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Building Port Orchard Football Club

We will provide a place for elite level adult players to compete regionally.

We will be a rallying point for our players, families, communities, and businesses.

We will honor the history of soccer in our area even as we make our own.

PORT ORCHARD, WA—Port Orchard Football Club will come to life from the efforts of local soccer fans, players, coaches and community. The joy and challenge of starting a premier adult soccer club comes in part from finding the right people at the right time and nurturing the process of putting all of the pieces together. The anticipation builds until a group of players with the POFC crest actually take the pitch for the very first time.

Let’s take a look at how POFC will take root in Port Orchard. This article will break down three main areas of focus: Organization, Soccer and Community. Each area is of equal importance. One of the fun things to watch in establishing the club will be to see which area naturally “takes off” first. Every club and every county is different. How will it all play out for POFC?

ORGANIZATION

Organizing Checklist	Volunteer Talent (Email Us)
Club Coordinator	David Falk
Profit, Non Profit or 501.c3?	Someone familiar with establishing non profit organizations can help POFC decide which paperwork to file
Club Structure	Related to above, some non profit businesses have specific structures (Board of Directors, Governor, Treasurer, etc.)
Representation	The Organization, the “Soccer side” and the Community should all have positions of influence in the structure

One of the early tasks will be to organize the POFC structure. A mission statement will be very helpful here. The idea behind the club is to be a non-profit entity that engages Port Orchard and Greater West Sound soccer players, coaches and fans. The details include decisions in regards to government paperwork and tax identification. In Washington you can be granted “Non Profit” status. For Federal purposes, applying for a 501.c3 designation as a “Non Profit Charity” has its advantages.

SOCCER

Soccer Checklist	Volunteer Talent (Email Us)
Head Coach	Patrick Leonard
Assistants	Sam Gomez, Mark Nowak
General Manager	Sam Ironside
Assistant GM	Tyler Brown
Players	Premier adult players who excelled in high school soccer or elite club soccer, are headed to college soccer programs, currently competing in college, or with previous college, semi-pro or pro experience.
League	Cascadia Premier League
Match Day	Ticket sales, vendors, equipment managers, announcers, etc.

Soccer will be the binding agent that brings Port Orchard together under the POFC crest. It’s where the fun happens at practice, on the pitch at matches, and on the sidelines. Port Orchard FC will reflect and represent the top talent in our region. Together we will build out a competitive side and an elite adult soccer community.

COMMUNITY

Community Checklist	Volunteer Talent (Email Us)
Supporters Coordinator	Aaron Banks
Business Coordinator	Someone who enjoys keeping track of local businesses and shops and can connect those places with POFC
Partners	People, families, businesses, local officials who will help POFC with exposure, support and financial donations
Venues	POFC will look for practice and match venues which are both affordable and are located in supportive communities
Fans	People who will attend home matches, follow the club online, get to know the players, frequent businesses that donate to the club, build the POFC community

The community will decide together how quickly POFC takes root and how tall and strong we grow. Clubs have their own unique timelines and growth patterns. Many people and many divergent talents will come together to make it all work. That’s the anticipation, joy and payoff of the movement.

(Email Us)

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VIDEO INTERVIEW: A Chat With POFC Goalkeeper Caleb Tucker

PORT ORCHARD, WA—Caleb Tucker was the very first “breakout star” for Port Orchard Football Club with his penalty kick save in the club’s debut friendly match. After the final whistle fans were lining up for his autograph. Later requests for the goalkeeper jerseys prompted POFC to add them to the team store.

Before training on June 7 at Central Kitsap High School POFC Club Coordinator David Falk sat down for a chat with Tucker.

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Late Rally Lifts Port Orchard To Wild Win Over Grays Harbor

ABERDEEN, WA—Port Orchard Football Club scored four goals in the second half on June 4 at Stewart Field in Aberdeen to rally past the Grays Harbor Gulls 5-3 and take over sole possession of first place in the CPL2 Pacific Division. POFC were supported at the club’s first-ever away match by a throng of chanting, flag-waving fans.

The first-ever POFC away match 11: Back row, L-R: Nick Riders, Caleb Tucker, Hunter Milbrot, Aidan Harvey, Dominick Pajimola, Alex Taylor. Front row: Derrick Shafer, Armando Valdez, Graham Hunt, Michael Divano, Sam Gomez.

Trailing 3-2 with under 15 minutes to play, Port Orchard got level on a header from center back Aidan Harvey in the 80th minute. Hunter Milbrot stood over a free kick and delivered a cross to the near post that Harvey headed back into the upper left corner. In a post-match interview (see video below) Aidan revealed the ball actually went in off his nose.

Just moments later Port Orchard took their first lead of the match at 4-3 in the 81st minute on a goal by Jake MacKenzie.

It was teamwork that created the comeback and the match-winner. “I played the ball out wide to Johnny (Mendoza),” says Sammy Krusi, “then he split two defenders with a cross to me. I did a quick fake shot and sent the ball square to my left for Jake.” MacKenzie then calmly placed the ball perfectly into the back of the Gulls net. Celebrations erupted on the POFC bench and in the away supporters section. Head Coach Patrick Leonard sprinted to the endline to join the players in congratulating MacKenzie.

POFC players celebrate after a late goal gives them the lead.

ACTION PHOTOS: In our Facebook Match Gallery

BEFORE / AFTER / FANS: In our Facebook Atmosphere Gallery

Crazy Comeback

It marked a crazy comeback that saw POFC go down 1-0 in the 4th minute and then 2-0 in the 40th on goals from the Gulls’ Juan Lopez. Grays Harbor did a nice job of disrupting the Port Orchard attack and the POFC defense was vulnerable.

The POFC rally started just before halftime on a goal from Sam Meade. “Hunter put a great ball in and Aidan was there at the back post to head it across,” Meade says. “Sam Gomez was in front of me and headed it off of the crossbar and I was in a good position for the rebound. I was really happy to have scored that goal in particular because after that I think everyone can tell you we felt a real momentum shift heading into the second half.”

Catching Them At 2-2

Indeed Port Orchard came out ready to rally. They caught the Gulls at 2-2 when Michael Davino drew a penalty kick for the third straight match. He stepped up and converted it himself in the 54th minute.

Port Orchard began to assert themselves and it was sort of against the flow of play when a wonder goal strike put Grays Harbor back on top 3-2 in the 73rd. Irvin Vincente turned quickly on a ball outside the box from the right and let loose a curling shot that found the opposite corner.

Jake’s Second Makes Five

The final minutes were frantic with the occasional flurry in front of the POFC goal. Mostly though Port Orchard had settled things down in the back and were in control of midfield. Jake MacKenzie tacked on a fifth goal to clinch the win just before added time. Sam Gomez collected the ball near the center circle and found MacKenzie with a through ball to the left. Jake took the pass and galloped past the defense to roll one home. The final whistle blew soon after and POFC players, coaches and supporters celebrated the club’s first-ever comeback and away win.

The very next day, Jake (a senior) was named Kitsap Sun High School Player of the Year for a second straight time.

#GoPOFC

POFC’s 9-Week Push For Promotion Kicks Off Sunday In Aberdeen

PORT ORCHARD, WA—Port Orchard Football Club are done with off weeks and the push for promotion into the Cascadia Premier League (CPL) First Division is now a 9 consecutive week obstacle course for the new men’s elite soccer team.

Beginning Sunday June 4 in Aberdeen at 2 PM against Grays Harbor Gulls there are 8 straight weekends of regular season league matches, concluding on July 23 away at Thurston County. Port Orchard will be working to make it 9 weekends in a row with the CPL playoff weekend July 28 & 30 in Puyallup.

2023 Port Orchard FC CPL2 Schedule & Results

May 7	Sun. 3 PM	POFC	8-0	Steel United	SKHS
May 21	Sun. 3 PM	POFC	6-2	Thurston Co.	SKHS
June 4	Sun. 2 PM	Grays Harbor	CPL	POFC	STEW
June 11	Sun. 2 PM	TC Union	CPL	POFC	TIGER
June 18	Sun. 3 PM	POFC	CPL	NPFC	SKHS
June 25	Sun. 2 PM	Steel United	CPL	POFC	FPHS
July 2	Sun. 3 PM	POFC	CPL	Grays Harbor	SKHS
July 9	Sun. 3 PM	POFC	CPL	TC Union	SKHS
July 16	Sun. 2 PM	NPFC	CPL	POFC	JCMAF
July 23	Sun. 7:30 PM	Thurston Co.	CPL	POFC	TUMW
July 28+	Friday, TBA	Promotion	CPL	Playoffs	TBA
July 30+	Sunday, TBA	Promotion	CPL	Finals	TBA

How To Make The Playoffs

Each Pacific Division club plays home and away against the other five in a balanced ten-match season. Port Orchard FC can qualify for the CPL2 Promotion Playoffs by finishing first or second in the Pacific Division. Doing so would qualify POFC a spot in the semi-finals on Friday July 28 at Washington Premier FC’s complex in Puyallup.

How To Earn Promotion

The CPL2 playoffs will feature the top two teams from each division (Pacific and Cascade) with #1’s crossing over to play the #2’s from other division in the semifinals. Those winners advance to play on Sunday July 30 in the CPL2 Final. The winner of the Final earns promotion to CPL1 for 2024.

Samuel Meade and POFC will debut their away blacks on Sunday June 4 at Stewart Field when the club travels to Aberdeen to face the Grays Harbor Gulls in a big CPL2 early-season match.

Here Come Away Days & Black Kits

Port Orchard FC have played three straight home matches. Now the new club will venture out for its first away day at historic Stewart Field, in Aberdeen, Washington where the Grays Harbor Gulls are celebrating their 5th anniversary of founding.

The Gulls have scored two big away wins and are tied for first place in the Pacific with POFC. This will be their home opener. Port Orchard FC will debut their away black kit in Aberdeen.

Players applaud supporters after a 6-2 win over Thurston County on May 21. (Randy Wilhite.)

So Far, So Good In CPL2

Port Orchard have started their promotion drive well. Two big wins at Ed Fisher Field at Kitsap Bank Stadium have seen POFC score 14 goals and allow just 2. The club debuted with an 8-0 thrashing of Steel United. They followed up with a 6-2 win over Thurston County. The +12 goal differential is what currently separates Port Orchard and the Gulls. Grays Harbor has two one-goal wins, 1-0 at Twin City Union and 4-3 at Steel United.

Historic Stewart Field

Stewart Field (directions from Port Orchard) is an exceptional place to watch a soccer match. There is no running track and all stands have covered seating. The venue is a throwback to earlier times with cottage roofs supported by posts coming up from the stands. It’s a special place for POFC to play their first-ever away match.

Admission at the gate in Aberdeen on Sunday is $5 for fans ages 6-60 and free for anyone younger or older.

#GoPOFC

Photographers Capturing Moments In Early Life Of Port Orchard FC

PORT ORCHARD, WA—History will show that Port Orchard Football Club begins life in 2023 with camera shutters flickering to catch first-ever moments, a fleet of photographers teaming up to provide great action and feature photos.

David Falk shot the first-ever Port Orchard FC open tryouts in March.

Many of the photos can be found on the POFC Facebook Galleries Page. Others appear over on POFC Instagram. From the inception of the club, through open tryouts and training, and now matches, the club is collecting its history through the talents of the community.

Names Behind The Lenses

Club Coordinator David Falk has been a prolific source of early photos and also videos. He has shot open tryouts, fan events, and more. Professional photographer Jeff Halstead shoots high profile sports in Washington, but he’s also a local with connections to FB.com/goalWA, a partner of POFC. Jesse MacKenzie is a Central Kitsap High student whose brother Jake plays for POFC. She’s shot CKHS Cougars soccer for a while and is now sharing pics with the new team.

Supporters are documenting the debut of POFC with their photos.

Randy Wilhite runs Not Low Visuals out of Gig Harbor. He’s learning the action part of soccer while contributing an amazing sideline photo shoot that is getting tons of views. Amber Wheeler and Melissa Kugler (Redefined Images) have contributed. In the age of social media supporters are also chronicling the debut of Port Orchard FC.

Jeff Halstead shot the pre-season friendly in late April.

It all adds up to some amazing coverage of Port Orchard’s brand new men’s semi-pro soccer team. Keep watching as the season rolls along. Your favorite POFC photo may yet be waiting to be taken!

Jesse MacKenzie captured the celebration sequence which followed the first-ever POFC goal.

Randy Wilhite shot an amazing sideline set before the May 21 win over Thurston County.

#GoPOFC

Hawaii to Washington: Dom-inators Cheer On POFC’s Dominik Pajimola

PORT ORCHARD, WA—Dominik Pajimola took a chance on himself a few months ago. He got on a plane from his native Hawaii in search of soccer opportunities in Washington state. His appearance at Port Orchard FC open tryouts impressed the coaches.

In short order Dominik has already scored a league goal and assisted on another. Now he can also add “fan club” to his list of memories.

Watch our recent chat with Pajimola in the video below.

On Sunday May 21 a group of family, friends and fans turned out to cheer on Dominik and POFC against Thurston County. They were rewarded with a 6-2 win that included an assist from Pajimola on the first Port Orchard goal.

Pajimola signals “Love” to his Dom-inators after the POFC win May 21. (left Sam Meade, right Bryan Weathington.) Photo by Jesse MacKenzie.

Calling themselves the “Dom-inators,” they came ready with Dominik’s face on signs and t-shirts. They stayed after in the stands and Pajimola climbed the bleachers to say thank you and pose for photos.

Awarded Player of the Year as a high school senior in 2015 but realizing his body won’t be young forever, Dominik is playing the game he loves and competing at a high level. He’s been part of a dom-inating midfield for the new CPL club.

In the previous match Pajimola had scored his first POFC goal in a big win over Steel United. Now he’s building a soccer career on the mainland, already with a fan club backing his dream.

#GoPOFC

Divano Deja Vu: Another Hat Trick As POFC Rolls To Win

PORT ORCHARD, WA–-If it seems like you’ve seen it all before, you’re not wrong. On May 7 Port Orchard FC rode a first half hat trick (3 goals) by Michael Divano to a big win. Two weeks later it has happened again. For good measure, Divano also repeated the trick of drawing a first half penalty kick. This time the other guys got a couple of goals, though. In the end Port Orchard FC spanked Thurston County 6-2 at Kitsap Bank Stadium.

Divano was knocking before he broke the door down. A trio of near misses were followed by the opening goal in the 12th minute. Michael weaved his way through a stretched Thurston defense and calmly rolled the ball into the net. A through ball from Dominik Pajimola had started the play.

PHOTOS: Jeff Halstead Action Gallery

PHOTOS: Fans In The Stands

PHOTOS: Randy Wilhite Shots

PHOTOS: Jesse MacKenzie Gallery

It was 2-0 in the 23rd minute after Divano played takeaway with a sloppy Thurston defense and rolled home a second one.

Michael Divano repeated his performance of 3 goals and drawing a penalty kick as POFC sailed past Thurston County. (Jeff Halstead)

POFC were gaining control and just two minutes later they made it 3-0 when Armando Valdez made a run down the right side and crossed the ball across the goal mouth to Bryan Weathington. Bryan’s header went into the mix where Divano cleverly jumped up and out of the way for a trailing Nick Riders to tap it home.

Sam Gomez (left) celebrates with goal-scorer Nick Riders (center) and assist man Bryan Weathington. (Jeff Halstead)

A free kick by Thurston in the 32nd minute was redirected into the POFC net for an own goal to cut the visitor deficit to 3-1. Then Divano was back at it — getting taken down in the box. Sam Gomez scored his first goal for Port Orchard as he converted the PK in the 34th minute to make it 4-1.

Divano got his second hat trick just before the break when Kolby Juarez found him just past midfield and he did the rest with speed and a nifty looping ball on goal. It might have been an attempted pass to the lurking Hunter Milbrot, but before Hunter could catch it the ball rolled into the goal. 5-1 POFC at halftime.

The second half was a slower affair punctuated by a flurry of yellow cards to the frustrated visitors. POFC could have made the damage worse but a second penalty kick try from Gomez hit the post and stayed out.

Jake MacKenzie scores hist first goal for POFC.

Jake MacKenzie scored his first goal for POFC in the 86th minute on a pass from Sam Gomez. Jake drove the left side and found the far corner to make it 6-1.

A scrappy conclusion included a burst forward from Thurston for an answer to make it 6-2 in the 88th. The scoring was complete.

Michael Divano has now scored six goals in two matches, drawn two penalty kicks and assisted on a 9th goal. Port Orchard FC has outscored opponents 14-2 in two league matches.

Port Orchard FC improves to 2-0-0 on the CPL2 season. They entertained a home crowd of 704, a new high for the team. Next the guys will travel to Aberdeen on Sunday June 4 to face the Grays Harbor Gulls at 2 PM at historic Stewart Field. The Gulls are also 2-0-0, setting up an early season battle for first place.

Dominik Pajimola and his fan club, “The Dom-inators.”

#GoPOFC

Sidney City Supporters Building Backing Behind Port Orchard FC

PORT ORCHARD, WA—There was a time when the city of Port Orchard went by the name “Sidney.” The name change happened in 1903.

A mere 120 years later Port Orchard Football Club was founded and it makes perfect sense then that when a group of locals founded a supporters group right alongside POFC they adopted “Sidney” in the name.

It’s a wink to the “Emerald City Supporters” of the Seattle Sounders, but with a nod to Kitsap history. Hello, Sidney City Supporters! (SCS.)

The Sidney City Supporters logo features POFC colors and City Hall. It was designed by **Steven Detweiler**.

The SCS is a growing group of West Sound Armada Sounders supporters and locals just wanting to support something new in Kitsap. The Capo is none other than POFC Supporters Liaison Aaron Banks. He’s the guy with the megaphone leading marches, chants and singing.

The Sidney City Supporters are already making an impact in the community and on match day. They supported the club at the April 30 Meet & Greet at El Sombrero Mexican Family Restaurant where Banks was presented the first-ever POFC logo flag.

They are leading chants and cheers inside Kitsap Bank Stadium and have done two marches to the match from various starting points and routes.

The group welcomes new members and they usually have a table set up at matches to greet new fans and give out information.

It’s just a $5 fee to join the SCS and this gives you some initial swag: a SCS logo keychain. You can request to join the private Facebook group of the SCS. So far 42 people have already done so.

#GoPOFC

Video Chat: Checking In With Sam Gomez

PORT ORCHARD, WA—The last time we checked in with Sam Gomez he was being announced as the first-ever player for Port Orchard Football Club.

Three months later POFC is an up and running club and Sam is already into his role as a player coach. He expects to see action for the first time in league play on May 21 when Port Orchard hosts Thurston County at 3 PM at South Kitsap High School. We caught up with him at a recent training session. Watch the video below.

Sam Gomez saw plenty of action in a April 30 friendly.

Repping POFC at South Kitsap Rotary

#GoPOFC

Meade To Riders: Port Orchard FC’s First-Ever Goal

PORT ORCHARD, WA—May 7, 2023 in the 5th minute of play time stopped for a moment for Port Orchard Football Club as Sam Meade delivered a cross to the head of Nick Riders. Seconds later there were cheers from the stands at South Kitsap High and a pile of blue kits around the corner flag. POFC had just scored the first goal in club history.

A few days later at training POFC Coordinator David Falk caught up with the history-making duo to look back at a great moment in the early life of Port Orchard FC.

Falk had earlier caught the moment on video. Photographer Jesse MacKenzie snapped timeless shots of the celebration which followed. It all added up to a wonderful preservation of a once in a club lifetime event.

Raw Footage: Meade To Riders

Edited with Slow Motion: First-ever POFC Goal

In the blink of an eye a guy from across the Narrows Bridge (Unversity Place) had connected with a Bremerton boy to deliver Port Orchard a historical instant. While POFC went on to drub Steel United on the day 8-0 it’s that first moment, that first-ever goal, that will live on in the minds of the club and its supporters.

#GoPOFC

Port Orchard FC Blasts Off In CPL With 8-0 Win Over Steel United

PORT ORCHARD, WA—Port Orchard Football Club scored a list full of firsts on Sunday May 7, 2023 as the club made their debut in the Cascadia Premier League at South Kitsap High School’s Ed Fisher Field. First goal, first hat trick, first shut out, first league win. It all came together in a comprehensive 8-0 rout over Steel United before a crowd of 624.

The match was covered in stories in The Kitsap Daily News and The Kitsap Sun.

Facebook Match Gallery: Randy Wilhite / Not Low Visuals

Facebook Match Gallery: Jesse MacKenzie

Spotlight: Meade to Riders For First-Ever POFC Goal

The first-ever goal for POFC came in the 5th minute of the match when Sam Meade delivered a cross right to the head of Nick Riders who calmly redirected the ball over the Steel United goalkeeper. Fans were still arriving to the match and the home club had already made history.

Seven more goals followed including five more in the first half alone. Michael Divano stamped his name on the match with a cool touch that rolled into the goal to make it 2-0. Divano was quick to pounce and strike again with a ball that came his way a few minutes later to raise the count to 3-0. Steel United could not stop Divano without fouling him.

Michael Divano attacks the Steel United goal. (Randy Wilhite, NotLowVisuals.com)

The Klahowya High grad and Schalke (Germany) academy player drew a penalty kick next. Hunter Milbrot converted and it was 4-0 POFC. The rout was on moments later when the two paired up again. A POFC rush pushed ahead of the Steel back line and Divano slid a ball across the goal for Milbrot to tap in to make it 5-0. Dominik Pajimola capped off the six goal first half outburst by bossing his way into the box from the left and converting a blast at a tough angle.

The Port Orchard defense had very little to do but when called upon goalkeeper Caleb Tucker and his line were more than up to the challenge. At one point Tucker followed a slow rolling ball aimed towards the far post and smashed into the frame, dislodging the goal. But he pushed the ball wide and preserved the shutout.

#10 Hunter Milbrot and #16 Connor Louden discuss a first half free kick for POFC. (Randy Wilhite, NotLowVisuals.com)

In the second half POFC kept rolling. Divano wowed the crowd with a bicycle attempt. Then he got his hat trick when he left-footed a loose ball from close range, blasting it into the Steel United goal to make it 7-0.

The demolition was complete when Jeffrey Pickering found the corner of the goal wide open and calmly placed a perfect shot in the late stages of the match.

The day began with supporters gathering at The Port Orchard Pub and ended hours later with fans and team members celebrating at Peninsula Beverage Company on the waterfront in downtown.

Nick Riders scored the first-ever goal for POFC. (Randy Wilhite, NotLowVisuals.com)

Fans arriving early were rewarded with engraved wooden magnets from Create It! Woodworks that commemorated POFC’s first league match. The Pink Gorilla Espresso & Food Truck served to a hungry crowd. “Mile Hill Munchies” sold out at the club concession table. South Kitsap Soccer Club provided ball kids. It all added up to one of the more memorable days in Port Orchard sports history.