Sunday, June 22, 2008

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

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