MARINERS MEN’S SOCCER | THEY COULD RUN AWAY WITH IT

By Randy Wachtin
Incider.ca

Bill Merriman, head coach of Vancouver Island University’s Mariners mens soccer program has an enviable problem.

Every player in his pre-season camp has the ability to be a starter on his team. Roster limits imposed by Canadian Colleges Athletic Association means difficult decisions are coming down the road.

With many players returning from their silver medal provincial season a year ago, it is the first year recruits & walk-ons raising eyebrows of the coaching staff. Nervous, and rightly so, are the veterans of a quality team.

Their spots are not chiseled in stone, and they know it.

Players are fit and already in game shape. A lengthy list on the VIU pre-season roster competed with Highlanders FC, Highlanders Reserves and Victoria United this past summer including Jared Stephens, Dano Cato, Davis Stupich, Chris Arnett, Ben Leggett, Chris Merriman, Romaie Martin, Ishimine Akihiro and Yoshi Wantanabe

The boys have three games under their belts in pre-season scrimmage tests with positive results that will capture your attention. A 5-0 winning score vs. Nanaimo United got the wheels rolling. A 1-0 defeat to Provincial Senior A Champion Gorge FC was no setback by any means. The result confirmed the small island university program has a competitive pool of players.

The head turner happened this week with a solid 2-1 victory versus University of Victoria’s Vikes men’s program.

Stephen Ewashko opened the scoring on a first half penalty from the spot. Jarred Stephens netted the bomb to break a 1-1 tie in the second half for the winner. A first time victory over their Vancouver Island cousins.

Merriman is keeping expectations in check. He knows the boys are in a tough provincial conference. It has been a dozen years since the school from Nanaimo has captured a provincial crown and their only national banner was captured in 1983.

While Incider will refrain from creating hub city hype, there is a hint that fans of soccer in Nanaimo are in for something special this fall. This is a team that contains a wealth of skill, speed, size and deft ability. They’re going to be an entertaining group to watch.

VIU Mariners conclude their exhibition schedule with an away test in Burnaby, Saturday, Sept. 4 vs. Simon Fraser University. This is SFU’s first season competing in the NCAA Div II standard in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Kick off is 12 noon at Fox Field.

For fans in Nanaimo, VIU’s BC Colleges Athletic Association league home opener vs. Quest University is scheduled Saturday, Sept. 11, 3 p.m. at Mariner Field.

HIGHLANDERS, EDMONTON TIED 2-2

It happened at the last minute but the Victoria Highlanders managed to tie  FC Edmonton 2-2 at Bear Mountain stadium Sunday night.

The majority of the first half was more or less a feeling out process by both sides as FC Edmonton carried the bulk of the play but only threatened goal twice.

The Victoria Highlanders, bolstered by several reserve players seemed nervous in the early goings of the half but sorted out the nerves and had a few chances on goal themselves.

Their best scoring chance of the half came in the 25th minute when Jordie Hughes danced into Edmontons penalty area, befuddling defenders, but directing his strike just wide of goal.

FC Edmonton would make Victoria pay for the missed opportunity when Shaun Saiko’s brilliant strike from about 20 yards out beat Victoria keeper Brandon Watson.  FC Edmonton would take the 1-0 lead into halftime.

FC Edmonton wasted no time finding the net in the second frame as Matt Lamb got in behind Victoria’s defenders inside the six-yard box and deftly tucked the ball away in the bottom right corner of the goal.

The fireworks ensued after that as the match took a more physical tone and cautions were given to both sides.

Victoria found glory in the 67th minute as Chris Arnett capped off a fine sequence of passing to get the home team within one.   Highlanders’ Davis Stupich was given a straight red card in the 86th minute as his ambitious tackle resulted in injury to Edmonton’s Paul Mathijs.

Despite being down to 10 men, the Highlanders clearly weren’t fazed and persistent pressure from Victoria’s forwards saw Romaie Martin get a clear break in the penalty area, only to be fouled off the ball by the Edmonton defender.

Tyler Hughes cooly buried the resulting penalty kick to seal the draw for the Highlanders just a minute from the final whistle.

HIGHLANDERS TAKE ON NASL BOUND EDMONTON

(ISN) — The Victoria Highlanders will take on 2011 NASL side Edmonton at 6 p.m. Sunday at Bear Mountain Stadium.

Although the match has no playoff implications and no promise of hardware, it could prove to be the most telling of the season for Head Coach Ian Bridge who gets to test his team’s mettle against a team of pros.

The Highlanders have made no secret that they are entertaining the idea of joining the USL’s (United Soccer Leagues) pro ranks, most likely in a division two setting, and will be monitoring how the club stacks up against other professional caliber clubs.

Part of being able to make a jump to the pro ranks is increasing club support and stadium attendance.

The Highlanders are hoping that the community continues to show the kind of enthusiasm for high-level soccer that has made the Highlanders a leader in attendance in the PDL.

The friendly is not a new experience for the Highlanders, who hosted USL Division One club Austin Aztex (with whom they have an affiliation) last summer and plan to add more exhibition matches to their schedule, hopefully against increasingly stronger competition.

HIGHLANDERS HIT THE ROAD

The Victoria Highlanders PDL side will hit the road this weekend to finish their 2010 schedule with games against Abbotsford and the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency squad.

The Highlanders loss to Portland in their last home game ensured that the second year club would miss the 2010 playoffs for the second straight year.

Abbotsford and the Whitecaps have long been out of the PDL’s post-season picture but for a Victoria team who still has a chance at third spot overall in the Northwest division; there is something to be said for moral victories.

A third place finish under last year’s playoff structure would be good enough to get the Highlanders into the post-season but under the new divisional structure, only two teams from each division qualify for playoffs.

While it is not exactly, the type of success the organization hoped for, it is a marked improvement for a club with designs for a future in pro soccer, namely the USL’s Second Division.

Abbotsford
The Abbotsford Mariners have had a less than stellar year, falling to eighth place in the nine-team division after suffering through a 6-game losing streak in the last third of the season. The Mariners first match versus Victoria was not a strong outing, losing 5-1 at Bear Mountain Stadium thanks, in part, to a hat-trick performance from the Highlanders’ Jordie Hughes.  Victoria should be well rested; just two weeks removed from a by-week and will be hungry for a solid win after an emotionally deflating loss to the Timbers last Saturday.

Vancouver
In all the excitement involving the Whitecaps move to the MLS in 2011, the Residency program’s season has flown under the radar and the team struggled mightily out of the gates, going winless in their first nine matches before finally getting a win versus Abbotsford. That first win by the way, took place on July 4, less than three weeks ago but seems to have spurred them on somewhat as they have picked up two more wins in their last five matches, just good enough to drag them out of the cellar and into seventh place overall in the Northwest.

Clan-notes:  The Club’s Awards Gala at the Royal Theatre is Wednesday, July 28. Soccer supporters and the public are invited. Tickets $15 and available at www.rmts.bc.ca under “tickets”…the Highlander Reserves and Women sides have qualified for the Coast League playoffs in their initial season and will play semis Saturday July 24th and if win, play final July 25th in Coquitlam.

HIGHLANDERS UNABLE TO FALL TIMBERS

The Victoria Highlanders took to the pitch at Bear Mountain Stadium Saturday night for the last time this season to face Northwest Division giants Portland Timbers who were sporting a perfect record (14-0-0) going into this match.

More than 60 minutes from kick off, the anticipation was palpable as fans streamed through the stadium gates, undoubtedly to get their fill of PDL action before the Highlanders finish their season with a two game road trip.

The Victoria Highlanders, sporting their alternate blue “Coast Capital” kits, got off to a rocky start and allowed the visiting Timbers an early 1-0 lead when Portland forward Freddie Braun headed a goal past Highlanders keeper Brandon Watson in just the third minute of play, silencing the home town fans.

The home side fared better after that and in the 26th minute, Highlanders forward Jared Stephens would get a clear break at goal and make no mistake, rifling the ball past the Portland keeper and bringing the Bear Mountain Stadium crowd of 2,250 to a deafening roar.

The Timbers would add two more before the half, however, and take a 3-1 lead into the interval.

The Second half was a much chippier affair with Victoria and Portland earning two cautions apiece.  Brandon Watson’s night got a lot busier beginning in the 52nd minute when Timbers forward Ricky Abergo danced his way into the 18 yard box, only to be brilliantly turned away by the outstreched hands of the Clan keeper whose confidence appeared at an all-time high.

The 61st minute brought more turmoil to the Island crowd as the Timbers capitalized on mounting pressure and Matt Drake eventually found the bottom right corner of goal to give the visitors an unsurmountable 4-1 lead.

To their credit, the home side never quit and neither did their fans, stomping their feet and clapping throughout the half, aided in part by Nathan Robertson’s familiar bagpiping.

Watson would have a final moment of glory in the 76th minute as the Timbers offence overwhelmed the Highlanders defence and pounded shot after shot at the Victoria goal, only to be thwarted time and again by the sprawling Highlanders backstopper, who arguably had his best match of the year.

The two sides played three minutes of added time but it would produce nothing as the Timbers walked away with the 4-1 victory to remain unbeaten.

HIGHLANDERS LOOK TO PLAY SPOILER TO PORTLAND’S PERFECT SEASON

By Andrew Mordan

The Victoria Highlanders wrap up their 2010 home schedule with a visit from the currently undefeated, first place Portland Timbers (14-0-0) 7 p.m., Saturday at Bear Mountain Stadium in Langford.

The clan take a 7-3-3 record into the PDL contest with hopes of still qualifying for the last playoff spot, held by rivals Kitsap Pumas (10-1-2) with each team having three games remaining.

Coach Ian Bridge knows it is all on the line this weekend and is confident his group can find a way to solve the steady play of the Timbers and extend their playoff aspirations.

“We know the season is coming down to beating one of the top sides in the conference, if not the league. We definitely want to maintain our unbeaten home record and stay alive”, says the gaffer.

The Highlanders can build off their gutsy performance last week when they held the Pumas to a 0-0 draw at the Bear. It will be more of the same this week, limiting the opponents scoring chances and creating a way to put a ball past the stingy Timber defense, who have only surrendered five goals while notching a division leading 48 goals themselves, to overtake last year’s division champs from Kitsap.

The Highlanders can also take heart from their success last season when they ended the Pumas undefeated season with a 2-1 home victory on a late goal by 2009 MVP Paul VandenBoomen who has missed the entire 2010 season due to injury.

A bright spot for Victoria has been the solid play of young goalkeeper Brandon Watson who has filled in admirably for veteran Trevor Stiles who has missed all but one match due to injury and clearance issues.

Clan-notes: Title partner Coast Capital Savings will be hosting their family day and celebrating Fan Appreciation Day at the park on Saturday. There will be lots of prizes and a special half-time draw …

The Boys & Girls Club will be the featured charity, providing ball retrievers, player escorts, fifty-fifty and an exciting mini game at the half ….

Highlanders FC’s Awards Gala at the Royal Theatre is Wednesday, July 28. Soccer supporters and the public are invited. Tickets $15 and available at www.rmts.bc.ca under “tickets”…

The Highlander Reserves and Women sides have qualified for the Coast League playoffs in their initial season and will play semis Saturday July 24th and if win, play final July 25th in Coquitlam.

HIGHLANDERS PLAYOFF HOPES FADE FURTHER IN SCORELESS DRAW AGAINST KITSAP

By Tory Davis

(ISN) — Highlanders  played a Premier Development League grudge march with Kitsap Pumas on Saturday evening.

The match pitted two of the divisions playoff contenders, and Highlanders tried to turn over a 2-0 defeat to Pumas in Bremerton on June 25th.

Pumas and Highlanders have scored the same amount of goals scored on the season, but Kitsap’s

defence has allowed 10 fewer goals.  Better defence has resulted in Pumas coming into the match with the superior record of the two teams.

The Pumas own second place in the division behind Portland Timbers U23, who at 10-0-0 are the class of the division.

The sides traded warning shots in a tense first half.  The Highlanders  seemed to control the play for the first 20 minutes of the period, but Pumas fought back to control the second 20 minutes of play.

Highlanders seemed to be at their best in the first half when they were able to spread the ball to the wings.  Jared Stephens proved to be a nuisance for Pumas as he barged his way down the flank.

He beat two men in the 13th minute at the corner of the area before toeing an attempt across the area that was cleared into touch before Craig Gorman could can an attempt at it.

Stephens was at the centre of a move in the 15th minute, beating his man and taking the ball low to the goal line before cutting it back into the path of right back Craig Robertson.  Robertson’s cross is low and hard, but cut out before it caused too much peril.

Highlanders’ hard-working right winger Stephens had perhaps the best chance of the half in the 17th minute.  Harrison played Stephens into the area behind the defence, but Stephens had Lee in hot pursuit. Lee had the beating of Stephens on the play however, keeping the ball to Stephens’ left foot, from whence he seemingly had to intention of loosing a shot.

The momentum then swung towards Pumas as Cameron Hepple and Matt Freisen began to assert themselves on the game.

Hepple and Freisen had no qualms about running at Highlanders defenders, and some good play by Freisen gave Tye Perdido a shooting chance, though the Pumas striker was quickly closed down by Highlanders’ Robbie Veenhof.

Freisen then hit a rasping drive from the right wing off of Hepple’s short corner, forcing a testy punch from Highlanders’ ‘keeper that could have ended a lot worse.

In the latter stages of the half, Pumas began probing the Highlanders’ area with sweeping crosses, as evidenced by a superb cross from Hepple from another short corner.  With two Pumas players laying in wait unmarked at the back post, it took Craig Robertson at full stretch to clear the ball over the goal line with a desperate toe.

As play drifted towards half time, there was a sense that a single goal could drastically change the tempo of play.

However, a goal never came.

Highlanders began the second half trying to regain their first half strategy of getting the ball low and wide on the flanks, but both teams realized the urgency of the fixture, and chances were engineered down the middle of the pitch.

Pele came barrelling through the middle in the 48th minute after a good ball from Harrison, but Pele’s pass for Gorman was easily cut out by Pumas’ right back Steve Mohn.

In the 52nd minute, Hepple and Perdido were again looking creative in the Pumas’ attack.  On this occasion it was Hepple running at the defence before playing the ball square for Perdido to swivel and try a left-footed shot.  Perdido’s effort was weak, and Watson made an easy save.

The teams traded half chances for the majority of the second half, and tensions were building in the form of cautions and desperate fouls.

Play came to a boil in the last two minutes; both teams had their best chances of the game.

Diaz Kambere found the space in his own half to send a searching ball right down the middle for Kareem Henry, and Henry dribbled the ball into the area and beat his man.  As he prepared to shoot, Daniel Scott arrived in the nick of time to get a touch on the ball.

Henry’s deflected shot had left the ‘keeper diving the wrong way, but the ball slowed enough that another Pumas defender hacked it off the goal line as it drifted towards the open net.

Then into injury time the always dangerous Cameron Hepple ought to have put his side clear.

From a deflected cross, Hepple was alone in the area and about six yards out as he tried to shoot.

Unfortunately for the young striker, he put far too much purchase on his volley and skied it ten yards over the bar on an attempt he really should have buried.

So the honours were even in a tense match that always seemed fated to a draw; both teams seemed to have the mindset of playing not to lose rather than playing to win.

Highlanders go on a two-week hiatus as their next match is not until July 17th, a home match versus Portland Timbers U23.  That match will be their final of the regular season, and a good result could solidify a position in the divisional play-offs.

In one of the more exciting games of this year’s soccer season, Victoria Highlanders settled for a 0-0 draw against Kitsap Pumas Saturday night at Bear Mountain Stadium.

With end-to-end action in a game that had 1,328 riveted fans in suspense right up until the waning seconds, the local lads could not grasp the win which would have given a boost to their fading playoff hope.

Three minutes of added time provided extra excitement but no goals and the Highlanders would once again have to settle for the draw and a single point which edges them past Tacoma into third place in the PDL standings, but one place shy of a play off spot.

The Highlanders are off the Bear Mountain Stadium pitch until Saturday July 17 when they host league-leading Portland Timbers U23.

HIGHLANDERS, VICTORIA UNITED KICK FOR THE MS CURE

(ISN) — The Victoria Highlanders and Victoria United gave the fight against MS a leg up Wednesday, raising $1,696 for the MS Kick for the Cure Foundation founded by Victoria United alumnus Kevin James.

The Highlanders won the Charity Shield after defeating Victoria United 4-0 at Bear Mountain Stadium.

“I’m incredibly lucky that the two biggest teams in Victoria support us in the way we do, especially with the Highlanders jumping on board,” said James.

“Since the Highlanders inception they have supported our program both financially and by getting the word out about us.”

He noted that United is the oldest team in the region, dating back more than 100 years, and in that time has promoted soccer excellence within the Victoria community.

As a result, the newly-created Highlanders dipped into the United talent pool with the acquisition players such as Steve Scott, Paul Van de Boomen and Highlander captain Robbie Veenhoff.

“When the Highlanders began we lost nine starters,” said United GM Bill Anderson. “That says a tremendous amount about what we do here at United and if you look at the Highlander team now you will still see a few of our old boys.”

Anderson said United has supported the Highlanders from day one and they, in turn, have done the same.

“The Highlanders have always had a great respect for the United program and supported their contribution to soccer on the island,” said Highlander general manager Drew Finerty.

“Their club has been instrumental in providing a high level of football that has attracted and developed a lot of talent from the island.”

BRAGGING RIGHTS AT STAKE IN VICTORIA CHARITY SHIELD

The two biggest teams on Vancouver Island – Victoria United and Victoria Highlanders  – will meet Wednesday in the Victoria Charity Shield in support of the MS Kick for the Cure foundation.

“I’m incredibly lucky that the two biggest teams in Victoria support us in the way we do, especially with the Highlanders jumping on board,” said MS Kick for the Cure founder and Victoria United Alumni Kevin James.

“Since the Highlanders inception they have supported our program both financially and by getting the word out about us. For example we had the MS Kick For the Cure game with Cool FM a few weeks ago and we had Highlanders players involved and it just seems that anything they can do they do it. “

The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kick off at Bear Mountain stadium.

HIGHLANDERS TIE CROSSFIRE 2-2

By Tory Davis

(ISN) — The honours were even at Bear Mountain Stadium as Highlanders FC played Washington Crossfire to a 2-2 draw on Sunday afternoon.

Highlanders FC tried to escape the demons of two consecutive losses last weekend.  Having played most of the have-nots in the division, the Highlanders faced stiff competition from both Kitsap and Tacoma during their most recent Washington road trip.

The road trip’s lone bright spot featured a comeback win over the same Crossfire team.

Washington Crossfire took a one goal lead in the 40th minute of the June 18th match before Jordie Hughes scored the equaliser in the 65th minute.  His goal turned the match on its head, as Highlanders added three more goals in the subsequent ten minute to cruise to a comfortable 4-1 victory.

Highlanders hoped for a similar outcome, though manager Ian Bridge would appreciate the offence being more spread across the duration of the match.

The teams traded goals in an evenly-played first half.  Washington had some good early chances care of Murphy Campbell.  Campbell’s crosses forced an early punch from Highlanders’ ‘keeper Brandon Watson, who was standing in for Highlanders due to Trevor Stiles’ continued concussion symptoms.

Campbell also played a fine ball in to Ryan Luke in the area, but Luke’s shot though hard failed to trouble Watson.

Highlanders enjoyed some good early chances as well.  Matt Pele had a free header off of a cross in from Diaz Kambere, but his attempt hit a grateful Doug Harrick in the chest.

Pele turned provider in soon after, charging down the heart of the Crossfire defence before laying it off for Jordie Hughes.  The Highlanders’ top scorer swivelled on the ball, but his shot also failed to trouble Harrick, as Harrick didn’t have to move to make the save.

Highlanders made the first breakthrough in the 19th minute.  Jordie Hughes took down a ball that was flicked on by Pele and slid the ball into the area for an unmarked Callum Harrison.  Harrison still had work to do as the Crossfire ‘keeper came rushing out, but Harrison was able to toe his shot into the corner of the net.

Highlanders FC enjoyed much of the possession after the goal, Crossfire seemingly retreating back into the defensive formation that they were expected to employ.  Highlanders were able to comfortably pass the ball between defence and midfield, but the attacking third was fiercely patrolled by an otherwise well-organised Crossfire defence.

And the Crossfire tactic turned out to be a clever ploy; they suddenly hit back the equaliser in the 39th minute through Ryan Luke.

Alexander Klein took the initiative to bring the fight back to the Highlanders, and took on no less than three defenders as he rampaged down the middle of the Highlanders’ defence.

Despite having Craig Robertson draped all over him, Klein was still able to play a classy ball into the area for Luke, who thumped in from 12 yards out.

The second half began tentatively; both teams seemed unable to keep possession of the ball.  The tone of the game changed to one of high tempers as both teams became frustrated with the play.

Goalscorer Harrison had a chance within the first minute of the second half, picking up a loose ball in the area.  Totally alone with the ‘keeper, Harrison moved the ball to his left foot and then ballooned his attempt over the bar from ten yards away.

The introduction of Jamar Dixon on the left wing gave Highlanders FC initiative on the flank.  Dixon made a number of good runs with the ball, his best coming in the 62nd minute when he took down a 40-yard pass from Diaz Kambere.

Dixon seemed to be caught in two minds after storming into the area however, and his effort was neither shot nor cross, and looped lazily over the crossbar without troubling the ‘keeper.

Washington Crossfire had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 66th minute.  Off of a broken corner, the ball came to Jamie Finch at the right corner of the penalty area.  Finch turned on the ball and struck a curling shot on his left foot towards the far post, forcing a tough save from Brandon Watson.

So tough the save, in fact, that Watson spilled the rebound to the foot of Ryan Luke.  With the ‘keeper indisposed, Luke had the goal at his mercy, but from a tight angle the Crossfire’s top scorer bashed his shot off of the post, a wasted opportunity for the young Seattle side.

Five minutes later, it was Highlanders that took the lead, once again through Callum Harrison.

The young Englishman — head bound in bandages following a nasty injury a week before that required 17 stitches to his ear — finished superbly from the top of the penalty area with a low curling shot after the ball bounced off Jamar Dixon and landed at Harrison’s feet.

The lead was short-lived for Highlanders FC in a match that always appeared destined to end in a deadlock.

Ten minutes after Harrison scored his second, Crossfire were on the attack with an impetus that belied their defensive style.

Sean Morris played a sumptuous early, curling cross from the right wing that perfectly picked out substitute Cullen Wilson at the back post.  The Crossfire striker arrived just in time to fire a powerful header past Watson to earn his side the draw.

Highlanders FC next play on Wednesday versus Victoria United in the Victoria derby match for the Charity Shield, before a rematch with Kitsap Pumas, a side to whom Highlanders lost 2-0 in Bremerton on June 25th.

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