Sunday afternoon was not the best day that Tide fans have seen at Curtis High School Stadium. After a couple weeks of flawless weather in the Puget Sound, the skies were filled Sunday with dark clouds that poured rain, hail, and sleet around the halftime break and into the 2nd half. Things on the field weren’t much brighter.
After a tough loss to swallow on Friday night, the Tide were in search of redemption against a team that had beaten them in Victoria earlier in the season. As the match began, it seemed like the Tide were in control but like Friday night, it was their opponents who scored first, and second, and third. The first goal came from the boot of a 17 year old talent named Darren Jones. A nice play down the left side yielded a cross back to the penalty spot where Jones was there to side volley the ball into the far corner. The second goal was a sign of the day to come as Victoria kept the ball in the Tide penalty box for what seemed like an eternity before bull-dozing a ball into the back of the net off a quick Jordan Hughes toe-poke. It was an ugly goal, but it was a sign of who wanted the victory more on the day.
The last three goals came for the visiting Highlanders in various ways, while the Tide had chances of their own but were never able to pounce to find a breakthrough. The Tide will have a chance to end 2009 with a good feeling as they head down to Salem, Oregon to play the Cascade Surge on Wednesday before returning home for the final match of the season. The conclusion to the year will be against Puget Sound Rivals, the Kitsap Pumas. Former Tide stars, Spencer Schomaker, Mark Lee, and Steve Mohn now wear a blue and white shirt for the Pumas and will return to Curtis HS Stadium for the first time since their change of club. Also added to the rivalry is a special trophy awarded to the winner. The Narrows Bridge Bell will be up for grabs to the winner of the aggregate scoring in the two meetings between Kitsap and Tacoma on the year. Since the first meeting was a 1-1 draw, the Bell is still there for the taking. The Kitsap match will be played at 1:00pm on Sunday, July 19. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. You can buy tickets online at www.TacomaFC.com/tickets
Statistics from Sunday available - CLICK HERE
