California, here they come.
For the first time in their history, the Victoria Highlanders have played their way into the Final Four Western Conference championship in the USL Premier Development League. Ventura, Calif., is the site for this season鈥檚 championship, and the Highlanders are taking on the hometown Ventura County Fusion at 5 p.m. today in a semifinal matchup.
The other semi, kicking off at 7:30 p.m., features the Fresno Fuego and the Portland Timbers U-23, who defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps U-23 on penalty kicks on Tuesday to earn a trip south. The two semifinal winners will play Sunday for the Western Conference title and a trip to the PDL championship tournament Aug. 2-4.
The Highlanders have had the last two weeks off to rest bodies 鈥� injured Jordie Hughes is still day to day 鈥� and tweak their battle plan. The Fusion are a perennial playoff contender who won the PDL crown in 2009 and Southwest Division title in 2012. Scouting reports and video footage have given Victoria coach Steve Simonson some insight into the Fusion鈥檚 talent, but he isn鈥檛 putting too much stock on that information.
鈥淵ou make sure your team is prepared,鈥� Simonson said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l respect them. We know they鈥檒l be good, but we play in a very tough division, with the Whitecaps, Portland, and Seattle.
鈥淲e believe we can play with anybody.鈥�
With a record of 7-3-4, Ventura finished behind Fresno (11-1-2) in the Southwest Division this year, while the Highlanders won the Northwest at 8-2-4 and Portland went 7-3-4. Victoria had hoped the PDL might choose Royal Athletic Park as the venue this weekend, but they aren鈥檛 fazed by being on the road, where they were undefeated this season.
鈥淪ometimes it just comes down to a little bit of quality, either a good quality, or a mistake.鈥�
The Highlanders think the Fusion will start off with a defence-first attitude, but figuring out their strategy quickly, and adapting to it, is where midfielder Riley O鈥橬eill comes in. Carrying a wealth of experience from the national team program and professional soccer in Europe, O鈥橬eill is like Simonson鈥檚 right arm on the field. Simonson relies on O鈥橬eill, 鈥渁n exceptional soccer player,鈥� to calm the team down, and help dictate what they need to do to win.
鈥淪teve and I have the same ideas and the same concepts, and he tries to relay his message through me,鈥� O鈥橬eill said. 鈥淚 try to direct in the field, instead of him having to coach from the sidelines.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good balance, and something I鈥檝e enjoyed.鈥�
O鈥橬eill has been an attacking player most of his career, but his role in midfield will be crucial this weekend. He said there are several different ways Victoria can beat other teams, they just need to adjust on the fly, and all be on the same page. If the Fusion hang back, the Highlanders will try to make room to strike.
鈥淚鈥檝e heard Ventura sits a bit, so they like to defend, and they work hard. We鈥檒l have to try to pull players out, and try to play in behind them, because they鈥檒l sit on us,鈥� O鈥橬eill said. 鈥淲e have to move the play around, and be patient.鈥�
An early goal would be ideal to force Ventura out of the zone, but O鈥橬eill believes the Highlanders鈥� impressive season speaks for the team鈥檚 ability to cope with whatever tonight鈥檚 game brings.
鈥淥ur performance was great,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e clinched first place, we did what we needed to do, and we showed great character.鈥�
Meanwhile, the Peninsula Co-op Highlanders begin their quest for the women鈥檚 Pacific Coast League Challenge Cup title today in Coquitlam.
Peninsula Co-op (13-1-2) faces the Kamloops Heat (5-3-8) in one playoff semifinal, while the Vancouver Whitecaps and NSGSC Eagles square off in the other semi. The two winners will play in the Cup final on Sunday.
Twitter.com/tc_vicsports
