PORT ORCHARD, WA—Port Orchard Football Club earned promotion to the Cascadia Premier League (CPL) First Division (CPL1) in 2023 and will use the offseason to prepare both the soccer and operations sides of the club for the challenges moving up will bring in 2024.
In the CPL1 POFC will face top level teams with star players and deep rosters. Road trips will take the team to new cities and venues. The season could become condensed and more intense.
CPL1 Opponents
The format and lineup of clubs for the 2024 CPL1 season will be decided early in the new year. In 2023 the CPL1 was divided geographically into three divisions featuring 14 clubs.
POFC has not yet been officially assigned a division but it is likely the club will compete in the Rainier. In 2023 the Rainier featured PacNW (Tukwila), Lacey Lights (Lacey), Eastside FC (Preston), Sporting International (Tukwila) and Washington Premier FC (Puyallup.)
Tough Division
The Rainier Division provided 2 of the top 4 teams in the 2023 CPL1 playoffs as both Lacey Lights and Eastside FC advanced to the semifinals before eventually falling to Columbia Division opponents. Three-time defending CPL1 Champions Wenatchee edged Lacey 2-1 and newcomers Walla Walla topped Eastside 3-2. Wenatchee went on to win a third straight CPL1 title.
The post-season runs for Rainier teams highlights the strength of the division. Lacey and Eastside finished second and third to powerhouse PacNW in 2023, but both were strong enough to make the semis.
| 2023 Rainier Division (points) |
| 1. PacNW Soccer Club (15) |
| 2. Lacey Lights (14) |
| 3. Eastside Football Club (10) |
| 4. Sporting International (10) |
| 5. Washington Premier FC (6) |
Fueld By Massive Youth Systems
Four of the five current Rainier clubs have youth systems. Lacey Lights are an independent club while PacNW, Eastside FC and WPFC are known first for their development programs and massive youth presences. Sporting International also have a growing youth program.
More College Players, Bigger Player Pools
CPL1 club rosters are full of players currently competing in college at all levels including D1. Further, it goes without saying that clubs in the greater Seattle area and Puget Sound metroplex have advantages in the size of their possible player pools. Include youth systems already in place and the advantage only grows.
Condensed Season Schedule Possible
The 2023 CPL1 schedule was condensed when compared to what POFC experienced in the CPL2. CPL1 clubs have more college players on their rosters and thus the season started in late May but ended at the same time in late July. It is expected that unlike this season when Port Orchard was able to schedule its league opener on May 7, in 2024 it might fall 2-3 weeks later. POFC hopes to schedule a couple of home friendlies in May before the league kickoff.
| Year – CPL1 Champion | Runner Up |
| 2023 – Wenatchee All-Stars FC | Walla Walla Stars |
| 2022 – Wenatchee All-Stars FC | Lacey Lights |
| 2021 – Wenatchee All-Stars FC | Snohomish County |
| 2019 – Snohomish County Steelheads | Nido Aguila Seattle |
| 2018 – Kirkland Goats FC | Lacey Pocket Gophers |
