BREMERTON, WA—Port Orchard Football Club rallied from behind three times to claim a 4-3 victory over Nido Seattle that clinched the 2025 Rainier Division title for the third year men’s semi-pro soccer team.
The 90 degree heat at Bremerton Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night July 15 didn’t stop the two clubs from performing an all out show of soccer and determination. POFC fell behind by scores of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 before catching Nido and then benefitting from a late own goal.
The win improved Port Orchard to 6-0-1 in Cascadia Premier League play with 19 standings points. Nido Seattle dropped to 4-3-0 and 12 points. Port Orchard won the season series, having previously taking a 2-0 win in Port Orchard on July 6.
Match Photos: Jesse MacKenzie / Diego Mejia
Three Comebacks
Port Orchard surrendered a penalty kick goal in the 18th minute (1-0) in a first half where the pace was controlled by Nido. Just before the halftime whistle a POFC free kick was sent into the box and cleared to the foot of Dane Price. He made no mistake, kicking the ball into the Nido net (1-1.) The referee signaled for halftime during the goal celebration. Calvin Moe was in front of goal on the play and redirected the Nido keeper’s save over to Price for the assist.
In the second half Nido were reduced to 10 men on a red card (double yellow – first for foul, second for kicking ball away) but managed to take the lead two seperate times. It was 2-1 when Michael Divano gathered a ball with his back to goal on the edge of the Nido penalty area. His control lead to a penalty kick call. Divano converted to make it 2-2 in the 58th minute.
Nido continued to press and find open chances. They regained a 3-2 advantage in the 74th minute. Divano again replied, this time in the 78th minute with a deliberate drive through the visitors defense and a shot that was too hot to handle for the goalkeeper. POFC’s third comeback drew the match level at 3-3.
Port Orchard needed just a tie to clinch the division but both teams were playing all out for the win. In the late stages it came to be for PO when Jake MacKenzie kept a ball at the endline from crossing over. Instead, Jake rolled it back on the Nido goal line where an onrushing defender could only kick it into his own goal against the side netting.
The division title is the second in club history following a Pacific title back in 2023. Michael Divano’s brace brings his total to 40 goals scored for POFC over three seasons.
Port Orchard FC hosts Bigfoot FC 2 on Sunday July 20 at 5 PM at Kitsap Bank Stadium to close out the regular season.
Playoff pairings will be announced by the CPL soon. POFC will play in the semifinals on Friday night July 25 at Washington Premier FC Soccer Complex in Puyallup. A win that night would take the club to its third straight season-ending championship match.
