PORT ORCHARD, WA—The rain and wind swept through Kitsap Bank Stadium on Sunday as Port Orchard Football Club made their Cascadia Premier League (CPL1) First Division debut. The Tacoma Stars Reserves brought forces of their own as they took down POFC 4-2.
Port Orchard FC supporters huddled together under umbrellas and canopies, many staying for the entire match and cheering for the players afterwards. 522 tickets were sold for the match with around half of those braving the weather and attending.
Life in the top division started brightly for POFC. Jacob Immel delivered a perfect throw-in to Michael Divano who chipped in a goal very early on.
Divano scored 23 goals for Port Orchard in 2023. He’s been playing with West Seattle Junction FC in the USL2 but also attending POFC training.
Tacoma responded by controlling the play for much of the rest of the half. Along the way the visitors put home three goals. It was 3-1 at halftime but with a lifeline for POFC. The referee sent off a Stars Reserves player with a yellow / red and Port Orchard would play the second half with a man advantage.
MATCH GALLERY: Photos by Robert Law at FB.com/gopofc
MATCH GALLERY: Photos by Jesse MacKenzie at FB.com/gopofc
PO did improve their possession in the second half but shots on goal were still at a premium. It wasn’t until late on that Aidan Harvey gave a soaked set of supporters hope with a goal that made it 3-2. A throw-in from Connor Louden was headed across goal by Liam Miller and Harvey volleyed the flick-on home. It was hope dashed quickly though as right away Tacoma raced down the pitch and repsonded to make it 4-2.
In the end POFC experienced their first-ever loss in a league match. It will need to be one to learn from — and quickly — as the CPL1 season rolls on this weekend.
Watch a replay of the match below in a video from DaveSPN which features POFC goalkeeper Caleb Tucker helping comment on the contest.
