With a head coach signed and the regular-season opener about three months away, the Kitsap Soccer Club is reaching worldwide for players to fill its inaugural Pumas roster.

The club hosted tryouts Feb. 14 and 21, the former being open to the public, and the roster-building will continue in the weeks to come.

First-year coach John Wedge is pleased with the progress, saying Wednesday “we’re making headway.”

Wedge said 83 players attended the Feb. 14 tryout, 10 of whom were invited back for the Feb. 21 tryout to join 20 invitees.

“As the word gets out, more players are becoming interested,” Wedge said. “That’s exactly the process; to get a look at as many good players as possible.”

Since launching the club late last year, owner Robin Waite and executive director Ben Pecora have said the search for players would be both local and international.

Following suit, the club invited Will Sturgess and Floyd Croll, both of England, to the Feb. 21 tryout.

Sturgess, 21, a defender who has played semiprofessionally in England, came into contact with the Pumas via a friend who knows youth development coordinator and assistant coach James Ritchie.

“It seems a lot quicker pace than what we’re used to,” Sturgess said Tuesday, comparing the English game to the American game. “We can bring our ways and the way we play and what we’ve learned, and perhaps progress it in maybe a bit more technical way … help show them what we know.”

Wedge, who held a training session Wednesday, said he was impressed with Sturgess at the Feb. 21 tryout.

“I like Will a lot,” he said. “I like what he brings.”

Croll, 21, is a goalkeeper who has played in the English Premier League. Wedge said he hoped to “get a better look” at Croll at Wednesday’s training session. Nine goalies turned out Feb. 14, with four still in the mix for two or three roster positions.

“We like all of them,” Wedge said of the goalies.

“I think I’ve got a lot to add. England is the home of fútbol, so you’ve got a lot experience there,” Croll said. “It’s completely different, it’s a new ball game for us. We’ve never played in the states before, so we’ll see what we can add to the team. It will be learning curve for us.”

Sturgess and Croll, both of whom returned to England Thursday, said their experience in Kitsap was overwhelmingly positive — on and off the pitch. The duo toured Bainbridge Island, Bremerton and the surrounding area, even riding the Washington State Ferries to Seattle.

“Love the city, it’s brilliant,” Sturgess said, referring to Seattle. “It’s incredible, not used to anything like this back home.”

Croll, meanwhile, who had never been to the states prior to last week, was particularly impressed with the views from the ferry.

“They are absolutely topnotch,” he said. “You’re just standing there with your jaw on the floor.”

They’ve also sampled a few local beers, experienced the public transit system and met, possibly, their future teammates.

“Our hope is to come back,” Croll said. “This is where we want to be.”

Wedge said the final roster would be around 18 players, but he didn’t say exactly when the players would be signed.

So for Sturgess and Croll, it’s wait-and-see until Wedge decides on the roster.

“It’s all about what goes on on that pitch,” Sturgess said. “I’d like to think we’ve both done well, fingers crossed.”

Both were impressed with Wedge, based on the Feb. 21 tryout.

“It’s so exciting to get a chance to work with someone like that,” Croll said. “What we can learn from him is going to be massive. He’s so experienced as well, he’s the kind of dream coach that you want to work under and learn from what they’ve done in the game.”

The Pumas open against the Spokane Spiders on the road May 2. The first home game is against the Tacoma Tide at 7:30 p.m. May 15 at Bremerton’s Memorial Stadium.