PORT ORCHARD, WA—Port Orchard Football Club visits Wenatchee on Wednesday night July 8 with a chance to claim the final Evergreen Premier League playoff spot with a victory.
The Tall Firs set up the big chance by going unbeaten in June with two ties and a win and earning five standings points, raising their season total to nine. Meanwhile, FC Olympia were outscored 9-2 in two big away losses that kept the capital city club frozen at 8 points.
Head Coach Max Sampson knows the challenges awaiting his club. “Traveling in the EPLWA is a difficult task and away points are hard earned. Our players know what is at stake on July 8 and the playoffs start now for us. July is always an exciting time for summer league teams and we expect to perform well in the final weeks.”
Port Orchard FC has a history of doing well in July. The club has advanced through the playoffs every year since being founded in 2023. Three straight finals appearances, winning two of them.
“We have the ability to play high level football when we are firing in all cylinders,” Sampson says. “I want our guys to find the spark next week so we can play in the semifinal.”
Lingering
It’s a wild finish for the final playoff spot. Port Orchard can clinch with a win, but the other clubs remain alive too. If POFC gets a win they will be at 12 points, a total none of the chasers can match. However, if PO ties or loses, they are in big jeopardy of finishing out of the playoffs and even behind both Oly and Skagit, should those clubs win.
How POFC makes the Playoffs
The Simplest route is to get a win over Wenatchee All Stars FC. Simple, but certainly not easy. Wenatchee will be playing on their grass home pitch at Wenatchee Valley Community College. They will be smarting after POFC knocked them around in Port Orchard on June 21. They will play without any psychological pressure. It’s a dangerous combination.
“Wenatchee is a proud, successful club,” says POFC Coordinator David Falk. “They have young talent with a desire to improve. They might well also get some of their veterans on the roster to play in the match. We will be in for an epic battle.”
Vulnerable Without A Win In Wenatchee
A tie in Wenatchee would put Port Orchard at 10 points and very vulnerable to FC Olympia and Skagit Athletic FC. A loss would only be enough for POFC if FC Oly loses at home to Yakima, Skagit loses or draws with Bellingham and Wenatchee loses or draws at Washington East Surf.
No Tiebreakers Fall POFC’s Way
Port Orchard FC holds no tiebreakers against teams that could numerically tie them. PO could end 9 points to 9 with FC Oly. Oly would take it on the second tiebreaker, having beaten and tied PO this season.
Skagit Alive
Skagit could end tied with PO on 10 points if the Tall Firs draw in Wenatchee and SAFC beats Bellingham. In that case, the tiebreaker favors Skagit, who would take it on total number of wins.
Wenatchee Wild Card
If PO loses in Wenatchee and the All Stars go on to beat WE Surf in their season finale, that 9-9 points tie would go to Wenatchee on number of wins. A POFC tie in Wenatchee eliminates the All Stars from the race.
Surf’s Up
What if PO and WE Surf end tied at 12 points each? PO takes 4th (and a playoff spot) and Surf take 3rd, again thanks to total wins.
A Return To Yakima
Port Orchard FC are looking for a return to Yakima. If the Tall Firs make the playoffs they will travel to the two-time defending champs in the semifinals on July 18. In June PO went over the mountains and earned a 4-4 tie against the Hoppers.
Fit To Be Tied
“We’ve made the playoffs every year we’ve been a club,” Falk states. “It has been an amazing run and a big part of our tradition. This first season in the EPLWA we have played to three ties, and that has slowed us down a bit. In the end, if we can win on July 8, those ties will be the points that helped us qualify for the semifinals.”
Below are the remaining matches in the EPLWA Premier Men’s Division. The results of these contests will decide who and where other clubs finish behind leaders Yakima United.
