KITSAP SOCCER CLUB OPENS NPSL ERA WITH 1-1 DRAW AGAINST SPOKANE SHADOW

In an entertaining and hard-fought match against cross-state Spokane Shadow, Kitsap Soccer Club took a second-half lead but couldn’t hold onto it. Sean Bowman opened the scoring in the 59th minute, fresh onto the field as a halftime sub, but Jesse Retan pulled back an equalizer in the 71st to level the score.

The game started with Kitsap on the front foot, keeping the ball in Spokane’s end for much of the opening 15 minutes. Nana Boakye recorded the game’s first shot in the eighth minute, and captain Chuy Sánchez had a near-post shot saved by Bryan Hernandez in the 19th.

Hernandez made an impressive foot save on Javo Reyes in the 33rd minute after Kazu Hamaguchi’s cutback from the left wing, and the first half finished scoreless. Bowman entered at halftime for Kitsap as the first substitution of the season, and the University of San Francisco man wasted no time getting involved.

He put his first effort just wide off Brian Charles’ cross in the 48th minute, but just over 10 minutes later, he would make good on his continued forays in front of goal. Romario Lomeli sent in a ball from the left flank that Bowman dove to head into the back of the net and give the NPSL newcomers the lead.

However, it would only last 12 minutes.

After a giveaway in midfield, Retan found himself in front of goal on a counterattack and put his effort past Joe Wheelwright with ease. Despite continued pressure for the rest of the game, including a counterattack off a corner kick that nearly resulted in a stoppage-time winner, it ended all square.

Kitsap now travels south to face FC Mulhouse Portland on Friday, May 26, before returning home for a match on Saturday, June 3 against OSA FC.