PORT ORCHARD, WA—In their first seasons in the Evergreen Premier League, Port Orchard Football Club and Wenatchee All-Stars Football Club have taken different routes. Sunday those routes intersect at Kitsap Bank Stadium in a match with playoff spot implications.
Early and Late
Port Orchard have played 6 of their 8 league matches. The early slate is just the opposite of what Wenatchee have on offer. The All-Stars have only played 3 matches (they host Yakima Friday night June 19 before coming to PO on Sunday) and they have plenty of matches to make up ground in the table. For POFC, it’s 2 matches with Wenatchee and the regular season is complete.
Wins Required
The Tall Firs have set a club record this season with 3 ties. Port Orchard knows that wins are required against the All-Stars. Ties get you a point, but also keep you from getting 3.
It’s a precarious position to be sitting on 6 points and knowing even 12 might not be enough. But one match at a time. POFC needs to win their home leg against Wenatchee.
Here are the remaining EPLWA match-ups, current and total possible points, current points per match average, and end of season totals if those averages play out as they have so far.
Averaging 1 point per match with a 1-2-3 (W-L-T) record has left POFC in 5th place so far, on the outside looking in. The top 4 finishers make the playoffs.
The good news is that PO can change the trajectory of the race with Wenatchee by winning both of their upcoming matches (In PO June 21, at Wenatchee July 8.)
A tough aspect for the Tall Firs is the waiting game and scoreboard watching. PO needs plenty of help. WE Surf (Spokane) and FC Oly have inside tracks to playoff spots. Wenatchee have 5 matches in hand.
The Odds
The Tall Firs face the cold hard reality that making the playoffs, while possible, remains unlikely. According to the calculations below (Chatgpt) the odds PO makes it in now stand and 18%. That percentage goes up dramatically if they beat Wenatchee at home on June 21.
Scoreboard Watching
The Most important scoreboard to watch for PO is their own. Playing against Wenatchee can mean a 6-point swing in the race for fourth. Beyond those battles, the Tall Firs will be paying attention to see how WE Surf and FC Oly finish out their campaigns.
