Saturday, May 31, 2008

My soccer double-header: The Tide and Brazil

After much planning and finger-crossing it turns out that I am going to both the Tacoma Tide match against the Spokane Spiders at 2:05 PM today, and some other match scheduled for later tonight at Qwest Field.

Call me a crazy homer as at one point I was willing to go to the TFC match instead of Brazil-Canada at Qwest.

The Tide play at home eight times a year. Brazil comes to Seattle, what, once in a lifetime? The boys in yellow from Tacoma still rank as more important to me that the other boys in yellow.

TFC made the overlap moot when they rescheduled their match to the afternoon so they, some of the players and their fans could have a chance to see both matches.

So I'll be helping the Tide 'close' Curtis High School Field and then riding up with some of the team right after to take in the next big match at Qwest.

I am most looking forward to seeing Pato. He's the inventive sprite little young forward that had some dazzling goals for AC Milan last season. A real star in the making.

However, I'd really be just as happy if Rory Agu or Spencer Schomaker or any one of the other Tacoma Tide boys found the back of the net this afternoon and led TFC over Spokane.

Sorry Canada, but yellow is the color of the day.

Media previews Brazil-Canada:
Seattle Times
Seattle P-I
News Tribune

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Tacoma Tide Video Highlights

Tacoma Tide FC have uploaded video highlights from their two home matches last weekend. The club scored six goals in a win and a draw.

TFC host the Spokane Spiders this Saturday May 31st at 2:00 PM at Curtis High School




Tacoma Tide Video Highlights

Tacoma Tide FC have uploaded video highlights from their two home matches last weekend. The club scored six goals in a win and a draw.

TFC host the Spokane Spiders this Saturday May 31st at 2:00 PM at Curtis High School




Monday, May 26, 2008

Local bands CD "Sound of Soccer" now online

Novatone have 2 songs on the CD.

"The Sound of Soccer Volume One" is now online exclusively at www.GOALSeattle.com. You can see some band videos and download the CD here.

The CD is a mix of Seattle sounds, from rock to pop to modern rock and even some lo-fi and light industrial. The idea is a 'mash-up' of the sounds coming off the streets of Seattle mixing it up with the wave of soccer madness that flows around us all year long.

Thanks to all of the bands!


Say Hi to Your Mom performs "Zero to Love."


Saturday, May 24, 2008

Tide Tied, 1-1


Raphael Cox' goal sequence.
(Jenni Conner)


Tacoma Tide FC drew 1-1 with the BYU Cougars May 24th at Curtis High School. The result kept the Tide's long home unbeaten string going but knocked both clubs out of the race for a US Open Cup play-in spot.

Yakima Reds beat Ogden 2-1 to grab the lone division spot to the USOC.

BYU led 1-0 at the half before TFC began an onslaught that finally brought them even on a goal by Raphael Cox (see end of goal and celebration in video above.)

The Tide had several good chances to net a winner but it just wasn't meant to be.

The draw means the Tide's home streak without a loss moves to twelve matches over two seasons. The last time Tacoma fell at home was back in 2006 when on July 14 Tacoma FC lost 2-1 to Abottsford.

GOALTacoma.com match gallery from David Falk


The May 31 match against Spokane has been moved up to 2:05 PM so as to not conflict with the visit of Brazil and Canada the night before.

"The Sound of Soccer Volume One" CD online next week

"The Sound of Soccer Volume One" will be posted for download next week at www.GOALSeattle.com.

The compilation disc contains 21 songs from local Seattle-area bands.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Tide convict Outlaws, 5-0

A noisy crowd cheered the Tide in their rout of Ogden.

One of four second-half goal celebrations for TFC against Ogden on May 23rd.
(David Falk)

View Jenni Conner's GOALTacoma.com match photo gallery

Tacoma Tide FC completely dominated the visiting Ogden Outlaws and turned a slim 1-0 halftime lead into an utter rout with four more goals in the second stanza.

With the 5-0 win the Tide remain hopeful of a US Open Cup qualifying spot (pdf file). The Yakima Reds lead that race going into tonight's final matches. The Reds held serve by beating the BYU Cougars 2-1 in Yakima. Now if Yakima can beat Ogden Saturday night then the Reds will get the USOC entry.

Tacoma must beat BYU Saturday night and hope that Ogden shows much more than they did at University Place and either beats or draws Yakima. If both of those things happen, then the Tide qualify. BYU is now in the same position as TFC, needing an Ogden result and a win in Tacoma.

"Best struck" goal of the night was from Beau Macaluso of UW in the 58th. A steal and break away by Machael David of Gig Harbor and a nice diagonal ball in front to Beau that he hammered home just to the right of the penalty area arc. Some how Macaluso now has a very vocal latina following. After the match they were um, very appreciative of Beau at the autograph table!

Tacoma goal roll call:
TAC: Agu (Maxwell) 43
TAC: Knapp 54
TAC: Macaluso (David) 58
TAC: Agu (Macaluso) 64
TAC: Fadida 77

Club match report
League match stats

We'll have a match photo gallery up sometime this weekend.

Here's a fan gallery from the big win.




Tide face Ogden Outlaws tonight at 7:00 PM

Tide celebrate a goal against Cascade on May 11th.
(Jenni Conner)
Tacoma Tide FC pick up the race for Northwest Division supremacy tonight as they host the Ogden Outlaws at 7:00 PM at Viking Field at Curtis High School in University Place.

Youth players wearing jerseys can get in for just $1. Fans will get free megaphones in tonight's featured give-away.

The Tide remain with a glimmer of hope to get into the US Open Cup, but they need to win both tonight and tomorrow night at home against powerhouse BYU.

Daniel Scott joins the Tide for his first home match as the new central defender. Scott is a graduate of Gonzaga and his brother Zach is a long-time defender for the Seattle Sounders.

Tacoma have not lost at home since 2006. Last year the Tide went undefeated at University Place, and Tacoma won their first home match of 2008 over Cascade 4-0 on May 11th.

See highlights of that match: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33Xgu_BAw24

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Tide host Utah clubs this weekend, $1 tix for youth

Daniel Scott, right, now plays for TFC.

Tacoma Tide FC hosts the Utah clubs this weekend, and it is $1 night for youth players wearing jerseys.

Friday at 7:00 PM at Curtis High School TFC will face the Ogden Outlaws. Fans will get a free megaphone as part of the festivities.

Saturday night at 7:00 PM the Tide will host the top team in the division, the BYU Cougars. Fans coming that night will get a free pennant.

More details here (pdf file).

Come see the new Tide center back Daniel Scott, from Gonzaga. He's the brother of Sounders player Zach Scott. Daniel will be playing his first home matches with the Tide this weekend as Tacoma tries to continue its home winning streak which dates back to 2006.

Local Music, Local Soccer!



More details of the comp CD Here.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Yakima Reds are hot, Tide are not

Yakima Herald-Republic

YAKIMA -- Junior Garcia and Jake Sagare continue to garner much of the attention, but they aren't the only reason the Yakima Reds are off to a fast start this season.

Those two combined for all three Yakima goals, but it was complemented by another stingy effort from the defense as the Reds rolled to a 3-1 victory over the Tacoma Tide on Saturday night at Marquette Stadium.

"Overall, everyone played good," Reds coach Hector Vega said after his team improved to 2-0-1. "Some shine more than others, but it takes 11 (players) to win, and everyone contributed."

Offensively, the biggest contribution came from Garcia, who scored once in each half and also assisted on Sagare's goal as Yakima built a 3-0 lead.

Yakima's defense was once again rock solid, shutting out Tacoma for the first 87 minutes. Overall, the Reds have allowed just two goals in its first three matches.

Vega singled out Josh Hacker for his play. Hacker got the start, filling in for veteran Al Valencia, who was attending a wedding.


"Josh played an outstanding game," said Vega, adding that overall the "defense is doing a great job."


Garcia broke a scoreless tie with a strong individual effort as he worked his way through the Tacoma defense to score in the 38th minute.


He then found Sagare for a goal in the 69th minute, and then put the game away with a score with nine minutes left in regulation.


Yakima continues its early-season homestand by hosting the BYU Cougars on Friday, and the Ogden Outlaws on Saturday.


First half: 1, Yakima, Junior Garcia, 38:00.


Second half: 2, Yakima, Jake Sagare (Garcia), 69:00; 3, Yakima, Sagare (Alonso Rojas), 84:00; 4, Tacoma, goal scorer not available, 87:00.


Saves: Rob McCurdy (Y) 3, Brett Axelrod (Y) 4, Tacoma 7.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Tacoma a stop on "Ruffneck Nation" tour

A Tide fan wears a new scarf, next to "Surf Dude," the splashy TFC mascot.

RuffneckWear.com is visiting many of their friends around the country on a "Ruffneck Nation" tour. The scarfmakers stopped in Tacoma on May 11th to watch the Tide unplug the Surge of Cascade 4-0.

You can get your Yellow and Blue Tacoma Tide FC scarf at the next home match May 23rd. They are $20 each or you can get one for free when you buy a Tide season ticket. There are still 8 matches left to play at home in the 2009 Premier Development League season. Father's Day is just around the corner. Why not scarf your "Dad?"

Soccer fans around the world know that the scarf is the trademark way to support your club and show other sports fans how much you love the game. Now South Sound has their own club and you should get on board with them and hold your Yellow high!

Follow the Ruffneck Nation tour from their blog as they hold'em high around the country.

Monday, May 12, 2008

More from the Tide home opener


We've got a second gallery from the Tacoma Tide FC home opener. You can view it here.

Kudos to the Tide staff for providing so many high-quality items for fans this season. We got magnetic schedules at the first game, and of course picked up our great TFC yellow scarves. The Tide also have new uniforms, t-shirts with the new crest and schedule posters.

All of these things go a long way towards making the Tide more professional as a franchise. Great job, guys!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Tide rout Surge for first win

Ruben Orozco puts Tacoma ahead with a 37th minute penalty kick despite the diving efforts of Cascade's goalkeeper.
(Jenni Conner with the great photo.)

Rory Agu is about to score his second goal of the match for TFC.
(Jenni Conner, full match galleries linked here soon.)


Tacoma Tide FC rebounded from their 5-2 loss Friday in Spokane to pound the Cascade Surge from Salem Oregon 4-0 on Mother's Day at Curtis High School in University Place, Tacoma.

The Tide got goals from Ruben Orozco, Spencer Schomaker and a pair from Rory Agu to build the rout.

The score was 0-0 near the end of the first half when Cascade was called for a hand ball in the penalty area. Ruben Orozco of St. Martin's College converted the kick.

Spencer Schomaker (Syracuse University) made it 2-0 with a rebound in the 62nd minute. Rory Agu of Tacoma scored the goal of the match on a breakaway in the 79th. It was the only goal I didn't catch on the video. Agu powered the ball home on a line from about 5 yards away. Agu completed his brace later with a persistent tap in during a goal-mouth scramble in the 86th.



Sunny and windy for the home opener as Tide fans show off their new TFC scarves.
(David Falk)

The Tide had moved their home opener to Mother's Day at 1:00 PM so as to not conflict with the Seattle Sounders home opener. The switch made the crowd size quite small. Fans who did attend received magnet schedules and got to meet "Surf Dude," the new Tacoma mascot, in person. Season ticket holders picked up their scarves, which are also now available to all Tide fans.

Tacoma moves to 1-1 on the new season. The Tide next play Saturday May 17th at Yakima. The next Tide home match is Friday May 23rd against the Ogden Outlaws. Match Stats

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Tide fall flat in road opener

#12 Beau Macaluso, seen here last year against the Sounders, scored TFC's second goal against Spokane.
(Jenni Conner)

Tacoma Tide FC took the pitch at Greyhound Park in Post Falls, Idaho, and then promptly hit the turf in a 5-2 drubbing at the feet of the Spokane Spiders.

The club website has some of the grim details. Rory Agu and Beau Macaluso scored the goals for Tacoma.

TFC hope to rebound Sunday at 1:00 PM when they play their home opener against Cascade Surge at Curtis High School field.

Today's Tacoma News Tribune has a feature on the 2008 Tide.

I have a small rant posted over on the www.GOALTacoma.com forums. Really, when are the Tide going to practice sooner, and against *other* opposition before the season starts? Both Yakima and Spokane were able to get their squads together and do so.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Tide open in Spokane tonight


It's a big opener for Tacoma Tide Football club tonight in Spokane against the Spiders.

The match will be the first chance to earn points in the PDL Northwest Division standings. Not only that, but the result counts towards qualification for the US Open Cup.

In their two year history TFC have never qualified for the Cup. If they can do it in 2008 they may end up playing bigger Northwest clubs such as the Seattle Sounders or the Portland Timbers in later rounds.

Last year Tacoma owned Spokane at Curtis High School, winning 4-1. In Spokane, though, the Tide lost an early-season match 3-2.

Tacoma made the playoffs with 10 wins in 2007. Spokane finished last season with 6 wins in 16 matches.

The Spiders have already played their opener. They were squashed 3-0 at home by the Yakima Reds last weekend.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Tide at home Sunday, 1:00 PM

Ride the Soccer Tide!

Elite soccer talent from the Puget Sound will take to the field this weekend as the Tacoma Tide FC is back for the summer of 2008. On Mother’s Day, May 11th, the Tide will play their home opener at Curtis HS Stadium. The soccer buzz is ringing loud in the Puget Sound’s ears, and the Tacoma Tide will look to ride the wave in their 3rd season. The Tide’s league, Premier Development League, is the top semi-pro league in North America. The nationwide league pits 67 teams from Florida, to Canada, to the Northwest in four conferences. The Tide will continue to represent the Puget Sound with the very best soccer products from the area as well as local college stars.

The Tide will bring back some star names from last season and some fresh talent as well. Star goal scorers, Rory Agu (former Curtis HS product) and Spencer Schomaker (Syracuse U. / Roosevelt HS) will receive passes from Chase Tangney (Univ. of San Diego / Bellarmine Prep) and Machael David (declared to UC Santa Barbara / Sr. at Gig Harbor HS) among others. The overall roster returns a large portion of a team that qualified for the Conference Semi-Finals in 2007.

One star Tacoma Tide player will not be back this season. Midfielder, Ciaran O’Brien, demonstrated the PDL’s purpose and has catapulted up to the top American soccer league, the MLS. O’Brien was selected as the 5th overall pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids. Who will be the next Tide star to make the jump?

The Tide season begins Friday, May 9th, in Spokane, Washington against the Spokane Spiders. They will then return home for the May 11th home opener at 1:00pm from Curtis HS Stadium. Fans who attend games this season will get free prizes, laughs from Surf Dude (the new mascot), and excellent entertainment from the pitch. Tickets are available online at www.TacomaFC.com. Season tickets are just $80 for adults and $30 for students. Season ticket holders will also get a free Tacoma Tide scarf and more! Single game passes are $10 for adults and just $5 for students.

The Tacoma Tide will also be featured on Comcast On Demand this season. Every home game will be FREE to all Comcast digital cable subscribers through their On Demand, Channel 1 feature under Get Local, Local Sports, Tacoma Tide. Games will be available as soon as 24 hours after the game.

For more information on schedules, tickets, group deals, rosters, or anything about the team: visit www.TacomaFC.com or call (253) 564-9329.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Meet the 2008 Tacoma Tide

Tacoma native Rory Agu scored 7 goals for TFC last season. He returns in 2008.
(Jenni Conner)

Tacoma Tide Football Club kick off their 2008 season May 9th in Spokane against the Spiders. Owner / General Manager Mike Jennings recently revealed the nucleus of returning and new players that will try to lead Tacoma to another playoff spot in the Northwest Division.

Click player links to learn more about the 2008 Tide.

Says Jennings, "Returning up top we have Rory Agu, Spencer Schomacher, Beau Macaluso. In midfield, Machael David, Raphael Cox, Ruben Orozco, Chase Tangney, Mutanda Kwesele. In the back, Mark Lee, Taylor Hoss, Brayton Knapp, Steve Mohn (returning from a broken leg last season). In goal, Jordan Jennings. Promising newcomers are Taylor Mueller (def. from UW), Dennis Sanchez (def/mid from San Diego State), Daniel Phelps (mid from UW), Dustin Allbery (def. from SU),Tucker Maxwell (def. St Martins), Dan Fadida (mid from Savannah College) and GK Chris Blais (Univ of Michigan). There are a few others that will be at training hoping to catch on."

Certainly a roster capable of doing well. A nice blend of South Sound talent and Puget Sound college stars who have stayed local or gone to schools around the country. Interesting to see that TFC will have its first Brit this season, Dan Fadida, who hails from Saltash, England.

With the graduation of Ciaran O'Brien to Major League Soccer it will be up to Agu, Schomaker, Macaluso and David to account for the goals (7) the Tide got from the MLSer in 2007.



Thursday, May 1, 2008

Tacoma Tide FC look to rise in 2008

Mike Jennings has the ball rolling for TFC. (Jenni Conner)

www.GOALTacoma.com has an exclusive interview with Tacoma Tide FC owner / GM Mike Jennings as the club gets ready for its third season in the PDL. Jennings also discusses the future of pro and semi-pro soccer in the South Sound:

"There is a window of opportunity here, with the Seattle USL - 1 sun setting, to build, I think, a natural connection between the two leagues (MLS /USL). Perhaps, the Seattle Sounders and The Tacoma Tide can create a template for other organizations to follow. I believe the Tacoma / Olympia area is just right in proximity to the Sounders training area at Starfire and population dense enough to run a reserve side in the USL -1.

There are opportunities to house more players, give them better games than the current MLS reserve schedule, saving on staffing, and opportunities to cross promote and extend the influence of the clubs."


You can read the entire interview HERE.

Sk advances in Narrows League playoffs

Justin Moore on the attack for SK.

Moore (inside goal, far right) has just knocked in SK's first score.
photos by David Falk

The SK Wolves shut out rivals Gig Harbor 2-0 on April 30th at Joe Knowles Field to advance to the district playoffs.

The Wolves will continue in the Narrows playoffs to determine seedings.

Read a match recap HERE.

See an exclusive www.GOALKitsap.com gallery of over 80 photos HERE.