Unbeaten Pumas surge past Seattle

The Kitsap Pumas crossed Puget Sound to defeat the Seattle Wolves 2-1 Saturday at the Starfire Complex in Tukwila.

With the victory, the Pumas stayed unbeaten (4-0-1, 13 points).

Mark Conrad scored the first goal of the game with a header in the 33rd minute off a cross from outside midfielder Kyle Johnson.

“I’ve been waiting for one,” Conrad said. “I’ve had some opening opportunities (in past games) that I should have done better with.”

The Wolves, however, nearly caught Kitsap off guard just before halftime when a Seattle player hooked a ball past Pumas goalkeeper Dustyn Brim, who came to the edge of the box to defend. But defender Max Lipset headed the ball away, allowing Brim to recover.

The Pumas’ second tally came in the second half after a handball was called on the Wolves. Tony Kerr connected on the ensuing penalty kick to give the Pumas a two-goal advantage in the 50th minute.

Seattle scored in the 74th minute after John Fishbaugher headed the ball to Fernando Monge, who slipped a header of his own past Brim to make it 2-1.

“We knew that Seattle was a good team with very good players,” said assistant coach James Ritchie. “(But) the boys from the back to the front were fantastic (defensively). It was a total team effort.”

The Pumas faced the Cascade Surge on the road Wednesday, but results from that match we unavailable at press time.

The club hosts the Timbers U23 at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Memorial Stadium.

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