In association with the National Premier Soccer League, the Kitsap Soccer Club has joined the NPSL ahead of the 2017 season.

As part of the agreement to move from the Premier Development League, the club will revert to its full name, “Kitsap Soccer Club,” for its first year in the NPSL.

Kitsap SC, known as the Kitsap Pumas while in the PDL, won a national championship in 2011 and advanced to the national final again in 2014. In 2016, the club advanced to the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, becoming the farthest advancing club from the Open Division after defeating the Sacramento Republic of the USL.

They ultimately fell after facing Seattle Sounders FC in a Puget Sound battle in the subsequent round.

“We were members of the PDL for eight years, and we had some good success there,” Kitsap owner Robin Waite said.

“We would like to thank the PDL for providing us the platform to develop our club and brand, but we feel that at this point, membership in the NPSL is the best possible direction for the future success of our club.”

The NPSL hopes the addition of Kitsap will kickstart the league’s growth in the Northwest, chairman Joe Barone said.

“We enthusiastically welcome Kitsap Soccer Club to the National Premier Soccer League,” Barone said.

“We look forward to their contributions in the Northwest as we continue to grow and support the sport in this region.”

Details of Kitsap’s first season in the NPSL, including an overview of the club’s schedule and tryout information, will be released by the club sometime later.

Kitsap SC plays its home matches at Gordon Field, an 1,500-seat capacity stadium on the Kitsap County Fairgrounds in Bremerton.