Tide Regain Winning Touch

The Tacoma Tide FC were 15-0-2 on their home turf from 2007 until the start of 2009. The Tide lost their home dominance at Curtis High School Stadium last year, but after one match at home in 2010, it seems the Tide have regained their home form.

The Tide’s glory years were with players like Spencer Schomaker, Rafael Cox, and company leading the charge. After a season with other pro teams, Schomaker and Cox are both back and they’ve brought wins with them. The goal scoring began in the 18th minute. Xan Nixon, a St. Martins product won the ball in midfield and found Tide veteran, Chase Tangney, on the right wing. Tangney crossed a ball into the box to the on-rushing Schomaker who gave the Tide an early advantage.

With the goal scoring touch on his boot, the Syracuse graduate scored his 2nd just nine minutes later. A throw in on the left side found Steven Pirotte, with plenty of space to look up and cross. The Concordia College graduate crossed to Schomaker. With his back to goal, the Tide forward flicked the ball off his heel across the face of goal and into the far corner to double the Tide lead.

The blind goal from Schomaker was special, but the highlight reel was not complete. In the 36th minute, a Yakima pass was picked off by Brayton Knapp 40 yards away from goal. Knapp’s first touch beat the nearest Yakima defender. The second touch found Daniel Gray’s right foot. After a settling touch, Gray launched a blast into the upper right corner to prompt the Tide crowd to their feet.

The Premier Development League is all about developing young talent for professional careers, and with young talent comes bright prospects and adolescent mistakes. In the 40th minute the Tide defense was caught in one of those youthful errors as their offside’s trap was beaten by Abdul Aman. The fast forward shot down the middle of the field and beat Spencer Richey on the 1v1 to make the score 3-1 at halftime.

The Tide would add an insurance goal in the 69th minute after Steven Pirotte put in an early cross that was intelligently left to run by Schomaker. He knew he had 2nd half substitute, Chris Sanders, waiting near the penalty spot. Sanders knew he had time and space and he used both to pick out the right corner of the net for his first goal of the season. The match finished 4-1.

The Tacoma Tide is back to the Curtis HS field on Sunday at 3pm. They’ll take on the other Eastern Washington team in the Northwest Division, the Spokane Spiders. Tickets are available online at TacomaFC.com and at the gate on Sunday.

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