Tide fall to Pumas

Bremerton, Wash. – The Tide FC kicked off the 2010 regular season with a new coach and an aggressive, attacking style of play, but two first-half goals were all Kitsap needed to slam the door on Tacoma's opening of the USL Premier Development League season, as the Pumas downed the Tide FC 3-0, a margin much larger than the share of chances.

The road contest, which was the first leg of the Narrows Bridge Bell derby and featured seven players who’ve played in both Puma blue and Tide FC yellow during their careers, was a physical one that saw three yellow cards and 14 fouls in the first half alone.

The scorer’s book opened in the 17th minute when Kitsap defender, and former Tide FC member, Mark Lee got a shot past longtime Tacoma goalkeeper Jordan Jennings, while the first of two insurance scores came in the 46th minute off the foot of left wing Cameron Hepple. The Pumas’ third and final goal came in the 49th minute from another familiar face, former Tide FC midfielder Nik Besagno.

Tacoma (0-1) saw several opportunities to take an early lead and then equalize once it fell behind in the first half, but Kitsap (3-0) goalkeeper Dustyn Brim’s gutsy performance both in and outside the box, coupled with some help from the goal’s woodwork kept Tacoma off the scoreboard.

Tacoma’s golden opportunity to take the lead and control of the game came within the 10-minute mark when Tide FC forward Spencer Schomaker placed a header on goal near the left side of the framework after the Kitsap keeper failed to make a sprawling save, leaving the net exposed, but a Kitsap defender stepped in between the ball and the net and was able to clear it off the line. Following the play, Schomaker protested the call to a nearby official, but was turned away.

In all, the Tide FC had 10 shots with seven on goal in the first half, compared to just three shots and one on goal in the final 45 minutes.

With the second half approaching, tempers began to flare between the two teams.

Midfielder Jason Cascio and Kitsap’s keeper, Brim, received yellow cards at the 11th and 22nd minutes, respectively, for the Pumas. At the 30th minute Tacoma midfielder Daniel Gray entered the book with a yellow of his own.

Midway through the second half, Gray was joined by teammate Brayton Knapp.

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