PORT ORCHARD, WA—Port Orchard Football Club blew out visiting Northern Peninsula FC 7-2 on Father’s Day Sunday June 18 to complete the first half of the CPL2 season with a 5-0-0 record.
Michael Divano scored a hat trick for the third straight match at Ed Fisher Field before a crowd of 602 on an often drizzly day. Sam Gomez (2), Jake MacKenzie (2) and Benjamin Banks notched assists.
“I thought we played well in the first half. We had a strong start and then I thought we dictated play throughout the half,” says POFC Head Coach Patrick Leonard. “As we went into the second half it wasn’t to the standard we are aiming for. I thought we had tricky moments where we let ourselves down a bit, but overall we were able to score a couple more goals and get the result over the line. I also think the support, given the weather and the fact it was Father’s Day, were outstanding. You could feel their backing throughout the game and that absolutely pushed us on.”
Video Highlight Reel
Blazing Start
POFC came out blazing and were already up 3-0 after ten minutes. Divano got the first of his three in the second minute when he found space and perfectly placed a ball beyond the reach of NPFC goalkeeper Nicholas Allen.
Facebook Gallery: Fans Support POFC On Rainy Father’s Day
Facebook Gallery: Jesse MacKenzie Action & Celebration Shots
In the fifth minute Jake MacKenzie streaked past the NPFC defense and craftily lifted one over Allen at close range to make it 2-0. MacKenzie would later assist on both of POFC’s second half goals.
Sam Gomez lobbed a ball to an onrushing Aidan Harvey in the tenth minute and the centerback took the bounce with ease and rocketed a low shot past Allen to make in 3-0 Port Orchard. It stood as the eventual match winner.
Jake MacKenzie goal sequence as shot by his sister Jesse:
All Around Knight
Harvey has been the most consistent defender for Port Orchard in the club’s debut season. Now he’s also adding goal scoring to his contributions. Aidan scored one of the bigger goals of the year so far on June 4 in Aberdeen when his header tied the match with Grays Harbor in the late going.
The Bremerton High alum crosses the bridge to compete with Tacoma Community College in the NWAC.
Repeat Offenders
It was 5-0 at the half as Divano added a second off an assist from Benjamin Banks and Ben Wilkinson scored his third goal over two matches on a delivery from Sam Gomez.
While Divano was knocking on the door of his third straight hat trick at Kitsap Bank Stadium (May 7, May 21), Wilkinson was following up on the brace he scored the previous week in Tenino against Twin City Union.
Note Ben’s post-goal hand gesture. He forms the letter “A,” and says “it’s for someone in the crowd. She knows who she is.”
Protecting His Players
Head Coach Pat Leonard met with the lead referee at the halftime whistle in an effort to protect his players from rough tackles and late kicks. POFC was running past Northern Peninsula and the response from the visitors often put the home side players on the turf. Both sides had raised eyebrows and voices at what was being allowed.
Defensive Lapses Continue
The second half was a chippy and sometimes sloppy affair with the clubs exchanging two goals each. Divano got his third consecutive home match hat trick when he tucked a pass from Jake MacKenzie around the NPFC defense. The visitors got back-to-back goals, one from play and the other a converted penalty kick, to cut the gap to 6-2.
Leonard and the bench were not happy with giving up two goals completely against the flow of the match. It’s something the gaffer addressed at the close of Friday’s training so he was let down to see his club once again let up on an opponent.
One More For Dom
Released on a ball from Jake Mackenzie, Dominik Pajimola made a run down the left side for the final goal of the match. He shot the ball calmly around NPFC goalkeeper Allen. It skipped sharply into the back of the net as Allen cut Pajimola down in a collision. Dominik felt the impact as he went low at the same time as the gloved defender. The goalkeeper helped the scorer to his feet and Dominik remained in the match, which ended under a light drizzle at 7-2.
Think Pink And Black
Isaiah Whitesell made his debut in goal for Port Orchard FC. The 2023 Curtis High graduate (University Place, Tacoma) will be off to Montana State Billings in the fall to play in the GNAC.
Whitesell wore the full Levo Soccer pink kit, the first time the shorts and socks have seen action in a POFC match at home.
The field players wore black shirts for the first time at Ed Fisher Field, and also for the very first time with blue shorts and socks.
Two Huge Weekends Ahead
Port Orchard FC next travels to Tacoma for a rematch with Steel United on June 25 at 2 PM at Franklin Pierce High School. POFC won big when the teams met on May 7 but this time Steel United are on a three match winning streak and are sitting in third place and chasing a playoff spot.
“They will without a doubt be improved from our first game against them,” says Coach Leonard. “They’ve had three strong results in a row and are absolutely going to be a tough test for us. As much as I’m looking forward to it, I know it’ll be a good test for us.”
The next home match for Port Orchard is Sunday July 2 at 3 PM inside Kitsap Bank Stadium at SKHS when Grays Harbor Gulls come calling for a battle that will help decide who wins the CPL2 Pacific Division.