Second Straight Finals Appearance One To Build On For POFC

PORT ORCHARD, WA—Port Orchard Football Club has been in existence for just two years and in that time the local men’s premier adult team has been to league championship matches twice. Two years and two magical seasons, very different, but each providing amazing early history and building blocks for an even bigger and brighter future.

It is with this perspective that POFC views the club’s 1-0 loss on Sunday July 28 against Sharktopus FC. A close 2024 Cascadia Premier League First Division Championship Final fought hard by two clubs.

PRESS: Weekend Playoff Coverage From Kitsap Daily News

PHOTOS from the FINAL: Jesse MacKenzie & Robert Law

A Single Goal

Sharktopus FC got the only goal of the match in the 56th minute. A Jordan Hadden save fell to the feet of Ostian Owen who directed the ball back towards the POFC goal mouth. Defender Aidan Harvey was resetting from the previous play and the ball nicked off of him and into the net.

Port Orchard pushed the play late on but couldn’t find an equalizer. The match ended with a Michael Divano free kick blast hitting the crossbar and flashing out of play.

Positives

Head Coach Patrick Leonard is ready to see the positives. “The obvious feeling immediately postgame is disappointment and wanting more. I think we can all agree on that, but moving forward a few days into reflection we can be proud of the season.”

“In the game itself, I felt the guys gave everything. There was a transition from the type of game we had to play Friday verus Sunday, but that was always going to be the case.”

Full Match replay below.

“In the end, we are leaving this season showing that not only do we belong in CPL1, but that we can contend for trophies. I think that’s a really good thing for this club, and it truly gives us a foundation to build on.”

Driven By Success

The bar has been set very high for Port Orchard Football Club by its own early successes. Leonard feeds on the challenges winning creates. “I am here because I am driven by bringing success to this club, and I aim to bring in coaches and players who match those ambitions,” he says.

“We have a great group of players to build with and I expect us to take these experiences and come back in 2025 even better. We know the other teams in our league will be improving as well, but in the end we have seen that on our day we are a team that can compete with anyone.”