Some day, some time, Tacoma Tide FC will eventually lose a match at their home field of Curtis High School Stadium in University Place. May 16 was not that day or time. Tacoma has not lost in 21 straight matches and counting over three seasons after a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Cascade Surge of Salem, Ore. on a gloriously sunny afternoon.

Tacoma led 1-0 at the half, thanks to a penalty kick conversion by Tacoma native Rory Agu. Surge defender Tom Milroy had tripped Nik Besagno in the box on a breakaway. The play resulted in a red card for Milroy.

Playing up a man and up a goal at home you might suppose TFC were set to coast.

Cascade had other ideas and with goals in the 53rd and 54th minutes suddenly the 10-man Surge found themselves up 2-1. Conner Burt headed in the first goal and then Aaron Patrick stole the ball at midfield and raced for the one-on-one that beat Tacoma goalkeeper Jordan Jennings and put the Surge on top for the first time.

There was plenty of fight left in the Tide. Tacoma drew level, 2-2, in the 58th minute, when Chase Tangney crossed into the middle of the box for Besagno, who headed the ball just under the bar. Eleven minutes later in the 69th Tacoma regained the lead when Agu stretched low and connected with a fast roller from Mark Kilpatrick at the near post. Agu redirected the ball across the mouth of the goal and it curled into the net in front of the far post.

The Surge were not done and the match continued its see-saw run when Chris Andre of Cascade headed home the equalizer off of a pass from Ben Sippola in the 87th minute.

Tacoma’s winning goal came in the 90th minute when player-coach Greg Howes floated a long ball across the front of the Cascade goal. The Surge goalkeeper let it get over his head, and waiting on the endline and at the very edge of the near post was Besagno, who calmly tucked the ball into the back of the net.

Tacoma’s Tangney was called for a red card for bringing down a Cascade player just outside of the penalty box in what was judged to be a breakaway opportunity. Cascade took the free kick and that went wide.

The Tide moves its record to one win, two draws and no losses after three matches.

Tacoma’s next match is May 23 at 7:05 p.m. at Curtis High School against the Portland Timbers U-23s.