The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is once again coming to the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, WA. The Seattle Sounders FC will host a local derby against the Kitsap Pumas. The Pumas will travel across the Puget Sound and play an MLS side for the first time ever in USOC competition.
These two clubs share many common features in this matchup. They were both founded (in their current form) in 2009. During that time both sides have qualified for the USOC every year. An old co-owner of the USL Sounders, Robin Waite, is the current owner of the Pumas. Pumas head coach, Pete Fewing, is also a Sounders TV analyst. Goalkeeper Bryan Meredith starts between the pipes for Kitsap this season, but was drafted by Seattle in last year’s MLS super-draft. Pumas forward Tye Perdido has been on trial with the Sounders on more than one occasion. Finally, the two teams share blood… defensive blood. Sounders FC defender Zach Scott is the older brother of Pumas defender Daniel Scott. SoundersFC.com has a great story of the sibling rivalry. Have fun at the game mom!
The Sounders have won this tournament the past two years. A feat that has never been achieved since the New York Pancyprian Freedoms did it in 1982 and 1983. Along with defending the title last year they also set a USOC attendance record with 31,311 fans at the final match. In fact, the Sounders organization have made it to the semi-finals or farther every year since 2007. This year they still have quite an achievement to play for. If the Sounders were to three-peat as Cup champions they would be the first club to do that since the New York Greek-American. The NYG-A’s are the only team to ever win three in a row, and did so in 1967, 1968, and 1969. For more historic facts about North America’s longest running tournament in any sport, visit the U.S. Open Cup home page.
Many people are calling this match the “biggest in Kitsap Pumas history”. “This is big for all of us,” says Kitsap defender Taylor Hyde. “This is our chance to go out there and prove ourselves.” Hyde goes on to say, “Our job doesn’t change out here… we try not to focus on other teams as much, and with a team like Seattle, we’ll obviously have our hands full.”
Even though the Pumas have a league game on Wednesday, it is popular belief that the side from Bremerton will have their best eleven on the pitch at Starfire. That will not be the case for Seattle. Due to a grueling MLS schedule, injuries, and participating in three competitions, the Sounders will be giving the reserves a chance to feed their hunger.
Dave Clark, of SounderAtHeart.com is a wonderful writer and asks GoalWA.net writer David Falk three questions concerning tonight’s tilt. These are two guys that you all should visit regularly if you have a passion for soccer in the Northwest.
Tonight’s game will be played in front of thousands, and will be streaming live at SoundersFC.com on their matchday page.
In closing I’d like to share a soccer haiku with you. This is in honor of the Scott brothers since they were born and raised in Haiku, Hawaii:
US Open Cup
Sounders and Pumas meet up
Local Derby time!
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