro soccer is coming to my 'neighborhood' for the first time! Living in west Puget Sound I've followed the Seattle Sounders (east) and Tacoma Tide (south). Now a club is coming to the county I actually live in!)

I encourage fans who will be supporting the club in 2009 to go to www.KitsapSoccerClub.com, hit the "Click here to name the team" button, select "other" from the menu, and write in "Kayaks."

Above you see a possible modern interpretation of a club logo.

GOALKitsap.com likes "Kitsap Kayaks," so does Chuck Stark of the Kitsap Sun.

Get on board the 'boat!' Vote "Kitsap Kayaks!"

(If we really want to get pushy, we'd also like the club colors to be Red, Black and White, after the Kitsap County Official Crest and Seal.)

Imagining "Kayaks"

I did a search around the internet to see how the term "Kayaks" has been used graphically. I wanted to get some visual confirmation that the name and theme could look good in a soccer logo or 'crest.'

Here are some of the graphics I found. Would any of these be a decent starting point for a soccer club logo?
I like this one from Maine. Imagine the oars and the kayaks, with a soccer ball in the center. It would have a slight nod to the Mariners' 'Compass Rose' design.


No real 'Kayaks' design here, but I wanted to post this to show how good red and black look with the name. Those are the colors on the Kitsap County logo, and I support them as the colors for Kitsap Soccer Club, too.

This design shows a Kayak as a silhouette against a landscape. The soccer club could go this direction and show of some of our county's natural beauty in their logo.


The best for last? This stylized Kayak design really catches the eye. Add in some kind of soccer element and you could have a really nice Kitsap badge.

Stark likes 'Kayaks!'

Here's a shout out to Kitsap Sun Sports Editor Chuck Stark who gave us some publicity today in his "The Stark Truth" blog:

Port Orchard’s David Falk, who operates the GOALkitsap.com site — a sister site of his popular GOALseattle.com site — has come up with a unique name that I kind of like.

The Kitsap Kayaks.

Whaddya think?

Go to www.KitsapSoccerClub.com to vote. Check out Falk’s site — and some other name suggestions — at GOALkitsap.com.

Thanks, Chuck! The media will be an important part of the success of the Kitsap...KAYAKS soccer club!

Kitsap Soccer Club launches name the team contest

First official Kitsap Soccer Club press release:

Bremerton, Wash. – Today, a new, professional soccer club is born in Kitsap County, Wash. Located primarily across Puget Sound from downtown Seattle, Kitsap is home to over 300,000 residents. The new franchise will be the first-ever, fully professional soccer team to call Kitsap its home – and most likely the first-ever fully professional sports franchise based on the peninsula itself.

“The franchise has been approved by the USL commissioner and we have secured a fantastic home at Bremerton HS Memorial Stadium. What we need now is for the people of Kitsap help us name our team,” said owner Robin Waite. “This is only the first step of many – team name, team colors, sponsors, suppliers… It’s a very long list – but this is indeed a very exciting time for all of us in Kitsap.”

To submit entries, please log on to www.kitsapsoccerclub.com now. The club will accept submissions until midnight Oct. 25, 2008.

For additional information, please contact Ben Pecora, Kitsap Soccer Club, 360-377-6008.

I've blogged three write-in suggestions here.
Kitsap Sun: Pumas? Kaisers? Name the New Soccer Team

Kitsap won't face Yakima in 2009 as Reds fold

Reds sit on the stairs before a 2007 match in Tacoma.

It is a sad day for soccer in the state of Washington and for fans of the Yakima Reds.

It had been reported that the Reds were looking for investors to remain alive for 2009. Yesterday the club website posted the following message:

Yakima Reds forced to call it quits after 14 years in the Yakima community - It is with great sadness that I have to write this email to inform you that the Yakima Reds will no longer be a part of the United Soccer Leagues or the Yakima Community. Irwin Research & Development, the owner of the Yakima Reds, has been greatly effected by the current economy, and does not have the finances to support the Yakima Reds in 2009. We have had some great sponsors who have supported us through the years, but the majority of the expenses were covered by Irwin Research & Development. We have tried to get backing from other business owners in our area, sending out letters asking for support, but just could not come up with the funding to commit for 2009 in the time that was needed.

Fans of Tacoma Tide FC will be especially saddened by these developments. In three short seasons the Tide and Reds became strong rivals. The battles of Yellow v. Red never failed to produce exciting and often emotional soccer.

The Reds came into the PDL just one season after the current Sounders came back to life in what is now the USL-1. For fourteen seasons the Reds brought soccer to the Valley and gave fans and players a chance to celebrate the beautiful game.

Along the way players like Jake Sagare and 2008 League MVP Junior Garcia starred for Yakima. The Reds lived on after the Spokane Shadow folded in early 2006. Out of the death of the Shadow Tacoma FC quickly came to life and took over the Shadow's home dates out west. Tacoma FC and Yakima met for the first time on May 20, 2006. TFC got their first goal and first-ever point in a 1-1 draw with the Reds. The Reds and Tide played 8 matches against each other with Tacoma winning the derby 4-2-2.

I remember vividly the last Tacoma home match of just a few months ago. The playoffs and the division were on the line as the Tide hosted the Reds. Up in the stands the traveling contingent from Yakima included the owner, player wives, relatives and other fans. Even though the visitors went home that night with a loss, they knew they had played in a 'big match' and the fans knew they had traveled well.

Here's hoping that, much like the Shadow of Spokane eventually were brought back as the Spiders, Yakima sees soccer returning again as an oasis during its blazing summers.

Subscribe and Follow the LOCAL game

I've added two new features to the three soccer blogs I post in. You can now subscribe easily to GOALSeattle, GOALTacoma and GOALKitsap blogs by clicking the menu in the top right corner on each blog.

You can now link your blog and show you follow these Puget Sound soccer blogs by using the "Follow" menu at the very bottom of all three blog's pages.

Being a soccer fan in our area completely rocks right now!

We've got Major League Soccer on the way in Seattle, PDL soccer on the way in Bremerton, and a very successful, fun to watch club wearing yellow in Tacoma.

If you ever want to send along any content, links or ideas for any of the blogs, just email me at goalseattle@gmail.com or post in the comments area.

We are the SOUND of Soccer!

Naming Kitsap Soccer Club

UPDATE: You can now vote for the Kitsap Soccer Club name online at www.KitsapSoccerClub.com

One of the most fun parts of getting on board with a club as they are being born is brainstorming possible names for that club.

In the case of Kitsap Soccer Club, which plans to kick off in the USL Premier Development League in 2009, we have a challenge on our hands. Should the name be something local? Something that sounds good phonetically? Something traditional? Something that takes a risk?

The club has already mentioned that they'll hold an on-line name the team contest. We don't know yet if they'll supply the choices or if fans can submit their own. In recent weeks we've heard owner Robin Waite suggest Pipers, Pilots, Pumas, Paladins and Kaisers.

"Pipers" is OK, and would sound good, though it certainly leans towards a Scottish flair. "Pilots" works but of course was once used locally for a one-year Seattle pro baseball club. "Pumas" has the two-syllable thing going, but isn't very local. "Paladins" is original and clever because it plays off of the Bremerton "Knights" name (local high school and stadium Kitsap will play in). It might be a bit obscure. "Kaisers" adds the double 'k' sound, but is rather German.

Here are three names I'd like to suggest, with reasons why I think they would work.


My favorite is Kitsap Kayaks. It has the 'sound' thing going for it, and it also reminds me of the local waters here in the West Sound, where quiet tides are often cut by the bows of kayakers crossing from shore to shore. It is also original, and everyone knows what a kayak is. There is also a nod to the native population, as the word is of Eskimo origin.

I also really like Kitsap Destroyers. It would be going an entirely different direction, and might even be a big seller if the crest was done right. Destroyers are the fast-moving warships that made a big difference in World War II. The Bremerton waterfront is the resting home for the U.S.S. Turner Joy, a famous destroyer.

More on the risky end but still cool is the name Kitsap Kites. Kites has the alliteration down, and could offer multiple crest options. There is the traditional flying kite we all are familiar with. There are also 'kites' that power ships as sails, or 'kite sails.' (Edit: an email sent to me reminded that Africa is the home of Kite Falcons. Further, the term kite is used widely amongst bird watchers.)

Sometime before the end of the year www.KitsapSoccerClub.com will come online as a first official sign that the team is about to form. What will the name be for the local side? What is your favorite choice?

Kitsap Sun: Soccer could be on its way

By Chuck Stark
Tuesday, September 16, 2008


Robin Waite looks like he's getting close to the end of the road in his quest to bring professional soccer to Kitsap County.

"It's been a long slow journey," Waite said. "But it looks like we're going to make it."

There are still details to hammer out and contracts to sign, but Waite is confident he'll have a United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League franchise playing at Bremerton Memorial Stadium by May 2009.

Waite and the Bremerton School District are close to putting together a lease agreement that will allow the Tracyton resident to use the high school stadium for home games.

Wayne Lindgren, director of finance and operations for the school district, said district officials and Waite would meet within the next two weeks.

"He wants to get moving on this," Lindgren said of Waite, the owner of Invovest Properties who a year ago was putting together plans to build a $3.2 million, 6,000-seat, soccer-only stadium in Poulsbo.

His monetary investment in this stadium project is considerably less — about $200,000, said Waite.

As a show of good faith, Waite's already agreed to purchase a new scoreboard for the stadium even if the deal falls through or the league folds. And he said he will install a video board, add about 1,500 bleacher seats for the end zones, provide security for the neighborhoods and traffic control in the beginning, and also provide financing for some needed drainage work on the grass field.

Read the entire article here.

OC Rangers video highlights from Edmonds

The Olympic College Rangers faced Edmonds last weekend.

Community warms to Kitsap Pro Soccer plans

Kitsap looks like it is getting a pro soccer club.

A meeting at Bremerton High School on September 11th drew local residents, soccer fans and school board and community advocates together to talk about the possible impact a new pro soccer club would have on Bremerton and the high school stadium.

Robin Waite introduced his plans for bringing a professional soccer club to Bremerton in 2009. He told the gathering of about fifty that the "Kitsap Soccer Club" will be putting a website online within the next few weeks at www.KitsapSoccerClub.com.

Debate remains about the surface of Memorial Stadium. Waite would prefer grass with new drainage and a wider pitch. The school district prefers the functionality of Field Turf.

School and community officials talk about using Memorial Stadium for pro soccer.

Waite has purchased a scoreboard for the stadium as a goodwill gift to the Bremerton School District. He hopes to add a video screen later if the district approves use of the venue for pro soccer.

Attendees talked about traffic, ticket prices, even what the club would be called. Waite revealed the choices that can be voted on when the club website comes online: Pilots, Paladins, Pumas or Kaisers. There is an 'other' option, which drew a sign of relief from some in the crowd who didn't like any of those suggestions.

Club owner Robin Waite addresses the gathering.

The new Kitsap club will be in no way connected to the current Seattle Sounders in name or in league. They will be enough of the same 'franchise' to allow Waite, a current Sounders owner, to transfer them without paying new club fees, but Kitsap will begin life in the Premier Development League (PDL) with hopes of doing more soon after that. United Soccer Leagues First Division will go dark in the state of Washington.

The PDL is a summer league (May-July) that uses college talent to staff clubs' unpaid rosters. It is the third level in the United Soccer Leagues system. Waite says his Kitsap PDL club will be professional and will pay its players. He says this is already happening in Vancouver with the Whitecaps residency club, and may also happen next year when Victoria Highlanders FC join the league.

Further, Waite is in communication with at least six other clubs now at the PDL level who would also like to 'go pro' and build what would amount to a USL Second Division "Western Conference." Waite would like Kitsap to go to that level.

The idea of pro soccer at Memorial Stadium was warmly received.

Finally, Waite spoke briefly to me personally about Tacoma Tide FC, a club that will now be a rival 30 miles to the south. He believes that TFC might at some point also want to go pro in the PDL in hopes of moving up to the talked-about USL-2 West.

Kitsap plans to charge $10, $8 and $5 for tickets with the $5 dollar seats being added at both ends of the pitch in roll-away seating. With the addition of around 1,600 end line seats the capacity of Memorial would be raised to around 4,700. Waite said he has hopes to host the Des Moines Menace at some point in an attempt to break their regular season PDL single match attendance record of just under 4,000.

Olympic College has been contacted in regards to use of their parking lots.

Kitsap Pro Soccer Club promised neighbors at the meeting that they would over-staff the first few matches the club played to be sure that traffic did not become an issue around local streets.

The public has had their initial say and now Waite and the School District need to finalize the details before the club can kick off in Bremerton in 2009. Indications from the meeting are that public response is favorable and won't be a barrier in making things work.