Tide Clinch Playoff Berth

Yellow trumps Red in a cross-state showdown.

It's been a great year down south in Tacoma for the Premier Development League (PDL) Tacoma Tide. TFC finished an undefeated home season (7 wins, 2 draws) with a resounding 5-0 trouncing of the Yakima Reds July 14 at Curtis High School's Viking Field (aka the "Tide Pool.")

Tacoma scored early and late in the first half to take a commanding 2-0 lead. Late in the second half the flood gates opened and the Tide flowed through for 3 more markers.

Tacoma has clinched a playoff spot in only their second season in existence. The Tide will face the winner of the PDL Southwest Division in the first round. BYU clinched the Northwest Division title with a 2-1 win over Ogden Outlaws last night. A second-place Tacoma finish pits them against the top southern club. Currently the LA-area San Fernando Valley Quakes lead the Fresno Fuego by 3 points in that division race.

Using the video feature in my new camera I captured two of the Tacoma goals (watch video below). Both are of note. The first one (which made it 3-0 Tide) because of the reaction of the Yakima goalkeeper (who ate all the pies?) and the second (4-0 Tide) because it is yet another Ciaran O'Brien free kick spectacular. Curve it like Ciaran!

The first goal in the video is a breakaway featuring Chase Tangney crossing the ball to Rory Agu for the goal. Doesn't look offsides to me, but the Yakima keeper went beserk, and you can even hear his father coming down to the edge of the stands and yelling at the ref at the end.

Ciaran O'Brien has no less than FIVE free kick goals in 2007, and all have been things of beauty.

The Tide have two matches remaining in their regular season: at Spokane July 20 and at Abbotsford July 21. The Tide's first playoff match is scheduled for July 27 with the Southwest division winner, time and place to be announced soon.

During Friday's 2-1 win in Salem over the Cascade Surge Tide defender Steve Mohn suffered a fractured leg. He'll miss the rest of the Tide season and all of the upcoming University of Washington Huskies season as well. Mohn plans to apply for a medical red-shirt waiver, and also has hopes of playing for TFC again next summer.

Match Coverage:
GOALTacoma.com: video highlights
GOALTacoma.com: photo gallery
TacomaFC.com: Tide Celebrate First Ever Playoff Berth!
USLSoccer.com: box score (eventually updated with goal scorers, etc.)
ElfElm.com: Hundreds of match photos!