Kitsap Pumas Beat Ventura, Advance Today to Showdown With Portland

BREMERTON — There will be a new Premier Development League champion this season.

The Kitsap Pumas made sure of that Saturday, beating Ventura County 5-3 on penalty kicks following a 1-1 tie in the Western Conference playoffs at Bremerton Memorial Stadium.

The Pumas earned a measure of revenge against the Fusion, who knocked off Kitsap 2-1 in the league quarterfinals a year ago before capturing the PDL title.

“Definitely this win feels good,” said Kitsap’s Jamel Wallace, who secured the victory after his penalty try bounced off the left post and over the goal line. “They are a great team.”

Kitsap (13-2-2) faces Northwest Division rival Portland (17-0-0) — 2-1 winners over Hollywood United in Saturday’s other game — today at 5 p.m., back at Memorial Stadium.

Ventura County ends its season with a record of 11-5-1.

The Fusion won six of their final seven regular-season contests to win the Southwest Division title, and were hoping to carry that momentum on in the postseason.

Ventura County coach Ole Mikkelsen said the game’s final bounce summed up the day for his team.

“We really didn’t play well today,” Mikkelsen said. “Had we played better, I think we wouldn’t be talking about a loss. That’s just the way it went today. The ball didn’t bounce our way.”

Kitsap couldn’t have asked to get off to a better start, striking for the first goal in the third minute.

Tye Perdido broke into the right side of the goal box and fed fellow forward Eli Gordley, who hit a one-timer from six yards past Ventura County goalkeeper Bryan Hill for a 1-0 Kitsap lead.

Fusion midfielder Daniel Berrera tied the game at 1-1 in the 31st minute, scoring off a rebound in the box.

The second half saw fewer scoring opportunities and both teams tightened play on defense.

“We just kind of battled back and forth,” Kitsap defender Taylor Hyde said. “Not as many chances, not as much going on.”

In the first 15 minute overtime period, Hill made a nice save on Robbie Christner’s strike from 20 yards out, while Fusion midfielder Sam Nicholson saw his bicycle kick from in close sail just over the crossbar.

Ventura County went down to 10 players in the second overtime as Berrera was issued his second yellow card. But Kitsap couldn’t take advantage playing up a man, setting up the shootout.

Kitsap’s Cameron Hepple and Hyde converted on the Pumas’ first two chances, while Bremerton native Kyle Johnson made good on Ventura’s first try.

Kitsap goalkeeper Dustyn Brim then made the only save of the shootout when he dove to his right to deny Nicholson’s low liner.

“I got a bear paw on it,” Brim said. “I was like, ‘This ball is not going in.”

The Pumas held a 4-3 advantage after successful conversions by Kitsap’s Jason Cascio and David Gray and Ventura’s Ivan Becerra and Ousman Jagne.

Then came Wallace’s try. Hill dove to his right to make the initial save, but the shot had just enough steam on it to trickle in, setting off a wild celebration on the field.

“That was the worst penalty kick,” Wallace said. “I was just hoping it stayed inside the line.”

It was a crushing way for the Fusion to see the season end.

“It’s always good to be lucky,” Mikkelsen said.

Now the Pumas must regroup for another shot at the Timbers, who have defeated Kitsap twice this season.

“I think we’ll manage it,” Wallace said.

Quick Kicks

One of Ventura County’s players was escorted off the field by police after the game for throwing a punch at a fan. ... Johnson, who played for the Pumas last season, entered the game as a substitute in the 77th minute. ... The attendance for the game was 1,194. ... Kitsap midfielder Nik Besagno was out of the game for nearly four minutes in the first half after receiving a cut under his left eye. He returned in the 18th minute. Kitsap coach Peter Fewing said it was a physical game between both teams. “There was a lot of stuff going on,” Fewing said. Hyde agreed. “I’m going straight to the ice bath right now.”

Kitsap 1, Ventura 1 (Kitsap wins 5-3 in PKs)

First half—1, Kit, Eli Gordley (Tye Perdido) 3rd minute. 2, VC, Daniel Berrera, 31st.

Penalty kicks—Kit (Cameron Hepple, Taylor Hyde, Jason Cascio, David Gray, Jamel Wallace). VC—Kyle Johnson, Ivan Becerra, Ousman Jagne