Sunday, June 29, 2008

NW Division race gets even crazier


Who could have seen the Yakima Reds going up to Canada and sweeping Abottsford and Vancouver, especially after the Reds lost 2-0 at home to Cascade the week before? Yet it has happened, and with a 2-0 win in Abbey and a 1-0 win at Vancouver the Reds are right back in the thick of the race to win the PDL Northwest title.

Tacoma Tide FC are holding steady, losing 5-1 on June 28th up in Vancouver, before winning the very next afternoon over Abottsford by the same 5-1 score line.

Tacoma native (Bellarmine Prep) and Cal Poly midfielder Daniel Gray was the star for TFC in their big win at Abbey. Gray scored two goals and assisted on another for Tacoma. Gray is a recent addition to the TFC roster.

Tacoma now have 9 wins and 28 points to lead the division. Yakima and Vancouver have matches in hand that could see them catch (Yakima) or pass (Vancouver) TFC if they can win them.
  1. Tacoma Tide (28 points after 14 matches) 9-4-1
  2. Yakima Reds (25 points after 13 matches) 8-4-1
  3. Vancouver Whitecaps (22 points after 10 matches) 7-2-1
  4. BYU Cougars (17 points after 11 matches) 5-4-2
  5. Abottsford Mariners (13 points after 10 matches) 4-5-1
  6. Ogden Outlaws (11 points after 11 matches) 3-6-2
  7. Cascade Surge (11 points after 12 matches) 2-5-5
  8. Spokane Spiders (7 points after 13 matches) 2-10-1
The Tide have two weeks off before playing July 12 in Salem against the Surge. TFC ends the season with what should be a playoff-tilted match July 19 at home with Yakima.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Cascade wins at Yakima, 2-0


The night after the Cascade Surge stung the Tacoma Tide 2-1 in Salem to slow TFC's playoff drive, they showed once again that they are not to be taken lightly.

The Surge went up to Yakima on Sunday June 22nd and came away with a 2-0 victory to keep the Reds six points behind the Tide.

In BC the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency club spanked Abottsford 4-1 to move into second place with 19 points after only 8 matches played. Vancouver look like the strongest challenge to knock Tacoma out of the top spot. TFC travel to Vancouver and Abottsford next weekend.

  1. Tacoma Tide (25 points after 12 matches) 8-3-1
  2. Vancouver Whitecaps (19 points after 8 matches) 6-1-1
  3. Yakima Reds (19 points after 11 matches) 6-4-1
  4. Abottsford Mariners (13 points after 8 matches) 4-3-1
  5. BYU Cougars (13 points after 9 matches) 4-4-1
  6. Ogden Outlaws (11 points after 11 matches) 3-6-2
  7. Cascade Surge (710points after 11 matches) 2-5-4
  8. Spokane Spiders (7 points after 12 matches) 2-9-1

Tide fall 2-1 in Salem; Division race tightens


Tacoma Tide FC lost to previously winless Cascade Surge 2-1 on June 21st in Salem Oregon. Match details are not yet available.

Tacoma's record is now 8-3-1. Cascade get their first league win and are 1-5-4.

In Yakima the Reds were busy rebounding with a 5-1 win over Spokane. Yakima is now 6-3-1 on the season, with two matches in hand to try and catch Tacoma at the top.

The Tide have four league matches left stretched out over the next month:
  • at Vancouver June 28
  • at Abottsford June 29
  • at Cascade July 12
  • Yakima July 19
They will likely need to win at least two of those matches to finish first or second and qualify for the playoffs. The competition for the top two spots will be fierce. Yakima, Vancouver and Abottsford appear to be the Tide's main challengers.

Vancouver and Abottsford have each played only seven matches. Yakima have played ten. With so many matches 'in hand' over Tacoma, it's anyone's guess as to how this will all play out. I've linked to the schedules here so you can ponder who has the 'easiest' road to the playoffs: Yakima, Vancouver or Abottsford?

Yakima's 6 matches remaining are divided evenly with three home and three away. The Reds host Cascade today and then after that all of their remaining matches are against the other contenders.

Vancouver is at Abottsford today and then they have a three-match homestand against Tacoma, Yakima and Cascade. The Whitecaps' last five matches are on the road.

Abottsford are at the start of a six match homestand that includes two matches with Vancouver, and games against Yakima, Tacoma and Cascade. The Mariners started the stand with a 1-0 victory over Ogden last night. Abbey ends their season with four straight road matches.

Standings after June 21st matches:
  1. Tacoma Tide (25 points after 12 matches) 8-3-1
  2. Yakima Reds (19 points after 10 matches) 6-3-1
  3. Vancouver Whitecaps (16 points after 7 matches) 5-1-1
  4. Abottsford Mariners (13 points after 7 matches) 4-2-1
  5. BYU Cougars (13 points after 9 matches) 4-4-1
  6. Ogden Outlaws (11 points after 11 matches) 3-6-2
  7. Spokane Spiders (7 points after 12 matches) 2-9-1
  8. Cascade Surge (7 points after 10 matches) 1-5-4

Friday, June 20, 2008

Tide energize enough to beat Spokane 3-1

It wasn't pretty, and it wasn't a full match's worth of effort by any stretch, but Tacoma Tide did manage enough energy over about 20 minutes at the start of the second half to pull out a 3-1 victory over the visiting Spokane Spiders June 20th at Curtis High School.

Tacome Tide FC have now gone 17 straight matches (including 15 league matches and two friendlies) without a defeat at home dating back to 2006.

It was 0-0 at halftime with Tacoma committing numerous turnovers in the midfield and not clicking up front. Spencer Schomaker was out with a hip pull, and will also miss Saturday's match in Salem against Cascade Surge. The Tide were also without head coach Fran O'Brien and GM Mike Jennings. Whatever the reason, TFC came out apathetic and unorganized.

Beau Macaluso barely misses a first-half header.

Fans got free yellow Tide shirts.

TFC's second goal is stuck in the net.

Tide celebrate Machael David's match-winner.
(David Falk)

Match photo gallery NOW ONLINE!

Rory Agu brought the yellow-clad fans to their feet seconds after the second-half kick off when he blasted down the left sideline and rocketed a shot into the left corner to put TFC up 1-0.

Just a few minutes later a nifty flick in front of goal by midfielder Machael David made it 2-0.

The same stretch of improved play netted Tacoma's third goal on a low-ball roller struck by Raphael Cox after a clearance that began with a much-contested free kick award. Beau Macaluso had been tripped outside the box on the right side. Spokane's keeper and coach were complaining loudly about 'the cheating diver' (looked like a hack on his leg to me). Before you know it Cox gave them something more tangible to complain about. 3-0 to the Tide.

The match was a midfield muddle for much of the rest. There was drama when Tacoma surrendered their first goal in over 500 minutes of play, and even more when TFC's Taylor Mueller was red-carded late on and Spokane were awarded a penalty kick.

Back-up goalkeeper Max Walker had been put in a few minutes earlier (on this his 21st birthday). Max rose to the occasion and dove perfectly to his right, outstretched enough to stop the pk shot and preserve Tacoma's 3-1 scoreline.

Tacoma are now 8-2-1 on the season with 25 points and remain in first place in the PDL Northwest Division. Spokane falls to 2-8-1.

The Tide travel to Salem Saturday night to play the Cascade Surge at 7:35 PM.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Tide top Military team 7-1

Daniel Fadida splits the Military defense.

Beau Macaluso watches the ball after a sprawl.
(David Falk photos)

View match photo gallery by David Falk

Jenni Conner's Military match photos are here

Tacoma Tide FC welcomed players and fans from local military bases to Curtis High School for a 'friendly' on Tuesday night June 17th. TFC scored early and late to produce a 7-1 victory over the guys from McChord and Fort Lewis.

It was a sunny but slightly windy night and the Tide wore yellow with blue shorts for the first time ever at home. Club mascot "Surf Dude" waved his new club flag (appropriately made out of a yellow and white-striped beach towel).

NWGuardian.com writes about the match here.

The Military guys have some game, but the Tide were too fit, fast and skilled for them to keep up with. Still, it was nice to get out for soccer on a Tuesday night in Tacoma and to meet some of the soccer fans connected with players on the Military team.

Tacoma hosts Spokane this Friday June 20 at 7:05 PM in their next league contest.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Tide face Military All Stars Tuesday at home


Tacoma Tide FC are reaching out to the huge Tacoma-area Military community by playing an exhibition match against the best local players from nearby Military bases.

The match takes place this Tuesday night June 17 at 7:05 PM at Curtis High School.

From the Tribune:

An all-star team from McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis will run out against the semi-pro Tacoma Tide at 7 p.m. June 17, Curtis High School stadium.

Tide front office says they're hoping to get their club out there front and center in front of the many Army and Air Force soccer fans who may not know they're around.

"We know they've got a lot of guys who know the game from living in Europe, or otherwise have a real affinity for it," Tide communications director Jon Billings said.

Master Sgt. James Royston at McChord said a number of military players participate in the various adult leagues around the region, and a handful from the base have represented the Air Force in the in years past.

That said, keeping up with the Tide's mostly college-age aspiring pros will be a challenge. The Tide stands second in the Premier Development League's eight-team Northwest division, and play home games tonight and Saturday at Curtis.

Royston says he'll do some scouting.

"We won't be as young as the Tacoma Tide but we've got some experienced guys," Royston said. "We're hoping to give them a run."

Come welcome home the Tide from their weekend sweep in Utah and support Tacoma soccer!

Sweet Sweep! Tide nip BYU 1-0 to take Utah


Spencer Schomaker (seen here at a recent home match) scored the winner in TFC's big victory at BYU on June 14th.
(David Falk)

Spencer Schomaker's goal off an assist from Machael David in the 35th minute was enough for the Tacoma Tide to beat the BYU Cougars 1-0 June 14th in Provo Utah.

The night before TFC had beaten the Ogden Outlaws by the same 1-0 scoreline.


The Tide's lone score came in the 35th minute when Machael David found Spencer Schomaker all alone streaking down the center of the field.

"Mike just played a great ball," Schomaker said. "I didn't do much."

After that, Schomaker said it was hang-on time.

"You're pretty much fighting for your life," he said. "(The Cougars) had all the momentum."

---Deseret News



Now in their third season, Tacoma set all kinds of club 'firsts' in the sweet sweep of the Utah clubs:

*first win in Ogden
*first win in Provo
*first-ever back-to back road wins on the same weekend

The two wins push the Tide higher in the Northwest Division table. Tacoma now stands at the top with a 7-2-1 record and 22 points.

The Yakima Reds continue to fade as they lost their 3rd straight one-goal road match 2-1 at Ogden. The Reds remain in second place with 16 points.

Vancouver Whitecaps Residency are in third place with 12 points after only five matches played.

Match reports:
Tacoma Tide FC
BYU
Deseret News

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Tide win first-ever match in Utah!

Chase Tangney (yellow) helped TFC make history in Ogden last night.
(David Falk)

It took three years and five matches but Tacoma Tide FC have secured their first-ever win in the state of Utah after a hard-fought 1-0 victory in Ogden over the Outlaws.

The first road victory of 2008 moves Tacoma ahead of the pack and alone in first place in the PDL NW Division with 19 points and a 6-2-1 record. Yakima Reds lost 2-1 last night in BYU to fall to second place.

The Tide boarded their plane at Sea Tac Airport earlier in the day and then made their way to Ogden for the encounter. Earlier this season Tacoma had won a one-sided 5-0 gunfight at home over the Ogden outfit and were riding a 5-match unbeaten string built from their home dominance.

The match-winner came in the 63rd minute from forward Chase Tangney. Tangney continues his red-hot scoring pace after netting two against Vancouver last week. He now has the match-winning goals in two straight Tacoma matches.

The Outlaw Nation Blog has this report and promises photos later.

Tacoma out shot the home team 13-7 and earned more corner kicks 4-1. Daniel Scott, Machael David and Tucker Maxwell received yellow cards for TFC. The Outlaws' defender Alexander Bernier was ejected with a red card in the 88th minute.

Tacoma goes for more road points tonight as they move south to Provo to face the BYU Cougars. TFC have yet to ever earn a point at the Cougars' home den.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Fran O'Brien featured in Tacoma Weekly


From The Tacoma Weekly:

When Fran O’Brien signed on to coach the Tacoma Tide in 2007, his immediate goal was to develop a talented group of young soccer players who had already achieved a place in the USL Premier Development League, conceived as the top level of men’s amateur soccer competition in the United States. How far this – or any – group of talented athletes can go, he knows, is largely a function of cultivation, of teaching the tactics and techniques elite players come to acquire.

It is becoming apparent to him that the players are learning what he is attempting to teach.

“Their passing skills and technique are quite good. We are working at staying focused on getting the ball, maintaining possession of the ball, challenging aggressively for every possession,” he said.

And the big lesson: Attack. O’Brien is seeing his team taking on a much more assertive personality. As a result of a more attacking style, the team’s scoring opportunities are increasing dramatically.

The league the Tide plays in, known as the Premier Development League, is likened to a shop window for professional teams hoping to discover aspiring professional players who may enter the MLS SuperDraft. Many of the players currently playing in Major League Soccer and elsewhere began their careers in the PDL.

O’Brien’s assessment is that in a few short years the development of players in the United States now rivals that of the players in England and Ireland. And the players on this team, most of them from the Tacoma area, have an opportunity to compete at the next level.

“They are very talented players, and they are good workers – they are learning doing a lot of the right things, making good decisions. And it is showing on the field.”

Read the entire article by author Rick Walter here.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Tide face Utah Road Challenge

Rory Agu and the Tide have been great at home, but have never won a match in the state of Utah.
(David Falk)

Tacoma Tide FC face a huge challenge this weekend as they travel to Utah to take on both Ogden and BYU.

How huge?

The Tide have never won a match in the state of Utah, going 0-4 in the last two years combined. To make the task seem even more difficult, the matches away in Utah have not been close, save one. In 2006 the Tide lost 3-0 at both clubs. Last year the Tide came close in Ogden, falling 3-2, but were embarrassed 6-0 at BYU. Combined that is a 15-2 goal deficit over two seasons.

While Yellow are red hot at home they have yet to show that they are a true PDL playoff contender by winning on the road this year. The Tide have had only two road tests so far in 2008, but they have failed them both, losing 5-2 in Spokane and 3-1 in Yakima.

If ever there was a year where you'd think Tacoma might break through in Utah, it's this one. TFC are getting on the plane south with plenty of momentum, and both Utah clubs are not off to very strong starts.

The Ogden Outlaws and Tide will tangle Friday night. The Outlaws are 2-2-2 with 8 points after six matches played. One of those losses was a 5-0 thumping in Tacoma on May 23rd. The Outlaw Nation blog will likely have more in the next day or so on the Tacoma visit.

A PDL club with a distinct advantage are the BYU Cougars. They had played many matches before other Northwest Division clubs even began practicing this spring. Usually that means BYU race off and win the division. In 2008 that hasn't happened yet. The Cougars can point to their 1-1 draw at Tacoma May 24th as one of their better results of the season. BYU is 2-3-1 on the year with only 7 standings points. The Tide and Cougars battle Saturday night in Provo.

Just like we learned a lot about the Tide last week in the big wins over Abottsford and Vancouver, we'll know more about whether these men are serious contenders after the weekend in Utah is done.

Will the Tide finally win a match in the Beehive State, or come home with more stings?

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Support GOALTacoma.com!



Once a year (about the time the internet bills arrive) I put a hand out and ask for help in keeping www.GOALTacoma.com online.

It takes a lot of effort, time and yes...cash, to run this website and its various pages. The Soccer Museum is a must-see archive area that takes a huge amount of 'bandwidth' to maintain.

Are you a Paypal member?

You can make a donation by going to our home page and clicking the 'Donate' button.

Not a member but what to contribute? Email us at goalseattle@gmail.com for details.

So, if you can help the cause please consider doing so. Your donation not only helps me with the bills, but shows that you appreciate what www.GOALTacoma.com adds to our Tacoma soccer community.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Video Highlights of Tide's Big Weekend

Tacoma Tide Football Club have uploaded highlights from their weekend sweep of Abottsford and Vancouver. You've got six goals to check out. Be sure to see the opener against the PDL Whitecaps by Chase Tangney. What a goal!



New Tide Photo Slide Shows on YouTube

I've uploaded two recent match galleries up to YouTube. Featured are photos from the 5-0 win over Spokane May 31st and the 2-0 win over Abottsford June 6th.

The toughest part about making these shows is picking the music. Hey, give me some slack, people! You can always turn down the volume..snicker, snicker.



Photos from a Puget Sound soccer weekend

www.GOALSeattle.com and www.GOALTacoma.com cameras were busy this weekend snapping shots at two Tacoma Tide matches as well as the Seattle Sounders home match against Minnesota. Photographers Jenni Conner, Ron Moran, Rick Morrison and myself (David Falk) did our best to capture another fun set of times around the 'Sound of Soccer.' Here is a photo choice from each gallery with a link to more. Thank you to all of our photographers! (You can submit your photos too. Just contact me at goalseattle@gmail.com).

Friday June 6th Tacoma-2 Abottsford-0
Tide-Mariners gallery by David Falk HERE.

Saturday June June 7th Tacoma-4 Vancouver-0
Tide-Whitecaps gallery by David Falk HERE.

Saturday June 7th Sounders-3 Minnesota-1
Sounders-Thunder gallery by Jenni Conner HERE.

Sounders-Thunder gallery by Ron Moran HERE.

Large Sounders-Thunder photos from Rick Morrison HERE.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Tide surf over Whitecaps 4-0

#6 Chase Tangney & #21 Spencer Schomaker each scored twice for TFC.

Tangney helps Jordan Jennings earn the shut-out.

It was a historic night in Tacoma June 7th as the Tide surfed over the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency (PDL) 4-0, handing the BC outfit their first-ever loss in only their fourth match played.

Chase Tangney scored the first and fourth goals for TFC while Spencer Schomaker got the middle two. It was already 3-0 Tacoma in the 23rd minute as the highly-touted Whitecaps lost control of the match at the feet of the pumped-up Tide.

The Tide club website recalls the opening goal this way:

The party began just 7 minutes into the match when a ball was half cleared by Vancouver. The flighted ball made it’s way to the edge of the penalty box where Chase Tangney met it with vigor. The right wing struck the ball on a clean volley with his left foot, and from there it was magical. The volley bent passed the Whitecaps keeper into the upper corner of the net. Tangney didn’t stop running until his entire team caught up to him in a mass celebration. It was the type of goal you’d like to see again and again from every angle possible.

Read the entire club match report here.

Vancouver had many good chances to get on the board but great work in goal by TFC's Jordan Jennings saved the day. The crossbar and post were helpful for Tacoma too, as were several defenders clearing balls off the line and maintaining the blank sheet in the back.

The Tide have now out-scored their opponents a whopping 20-1 at Curtis High School this season. Tacoma's record moves to 5-2-1 while the Whitecaps fall to 3-1-0.

The Tide's undefeated string at home is now at 15 matches over two seasons.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Tide Capsize Mariners 2-0

Agu gets congrats for match-winner.

Despite the rain TFC had one of their bigger crowds of the season.

"Abbey" had a few chances but failed to convert.
(David Falk)

View over 100 match photos from GOALTacoma.com!

Tacoma Tide FC ran its undefeated home streak to 14 matches over two seasons as they whitewashed the Abottsford Mariners 2-0 Friday night June 6th at Curtis High School in University Place, Tacoma.

Rory Agu's 7th goal of the season, scored in the first half, was the match-winner. Rory had missed a break-away a few minutes earlier but this time finished with a rocket off the assist from Daniel Fadida in the 33rd. Dennis Sanchez came in on the right side of the box in the 83rd minute and headed home the finisher to give TFC a 2-0 victory. The ball had been headed across the goal mouth by Raphael Cox.

Tacoma outshot Abottsford 15-8 and had seven corner kicks to the Canadian side's three. Unlike previous matches with "Abbey" this one was not a rough or foul-filled affair. The two clubs combined for only 13 total fouls.

For the first time in Tide history it rained before, at times during, and then also after the match. The turf was slick but the players on both sides did well to control the ball. Raphael Cox of Tacoma made some spectacular slides to keep the ball in bounds.

Tacoma hosts Vancouver Whitecaps (PDL) June 7 at Curtis High School at 7:00 PM. Vancouver recently bolstered their already-undefeated side with 5 players from the parent club. Bellingham's Webb twins will visit Tacoma, it would appear.

The Tide also announced another home match has been added Tuesday June 17th against a local club of all-stars from the military. That match starts at 7:05 at Curtis High School's Viking Field.

Here's club website match report.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Canada comes calling to test the Tide

The Tide & leading scorer Rory Agu face a Canadian invasion this weekend.
(David Falk)

Tacoma Tide FC know the next four matches are critical in their 2008 PDL season. You can only play them one at a time, of course, but it is easy to see that this weekend's matches against Canadian sides from Abottsford and Vancouver and the road trip the following weekend to Utah will go a long ways towards deciding 'who' the Tide are this year.

Are they the club that has outscored opponents 15-1 at home? Are they the club who has fallen behind and lost both road matches while being outscored 8-3? Somewhere in the middle?

The Tide host the Abottsford Mariners Friday night at Curtis High School at 7:00 PM. The Mariners called themselves the "Rangers" when they previously faced TFC. In fact, the last time Tacoma lost a match at home was to Abottsford way back in July of 2006, 2-1. Since then the Tide have strung together a 13-match unbeaten string in University Place that includes a 2-2 draw with defending USL-1 Champion Seattle Sounders.

The newly-named Mariners come in to Friday's match with a 1-1 record. Abby lost 3-1 at the new Vancouver Whitecaps Residency team and then last week beat the BYU Cougars 2-0. By contrast Tacoma has already played six matches. All-time against Abottsford Tacoma has a record of 1 win, 4 losses and 1 draw (the first-ever TFC match was a 0-0 draw with Abby on May 12, 2006.)

Vancouver Whitecaps Residency are a new club in the PDL Northwest Division this season.
They have started life by winning their first three matches. The Caps have the afore mentioned win over Abottsford along with a 1-0 victory at Cascade Surge and a 4-1 thrashing of BYU last week in BC. Kyle Porter has already scored three goals for Vancouver.

The Mariners and the Caps will give Tacoma their best shots. Both teams will be rested and ready. While Tacoma will play Vancouver the night after hosting Abottsford, the Whitecaps have Friday night off and will come in well-rested to Curtis High School on Saturday night June 7th at 7:00 PM.

The Tide have a 3-2-1 record after six matches and look to be battling with Vancouver and Yakima for the two division playoff spots. Rory Agu leads Tacoma scoring with six goals.

Fan give-aways are planned for both nights.

Also, after the game on Friday night, join the Tide players and staff at Farrelli's Firewood Pizza.
3518 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA 98406 Phone: (253) 759-1999

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Surf Dudes of the Tacoma Tide




No, I don't mean the mascot.

I had some fun with photos taken yesterday at TFC's 5-0 win over Spokane.

It's all in good fun, fellas!

Get the larger, wallpaper sizes below...

Chase at 1024 x 768 or 800 x 600
Daniel at 1024 x 768 or 800 x 600
Raphael at 1024 x 768 or 800 x 600



UPDATE! I just got a phone call from Surf Dude. Boy was he mad! He says he's the hunkiest Tide of them all! OK, Surf Dude, I hear you! Nice Abs...


Surf Dude at 1024 x 768 or 800 x 600

Samba had a close call, eh?


See our GOALSeattle.com match gallery here.

In the 5th minute it was 1-0 to Brazil and thoughts of a rout must have passed through the minds of some of the crowd of over 47,000 at Qwest Field on May 31st.

The Canadians had other ideas, and instead they drew level a few minutes later and played the better first half with the better chances. The guys in red were down 2-1 at the break, but leveled the score early in the second half. After Brazil took a 3-2 lead in the 64th the match lost a bit of momentum, but still ended up being a grand spectacle.

Qwest Field was alive with samba music, Canadian support chants and lots of air horns. Fans painted their faces, draped flags around their backs, sang, hugged and made merry.

The Canadians can hold their heads very high after this showing. Meanwhile I would imagine Brazil will go back to work on their porous back line.

Seattle Sounders FC were on hand with screen time, flyers and merchandise available in the Qwest club store.

I completed my soccer 'double-header' day in fine style. Thanks to Mike Jennings, owner of the Tacoma Tide, for giving me a ride up to Seattle after the Tide's 5-0 win over Spokane. Thanks to Ruffneck Scarves for hosting us at the Brazil match. Dan of the ECS completed my journey with a ride home from the Bremerton ferry dock. Cheers, guys!

Local Media cover the match:
Seattle Times
Seattle P-I
Tacoma News Tribune
Shotgun Prose Blog

Tide squash Spiders 5-0



Chase Tangney's goal sequence. (David Falk)

It was over after the first goal, a nice strike by Chase Tangney.

More followed, though, and Tacoma Tide FC ran their home unbeaten streak to 13 matches over two years with a 5-0 pounding of the Spokane Spiders Saturday afternoon, May 31st. TFC have now outscored their opponents 15-1 at Curtis High School in 4 home games this season.

See an exclusive GOALTacoma.com gallery from the match.

Spencer Schomaker (45th minute), Rory Agu (63rd), Steve Mohn (84th) and Cam Vickers (90th) were the other Tide goal scorers.

Raphael Cox assisted on the last two scores.

The Spiders had played to a 1:1 draw the night before in Salem. TFC had moved this match to a 2:05 start time so that players, coaches and fans could head north to Seattle to watch the Brazil-Canada match later that night.

The Tide are now 3-2-1 on the season with 10 standings points. They sit in second place behind Yakima (16 points) and one point ahead of the Vancouver Whitecaps PDL squad. The Whitecaps are a perfect 3-0 and have nine points.

The Tide host the Whitecaps next Saturday night at 7:00 PM. The night before that Tacoma hosts Abottsford Mariners at 7:00 PM (June 6).

Match stats
League standings