Soccer is not a sport known for much scoring.
But even at that, teams obviously need to score at some point to be successful.
The Victoria Highlanders have yet to find a goal after three United Soccer League Premier Development League games.
The latest lack of finishing was evident in a 1-0 loss to Portland Timbers U-23 in Victoria鈥檚 home opener on Sunday afternoon at Centennial Stadium.
That followed 1-0 and 2-0 losses for the Highlanders in their PDL season openers against the Foothills in Calgary.
鈥淲e are creating good opportunities but not producing the final touch,鈥� said Victoria head coach Thomas Niendorf.
The defending PDL Northwest Division-champion Timbers U-23 squad (1-1) , which has produced several MLS draft picks since 2008, scored the only goal it needed at 78 minutes. Second-half substitute Gio Magama-Rivera from NCAA Div. 1 University of Portland beat Highlanders 鈥檏eeper Nolan Wirth of Comox 鈥� a former NCAA Pac-12 player with the Oregon State Beavers 鈥� with an outstanding shot that curled in nicely.
鈥淚 thought we dominated the game, and thought our approach and shape were very good, but lost on an individual effort [the goal by two-time Oregon high school player of the year Magama-Rivera] that was extraordinary,鈥� said Niendorf.
鈥淚t鈥檚 tough to swallow. But there鈥檚 no excuses.鈥�
Niendorf said the mood remains upbeat among the Highlanders.
鈥淣obody is down,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e know we are creating quality chances and are capable of breaking through and scoring.鈥�
Victoria attackers Cam Hundal, Marcus Campanile, Cory Bent, Isaac Koch and Gordon Hall were lurking and dangerous but could not solve Timbers-U23 goaltender Zach Nelson, an NCAA Div. 1 player with Xavier, who is touted as a potential future pro.
University of Victoria Vikes attacking-midfielder Koch went down in the box at 83 minutes in the most controversial play of the game, which Niendorf described as a 鈥渃lear penalty,鈥� that was not called.
鈥淲e showed a good, positive mentality and fought all the way to the end,鈥� added the Victoria bench boss.
The Highlanders get their next chance for that elusive first goal when they host Lane United from Eugene, Oregon, on Friday evening at Centennial Stadium.
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