TUCSON, AZ— (Pumas release) It was a frantic, hectic and dramatic match between the Kitsap Pumas and Ventura County Fusion Friday night.

It was also, according to Kitsap Pumas head coach Andrew Chapman, a “weird” match.

“Not a lot of ups and downs, but we started it on a down and then we had a lot of up and up and ups for us, and then thirty seconds away from getting it done, we get an own goal,” he said. “It was a weird one.”

It took a lot of twists and turns, but it finished as a classic match, as the Pumas outlasted the Fusion 3-1 in a penalty kick shootout in a USL PDL Western Conference semifinal match at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona to move on to play for its second Western Conference title in club history. They’ll face off against FC Tucson Saturday at 7:30 p.m. after they defeated Northwest Division foe Vancouver Whitecaps U-23 1-0 on a last minute goal.

It’s the second time a match between the two had gone to penalty kicks.

It didn’t look as if it would go that far after the first 20 minutes, as Ventura scored twice right out of the gates to put the Pumas on its heels.

Ismalia Jome and James Kiffe scored in the ninth and 15th minutes, respectively, as they took advantage of an haphazard Kitsap defense. It’s the first time all season that the Pumas have gone down 2-0 in a match.

“We were a little flat and lacked a little bit of energy in certain spots and it caught up with us,” Chapman said. “We had all the pressure and they took advantage of their opportunities.”

But once Kitsap got settled, they made a better effort on goal and created several opportunities. They couldn’t finish, however. Joaquin Rivas had two massive opportunities to score but couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net.

“We weren’t too worried,” Chapman said. “We were very upset that we conceded two so early in the game, but we knew it (a goal) was coming to us.”

The third time for Rivas was the charm, as he got a cross pass from Chuy Sanchez in stoppage time in the first half and slammed the ball off the crossbar and in to give Kitsap a mental boost and a way back into the match going into the break.

“We felt that was coming,” Sanchez said. “We were knocking on the door – even before they scored – we were knocking on the door. It was such a crucial goal for Joaquin to have and for us to have going into the half.”

Michael Chamberlain came on for Rivas at the half and the Pumas went on the attack in the second, putting even more pressure on Ventura’s defense.

It culminated in the 83rd minute, as Sanchez cracked in the equalizer. Cody Shelton made a long throw into the Fusion penalty box to set off a loose ball scramble and Sanchez slammed it home before the Ventura defense could clear it. It was a welcome sight, as he took on several defenders in the 60th minute and made some sweet moves to get the equalizer but his shot smacked off the crossbar.

“It just popped out to me and I had one thing in mind and that was to put it in the back of the net,” Sanchez said. “I don’t remember what time that goal came in, but I’m just glad it came in before the final whistle.”

Then in the 98th minute, Septi Danciu collected a header pass from Chamberlain inside the penalty box. With a defender on his hip, he was able to hold and draw Fusion goalkeeper Trey Mitchell out, then get enough space to get a slow roller that inched over the line to give the Pumas its first lead of the match. Kitsap got a break when Steve Palacios was sent off at the end of the first extra period as he tried to get on a loose ball, but kicked goalkeeper Matt Grosey in the stomach.

But just as the last few seconds were ticking off for the second extra period, the Fusion finally found the equalizer out of nothing. A Fusion player headed a ball into the Pumas penalty box that went off of Cory Keitz and into the back of the net. It’s just the second own goal given up in club history.

“They were a little disappointed about it, but we said hey, let’s just go win it right now,” Chapman said. “I said here’s who it is (that’s going to take the penalty kicks in the shootout). I asked them, you feel like you guys can kick? They said yep, so I said alright, go out and do it.”

Kitsap regrouped and got the job done in the penalty kick shootout, as Grosey made two saves while Agustin Cazarez missed his. Keitz, Shelton and Danciu all converted theirs to send Kitsap one match closer to another national Final Four appearance.

“Matt was outstanding,” assistant coach Cammy MacDonald said. “It was unfortunate that we conceded in the last minute of extra time, but the guys gave everything they had. Every single one of them gave everything they had for us. We knew at the start of the season that we felt like we had the squad – not just the starting eleven, but a good, stacked squad.

“And that when the time came during the season when we were gonna pick up injuries and suspensions and even when extra time happened, we were ready for it,” MacDonald continued. “Every replacement that was coming on was just as good as the guy that was starting the game.”