PORT ORCHARD, WA—Port Orchard Football Club recently scored a big addition on defense as Liam Miller returned home to Tacoma from Chico State and started training with his new summer club over the bridge in Kitsap County.
Miller comes in with top credentials and a tremendous history of winning. Liam was named the All-Area Player of the Year in 2022 by the Tacoma News Tribune. This after winning the WIAA 4A State Championship with the Bellarmine Prep Lions. His list of accomplishments include being named First Team ECNL All Conference in 2023, being selected as a National Sectional All Star (ENCL, St Louis) as well as being named All Conference in 2021 and 2022 in the South Puget Sound League (SPSL.) He currently plays D2 college soccer at Chico State University in California. He won many of his honors as part of Washington Premier FC ECNL B04.
Coach Welcomes Liam
POFC gaffer Patrick Leonard saw Miller briefly at a training last year. “Liam is a player I have known about for awhile. He was on a radar last year but for one reason or another it didn’t pan out. When we talked this spring it was a clear move to make. He’s an impressive defender that will bring a consistency back there. As we step into these harder games this season in CPL1, it’s about building and improving our roster and depth, Liam absolutely checks those boxes.”
A Bellarmine Reunion
Liam is just the latest in a growing group of former Bellarmine High soccer players to cross the bridge to POFC. Last season Jack and Peter Radovich arrived as playoff reinforcements. This year in training Peter has returned, joining Jaggar Judkins, Miller and this week trialists Zak Kahn and Jayson Baldwin. From an earlier era, Robert Nurmi makes it seven Lions in training. All but Nurmi were on the roster of the 2022 state champions.
The Summer Ahead
Liam describes his playing style. “I am composed on the ball. (My style is) aggressive ball winning. I play to be an aerial threat.” He also pushes up and plays through the midfield as needed or when the field opes up that way for him.
Needless to say, it was Leonard and the bunch of Bellarmine players who got Liam to take a visit out to POFC. Now he’s registered with Port Orchard in the Cascadia Premier League and the First Division awaits.
“He has played with a handful of these guys before, and trained with many of them,” Leonard says. “That familiarity has allowed him to jump right in with the boys and get on the same page quickly. I’m really impressed with Liam so far and look forward to working with him more throughout the summer.”
Liam, agrees. “I am looking forward to competition on the pitch, and elevating my game and the games of those around me. I want that camaraderie with my teammates and look forward to executing some great soccer with them.”