The Northwest Division of the United Soccer League Premier Development League gets much of its cachet from having three MLS-affiliate sides among its ranks.
One of those, Vancouver Whitecaps Under-23, will be the opponent tonight for the Highlanders (3-0-1) at Royal Athletic Park.
But there are other ways of getting noticed, as attested by Highlander left back Andrew Ravenhill鈥檚 recent pro trial with the San Jose Earthquakes of the MLS.
鈥淭he Highlanders organization tries to create a pro-type setting,鈥� said Ravenhill, who has developed into a back-line standout at the PDL level in his five years with the club.
鈥淭he Highlanders try to emulate [what the PDL Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers U-23 teams do] to get across to the players the commitment needed to get to the next level.鈥�
Ravenhill, 21, returns to the Highlanders鈥� roster tonight after missing the last two games because of being in San Jose.
鈥淚 thought it went really well down there,鈥� he said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 talk of an extended trial this summer. We鈥檙e staying in touch. I鈥檝e got time and plan to play my final season of CIS [for the University of Victoria Vikes] this fall and finish off my [bachelors] degree [in the humanities] in December. Then we'll see what happens [in terms of pro-soccer potential].鈥�
The Whitecaps U-23 team is 2-2 with one of its losses a 3-2 defeat earlier this season at UBC鈥檚 Thunderbird Stadium at the hands of the Highlanders.
The winner of the three-game season set between the clubs will earn the annual Juan de Fuca Plate.
Island fans will be familiar with several of the 鈥機aps U-23 players. Whitecaps striker Sasa Plavsic is a former Highlander. The lethally-dangerous 鈥機aps midfielder Cam Hundal plays with the UVic Vikes during the fall/winter and won the 2011 CIS national title with Ravenhill and several other of the Highlanders.
The Whitecaps U-23鈥檚 Canadian national team-capped regular starting goalkeeper Simon Thomas of Victoria is on loan to FC Edmonton of the NASL, but his replacement tonight, six-foot-four Gordon Head Soccer Association and Lower Island Metro-grad Sean Melvin, is also from Victoria.
Twitter.com/tc_vicsports
