TacomaFC.com – The story lines for the final match of the Tide FC season are many. Finale, rivalry, trophy, and pride are all candidates to headline this Saturday night’s match against the Kitsap Pumas. The Tacoma Tide FC have totaled 30 points from their 15 matches this season. With one game left to play, the Tide would be in contention for a playoff spot in every division of the 8-division Premier Development League, except the Northwest Division. The two teams to represent the NW Division will be the undefeated Portland Timbers U-23 and the professional, Kitsap Pumas. Despite the playoffs being out of reach, the Tide still have pride and a trophy on the line this Saturday The Tacoma Tide and Kitsap Pumas will take to the field for the final match of the season. In this matchup, there are 7 players who’ve worn both Kitsap stripes and Tide yellow. In total, there are 18 former teammates who will help make up the two team’s rosters. In the first matchup of the season on May 15, a 3-0 victory for Kitsap, the familiarity bred intensity between the lines. As if the team familiarity and the game being the finale for two great team’s seasons isn’t enough, the Narrows Bridge Bell trophy is on the line. The trophy is held by the team who wins the aggregate score between the two matchups each season. The Bell itself is off a Foss Tug Boat that roamed the Narrows in the 1970’s. The Tide will need a 3-0 victory to to take bell-ownership until next season’s matchup. If both teams are tied on aggregate at the end, the winner will be the team who scored the last goal. Kitsap are the current holders of the bell with their 5-4 aggregate victory in 2009.
The Tide rediscovered their home dominance this season. The franchise record is 17 matches without a loss from 2006-2009. The Tide had a similar run in 2010. Tacoma lost just one match at home this season (both streaks were broken by Portland). That loss against the top team, Portland Timbers U-23, is the Tide’s only loss from their last 13 games.
