VICTORIA 1 SEATTLE 1
The road for the Seattle Sounders U-23 players, if everything were to go right in their careers, would end at CenturyLink Field with the parent Major League Soccer club.
On Saturday night, the route took them through Royal Athletic Park where the Sounders reserves were given all they could handle by the host Victoria Highlanders in the latter's United Soccer League Premier Development League season and home opener before an enthusiastic gallery of 1,253.
The Sounders were outplayed but managed to hang tight for a 1-1 draw against a forward-driving Victoria squad.
"Our game plan was to pressure them and that caused all sorts of problems for them," said Highanders head coach Ian Bridge, a 1986 World Cup player for sa国际传媒, whose pro career included playing for the Sounders in the old NASL.
"They scored on their only good chance of the game. That happens sometimes. But they have some dangerous players up front and that showed later in the game. I can't fault our guys for their effort and work ethic tonight."
The first half was a tale of Highlanders domination, with their relentless pressure paying off in the 34th minute with a goal by Sasa Plavsic set up by Craig Gorman, the latter making the summer transition to the PDL after winning the CIS national title last fall with the University of Victoria Vikes.
The Sounders, sporting the familiar lime green Xbox-emblazoned tops and blue shorts of the parent MLS club, shocked Victoria just three minutes into the second half with an against-the-grain goal by UCLA Bruins-product Fernando Monge that levelled matters.
The Highlanders continued pressing but the Sounders' fine goalkeeper, Doug Herrick who was actually taken by the rival Portland Timbers in the third round of the 2012 MLS draft, proved up to the challenge. He was the clear player of the game. Even at that, Tom Mallette had Herrick dead to rights in the waning moments but the UVic Vikes forward misfired from point-blank range. That was followed by yet more Herrick heroics as he pushed a dangerous Geordie Hughes ball just over the cross bar in injury time.
"We had high pressure on their backs and attacked. We had a lot of chances but just couldn't get another one in," said Hughes, a former USL pro, who also had a prime opportunity from inside the 18.
Bridge said his Highlanders were perhaps unlucky not to get the winner but tipped his hat to Herrick.
"We tried to chip him but he's a tall guy," said Bridge.
"At this level, you are going to face quality goalkeeping and you have to do something special to score."
Dutch-import Sourosh Amani showed well in midfield for the Highlanders.
"It was a tough game and everyone worked hard," said Amani.
"But a home game is a must win. Yet sometimes things don't go your way. The Sounders did well to hold. Maybe next time we get the bounces and the three points."
The Highlanders won't have to wait long for that chance when they host the Vancouver Whitecaps U-23 (1-1) today at 5 p.m. at Royal Athletic Park.
The Sounders opened the season Friday night at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby with a 2-1 victory over the Whitecaps U-23, the reserve team for the Whitecaps of the MLS, and were perhaps feeling the effects of two games in two days.
That's something the Highlanders must deal with today.
"Going back-to-back is physically very demanding," said Bridge.
