Seattle Wolves News Release - www.seattlewolvesfc.com
Saturday, July 25, 2009
BREMERTON, WA -- In 2009 the Seattle Wolves Football Club (11-4-3) has achieved great success by utilizing selfless play to overturn adversity and gain results on the pitch. On Saturday July 25th the club’s inaugural PDL campaign came to an end, 2-0, at the hands of the Kitsap Pumas (13-1-3) in the Northwest Division final, despite the selfless efforts of the Seattle players.
Overcome by injury, fatigue, and personnel deficiencies, Seattle’s five-match unbeaten run ended against their West Sound rivals at Bremerton Memorial Stadium.
The Wolves were only able to travel across Puget Sound with fourteen players as many of the club’s core outfield players were unavailable through injury or transfer.
Prominent winger Ely Allen was signed by Major League Soccer’s D.C. United this week while Stanford University standouts Michael Strickland and John Moore travelled down to Los Angeles to train with Chivas USA.
The Wolves did everything within their power to triumph in the first round of the PDL playoffs in Portland, as injured striker Alex Chursky willed himself to score three goals against the Timbers U-23 side on Thursday July 23rd.
Two days later Seattle simply reached the end of the line, bowing out of the playoffs to perhaps the most consistent squad in the 68-team Premier Development League. Ironically the Wolves last fell in Bremerton to this same Kitsap side, and of the club’s four losses in 2009 three have come against the Pumas.
John Wedge’s side struck first in the 15th minute, when Kyle Johnson delivered an out-swinging corner kick onto the head of Stephen Phillips. The striker forced his attempt on goal past the outstretched arms of Seattle goalkeeper Pete Lechak, and the 1-0 lead enthused the crowd of 2,000 Kitsap supporters.
Much as they have done all season, the Wolves battled from behind attempting to gain equal footing. Forward Evan Morgan ripped a shot from the left of the area in the 25th minute, but Pumas goalkeeper Dustyn Brim was up to the challenge.
Unable to capture a first half goal, Seth Spidahl’s men went into the break trailing by a single strike.
In the second half the match evolved into the gritty affair that has defined this series in 2009. Players from both sides were unafraid of putting in a firm tackle, and in the 50th minute Seattle winger Sean Morris was hacked down by two Kitsap defenders.
Morris responded by swiping at the legs of his aggressors, earning the Seattle University starlet a swift booking. Undeterred, the Wolves fought through their collective fatigue to posses the ball and generate sufficient build-up.
In the 67th minute midfielder John Fishbaugher nearly captured an elusive equalizing goal when he unleashed a blinder from the top of the area. The ball singed Kitsap’s crossbar, leaving Brim and his backline in a state of astonishment.
Yet despite these efforts Kitsap took advantage of Seattle’s weary legs when substitute Alex Megson hammered in a goal for the home side in the 71st minute. Phillips released a through ball to Megson inside of Lechak’s area, and the midfielder beat the Seattle keeper at his far post.
Veteran striker Alex Chursky, the three-goal hero of Thursday’s victory in Portland, nearly pulled Seattle back into the match in the 76th minute. Chursky lined up a free kick from the left of the area, but the ball frustratingly careened off of Brim’s crossbar.
Wolves midfielders Taylor Hoss and Jamie Finch frantically pursued loose balls until the end of the match, but Kitsap’s backline engulfed each challenge accordingly, allowing the Pumas to advance to the PDL Western Conference Finals.
Seattle can take solace in the fact that once again they lost to one of the top rated sides in the league, and Seth Spidahl was clearly pleased with the efforts of his players at the conclusion of the match.
The Wolves’ manager commented, “Tonight our guys showed the type of effort and desire that got them to this point, and I am immensely proud of how they conducted themselves. This has been a fantastic season and we have certainly laid the groundwork for the future.”
In only their first season in the United Soccer Leagues, the Wolves secured a playoff position in the arguably the PDL’s most trying division. Moreover, the players registered an emphatic come from behind victory in Portland in the first round of the post-season, and not even Saturday’s result can damped this success.
The Wolves will now head into the offseason knowing that the future is bright, and that many of this year’s players are already pursuing their professional careers.
