PORT ORCHARD, WA—Goalkeeper Austin Valdez had a show-stopping match on June 29 at Kitsap Bank Stadium as Port Orchard Football Club ended up with its first-ever tie. The 1:1 final score against Washington Premier FC Legends was the first time the scoreboard was even at the final whistle in the club’s history, dating back 31 matches to 2023.
Valdez recorded several ‘double saves’ on the night, leading a PO defense that absorbed waves of shots from the visitors in the Cascadia Premier League Rainier Division showdown.
The two sides met back on June 13 with POFC scoring 5 goals in the first half in an eventual 5-3 win. That match had a tight 1-0 second half and that same momentum carried over into the return leg in Port Orchard.
Match Photos: Jesse MacKenzie / Diego Mejia
Port Orchard took the lead in the 68th minute when Dominik Pajimola worked his way through the Legends box and found Michael Divano for the finish. The goal followed just after Valdez had made his most spectacular double save of the night at the other end.
The home crowd of 602, largest of the season, cheered loudly at both the dramatic saves and also the go-ahead goal.
The Legends kept threatening and finally in the 86th minute they drew level. Valdez made another great save but the ball landed at the foot of a visitor who poked it home.
Aggressions spilled over as the match ticked down. WPFC’s Keegan Yorke was sent packing with a red card after a lunge at Divano on the sidelines. In the aftermath POFC centerback Hunter Milbrot was also red carded. The final whistle saw arguments and chatter from both sides and the referee group.
The tie works better for POFC than it does for the Legends. Port Orchard improves to 4-0-1 and 13 points in the CPL1 Pacific Division. WPFC has also played five matches and are now in second place at 2-2-1 and 7 points. Lurking behind with only 3 matches played so far are Nido Aguila Club America Seattle. The top 2 finishers advance to the league playoffs.
Port Orchard’s next two matches are a home and away set with Nido Seattle that begins at Kitsap Bank Stadium on Sunday July 6 at 5 PM.
Watch the entire match below, thanks to DaveSPN.