The Victoria Highlanders have played their way into the upper echelons of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League. With tonight鈥檚 game against the North Sound SeaWolves close to the halfway point of the season, the challenge now is staying at the top.
Fans taking in the game, a 7 p.m. start at Royal Athletic Park, can expect to see a team leaving nothing to chance.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen glimpses of a team that can absolutely challenge for a national title, but we鈥檝e also seen glimpses of a team close to not making the playoffs,鈥� Highlanders captain Tyler Hughes said. 鈥淲hen we play with confidence, and are really going, we look fantastic.鈥�
The Clan looked just that in a decisive 2-0 victory last week over the Washington Crossfire. The win moved Victoria鈥檚 record to 4-1-1 鈥� in second place behind the 5-1-1 Portland Timbers U-23 鈥� but memories of a 5-3 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps U-23, following a 2-2 tie with the SeaWolves, have lingered as reminders of what can happen if the effort lags.
鈥淚 think we learned from North Sound and the Whitecaps,鈥� coach Steve Simonson said. 鈥淲e learned if we let our guard down, and don鈥檛 stay strong, we can鈥檛 control what happens.鈥�
The SeaWolves come into Royal Athletic with a dismal record of 0-5-1, with their lone point gleaned from the tie with the Highlanders. The stats, however, don鈥檛 really tell the story.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just been a run of close calls,鈥� said North Sound coach Ed Moore. 鈥淲e鈥檝e done a lot of good things. We have a sense, if we can just get one, we鈥檒l get over the hump.鈥�
Moore said his team, while desperate, has not lost any fight or spirit, and the Highlanders could have their hands full. The SeaWolves will be attempting to deflate the Victoria offensive pressure, in what Moore expects to be a wide open battle.
鈥淭he first game was really up and back. We had chances, they had chances, there were shots on goal, and goalkeeper saves. I鈥檓 expecting nothing different,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淲e know we have to be organized and very disciplined.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e a really good team, very well organized, with a number of different threats and ways they can hurt you.鈥�
A couple of Highlanders inflicting plenty of pain this season include Jordie Hughes and Brett Levis. The pair have combined for 12 of Victoria鈥檚 17 goals over six games, with Hughes picking up seven goals, and Levis adding five goals and four assists. They each scored in last Saturday鈥檚 victory over Washington.
On the SeaWolves鈥� roster, Moore said two of the go-getters on the team have been Nicholas Hamer 鈥� along with brother Zachary Hamer, he has a goal and two assists 鈥� and scoring threat David Durrant.
鈥淣ick is a big engine right now. He goes box to box and gives a little bit of everything.鈥�
The Highlanders figure the North Sound strategy will be to sit back and protect, then try to strike on a quick counterattack. To break them down, Hughes said, the best method is to score early.
鈥淭he first goal is vital. If we get that first goal, they鈥檝e got to come out and stretch themselves to score.鈥�
CORNER KICKS: The Highlanders will be playing tonight without the services of Tommy Mallette. The attacking midfielder, who also plays with the UVic Vikes, has gone overseas to try to make one of the pro clubs in Germany.
