Peninsula Daily News
PORT ANGELES — The North Olympic Peninsula soccer community is back in action and geared up to bring the Fourth annual Super Cup Soccer Derby to Civic Field on Saturday, showcasing the best of Port Angeles and Sequim adult soccer players.
This year both the men and women will again take to the field for the “beautiful game” looking to best their rival city.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. The women’s game will kick off at 5 p.m. and the men will start at 7 p.m. A suggested donation of $5 covers admission.
This homegrown event draws in numerous high school alumni home to participate as well as area soccer legends. Started in 2014 by former Port Angeles Adult Soccer League Director Tim Tucker and Former Sequim Adult League Soccer Director Quincy Byrne, the Super Cup has quickly become one of the area’s premier family soccer events.
“We created the Super Cup based on what is known in England as a ‘derby’ pitting two cross town rivals against each other. The Super Cup is what you get when you mix soccer, fun, and a friendly bit of cross- community camaraderie,” Tucker said.
Each year civic leaders join the fun by staging an official bet in favor of their hometown team.
This year Port Angeles Deputy Mayor Kate Dexter and Sequim Deputy Mayor Candace Pratt will step up in favor of their respective city for the women’s game. Chamber executive director Marc Abshire and Sequim Chamber president Shenna Younger will take the lead for the men’s game.
The loser of each bet has agreed to attend the winner’s monthly meeting, dressed in the winner’s colors to officially present the winning team’s trophy.
Last year marked the first time women showcased their soccer talent by hosting a friendly match.
This year, the women will join in the derby-style competition.
“After last year’s friendly, I’m beyond excited to see the development of the women’s Super Cup match. The local women’s soccer talent in Port Angeles and Sequim continues to flourish and grow,” said Marti Martinez, 2018 Super Cup committee chairperson.
On the men’s side, the Port Angeles team will look to overcome its loss from 2017 after a tightly fought game that ended in regulation in a 1 -1 tie. Sequim came out the victor in a shootout.
“We hope that Sequim FC comes out to play us straight up this year as opposed to parking the bus and waiting for penalty kicks. To Coach [Dave] Brasher’s credit, he coached the 7-2-1 formation to perfection, “ said 2017 Port Angeles head coach Kanyon Anderson, who will take to the field as a player this year.
“On the Sequim side, we were prepared for a friendly match and were initially caught off guard by the unsporting competitiveness of the Port Angeles team. When I realized their true nature, I changed tactics at halftime. We then came back to tie the game despite being short-handed due to a red-card and easily won the game on penalty kicks,” Brasher responded.
Seven Cedars Casino will provide food and there will be craft beer, a kid’s zone sponsored by Sequim Youth Soccer, and family-friendly activities.
“With community support from the city of Port Angeles, city of Sequim, Full Spectrum Landscape Co., Holistic Horticulture and Landscaping, High Energy Metals, Jose’s Salsa, the Port Angeles Lefties, OSP Sling, Peninsula College, Port Angeles Youth Soccer, Sequim Youth Soccer, Sequim FC, Storm King, 7 Cedars Casino and Windermere Realty, we’re set to make this our most successful fundraising year yet,” Martinez said.
All proceeds collected from the $5 suggested donation at the gate will go toward supporting aspiring young soccer athletes.
The winning town for each game will be awarded proceeds to donate to a college-bound soccer player of their choosing. Two lucky hometown high school students will be awarded during the annual scholarship night in May.
In 2017, $500 scholarships were awarded to Sequim High School seniors, Nickolas Janikic and Grace Tolberd.
For more information and current rosters, visit www.facebook.com/olypensupercupsoccer/.
