The Victoria Highlanders have taken a bow and left the stage.
Playing through intense 39 C heat in Austin, Tex., on Friday, the Highlanders lost 2-0 to the Thunder Bay Chill in the Final Four semifinals of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League. The Chill move on to Sunday鈥檚 final against Austin, 1-0 winners over New Jersey鈥檚 Ocean City Nor鈥檈asters in the other semifinal.
鈥淭hunder Bay is a very good team,鈥� Highlanders coach Steve Simonson said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e been here before, they鈥檝e got some experience and quality players. We knew it was going to be tough.鈥�
The heat was a factor, as players were unable to run for any distance, without petering out. It nullified some of the Highlanders plans for counterattacks, especially against a team known for its defence. The Chill, PDL champs in 2008, have yet to allow a goal in the postseason.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been able to keep opponents off the scoreboard,鈥� Chill coach Tony Colistro said. 鈥淒efence is what wins championships.鈥�
Both teams were focused on defence in the first half, which remained scoreless.
鈥淚 do think we hopefully earned a bit of respect,鈥� Simonson said. 鈥淲e have a young team, except for a few bodies, and we鈥檝e got players who are going to be here for years to come.鈥�
Ten minutes into the second half, Sergio Campano Franco sent a ball toward the Victoria net from about 20 yards out. Highlanders goalkeeper Elliot Mitrou couldn鈥檛 get a handle on what proved to be the winning goal.
Using several substitutions, the Highlanders fought to get back into the game, but couldn鈥檛 buy a break. Riley O鈥橬eill had a header go off the post, after Jordie Hughes had done the same thing earlier, and overall, corner kicks were 7-1 for Victoria.
鈥淲e freshened it up and the adrenalin kicked in,鈥� Simonson said. 鈥淚 thought we should have scored, but it wasn鈥檛 our day.鈥�
The Chill nailed down the victory when Sullivan Oliveira Silva scored in the 90th minute. The loss was a bitter disappointment for the Highlanders.
鈥淚 told them when you play in a game that hurts really bad to lose, it means you鈥檝e done well to earn that game. I鈥檓 so proud of them,鈥� Simonson said.
