Week in Soccer Review, July 12th, 2019

This Week in Vancouver Island Soccer... Canadian Premier League: Our Cavalry rematch last week saw Pacific FC starting off the Fall Season of the CPL with a loss at home, which puts us in 5th place on a brand new table with zero points. The Fall Season has considerably more games in it than the Spring Season, which means the latter half of this year will be more of a marathon than a sprint. Accumulated injuries will be defining factors over, not just Pacific FC's potential success, but other clubs as well. Pacific FC will take on Spring Season runners-up Forge FC tomorrow at Westhills Stadium, kickoff is at 3 PM. In addition to regular league action, this week we were also treated to a few surprising matches in the Canadian Championship. In historic firsts for the league, teams from the CPL challenged two clubs from the MLS in what turned out to be tightly contested draws, undoubtedly surprising those who assumed that the MLS teams would easily outplay the new upstarts. USL League 2, Northwest Division: With the Juan de Fuca Plate on the line, the Victoria Highlanders took on the Vancouver TSS Rovers at home last week, but came up short. This is likely due to a grand total of 5 of our players departing the club shortly before the match, some of whom had been instrumental in our season's successes up to that point. We wish our lads who are moving on to greener pastures all the best... Even if some of us wish they could've stayed for just one more game. The roster shakeup likely also contributed to a 1-2 loss away to Sounders U-23s over the weekend. With two more games away at Calgary remaining for the regular league, and the Highlanders having slipped down the table to 3rd, our hopes of a post-season are looking bleak, but not impossible. Seattle, who currently enjoy the top spot on the table, would have to lose their final game and the Highlanders would have to win their final two matches vs. Calgary to come out on top. Stranger things have happened. Pacific Coast Soccer League: The Victoria Highlanders reserves in the PCSL suffered their first defeat of the season to FC Tigers Vancouver last week, dropping them to second place on the table. It's entirely possible for the Highlanders to regain their position as they have 3 games in hand over the Tigers with only a 3 point difference. With 4 games left in the regular season, it's looking extremely likely that the Highlanders reserve team will be seeing some post season action. In the PCSL, the top 4 teams from regular league play go on to compete in the Challenge Cup, a grueling two-day affair that can be fairly entertaining. It's also a tournament that we've never won, though we have come close. Women's Premier Soccer League, Northwest Conference: The Vancouver Island FC's season came to a close with their final game at home which ended in a 3-1 win over Vancouver TSS Rovers. This landed them with 18 total points for the season, setting them comfortably in second place in the conference behind Seattle Sounders Women, with a record of 6 wins, 2 losses and 0 draws. Not a bad inaugural season! We're looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish next year. And now you're all caught up.

Canada Day Tifo 2019

Did you catch our tifo display on Canada Day at Westhills Stadium? If not, check it out here:

Supporters' Choice Player of the Year Award 2019

The Lake Side Buoys Supporters' Choice Player of the Year Award for 2019 was awarded to Victoria Highlanders player Shun Takano! Stick around after the presentation for an interview with Takano.

Week in Soccer Review, July 2nd 2019

This Week in Vancouver Island Soccer... Canadian Premier League: Pacific FC decided to go out with a bang by beating Spring Season Champions Cavalry FC at home 3-1. Cavalry didn't bring their best team and instead opted to give some of their younger players some minutes, but the win at home did a lot for struggling Pacific's morale. This decisive win bumped Pacific FC's final spot in the Spring Season to 5th place, with poor Valour FC winning the Spring Wooden Spoon, should that ever be a thing. (it should totally be a thing) We don't have to wait long for more CPL action, as the Fall Season starts on Saturday (3 PM) with a rematch at Westhills Stadium against Calgary once again. This time, one would imagine Tommy Wheeldon to field his best team hoping to get an early start on the new season. We'll be hoping that lightning will strike twice and we'll be sending the Cavalry in full retreat back to Alberta with zero points. Be sure to drop by our tailgate, starting at noon! USL League 2, Northwest Division: It was a decent week overall for the Victoria Highlanders as they made their way down the Oregon Trail, taking on Timbers U23s and Lane United. VHFC managed to scoop up 3 points from the Timbers with a 2-0 scoreline, with Ngabo Shumbusho coming away with a brace and Trevor Schneider with a clean sheet. Just two days later, on Sunday, the Highlanders dropped points to Lane United in a tight 1-0 loss. However, this puts the Victoria Highlanders at the top of the Northwest Division standings with 19 points, tied with Lane United but still coming out ahead on games won. The Highlanders' final home game is this Friday at Centennial Stadium, kickoff is 7:15 PM. They'll be facing TSS Rovers in the final leg of the Juan de Fuca Plate competition, which will be awarded after the game. In case you haven't been following that, the Highlanders lead the competition on a 1-0 aggregate. Because of away goal rules, a nil-nil result, a draw or better for the Highlanders would bring the plate home to Victoria. Also, as it's the last home match, the Lake Side Buoys will be presenting their Supporters' Choice Player of the Year Award! Who is the award going to? Go to the game and vote for your favorite player! WPSL, Northwest Conference: The ladies of Vancouver Island FC played Eugene Timbers FC Azul on Sunday, picking up all three points in a 4-0 shutout. This puts them on a four-game winning streak that has them sitting at third place in the very competitive conference with 15 points. Seattle Sounders Women ran away with the table with 7 wins and 1 loss netting them 21 points, well ahead of second place Spokane SC Shadow's 15 points. (And VIFC's 15 points) VIFC plays their final game at home this Saturday at Goudy Turf Field at 12:15 PM against the Vancouver TSS Rovers. A win here would lock in Vancouver Island FC's second place spot in the conference and give us some bragging rights over the Rovers. If you're headed to Westhills on Saturday anyway for Pacific FC, why not arrive early, get better parking and make it a double header? Pacific Coast Soccer League: You thought I forgot about the Highlanders' PCSL team, didn't you? Though it's not a league for spectators, I do like to keep an eye on it. Victoria's Reserve Highlanders team is currently at the top of the table, tied on points with FC Tigers Vancouver. That situation won't remain that way however as the Highlanders have 3 games in hand over their second place rivals. I'm smelling some playoff possibilities! Who wants to head over to Vancouver and be threatened with arrest for bringing a drum to a football match again? Anyone? And now you're all caught up.

Week in Soccer Review, June 24th 2019

This Week in Vancouver Island Soccer...

Canadian Premier League: It was a week of ups and downs here on the island as Pacific FC pulled off a 2-1 win on the road against Valour FC on Thursday, followed by a 3-1 defeat versus underdogs Edmonton FC at home on Sunday in front of a packed Westhills Stadium. It was apparently a weekend full of upsets as Cavalry FC recorded their first loss of the season to Forge FC on Saturday. After capturing 3 out of a possible 6 points this week, Pacific FC slid further down the table landing at 6th place in a four-way tie on points, barely beating out York9 FC because of total accumulated wins. Cavalry FC remains on the top spot but Forge FC is only two points behind, which makes the race for Spring Season champion a very tight one. Speaking of which, Pacific FC's next game is this Canada Day Monday against Cavalry FC at Westhills Stadium, a match that could decide who comes out on top for the Spring Season. USL League 2, Northwest Division: Pacific FC wasn't the only team with highs and lows this week as the Victoria Highlanders FC played back to back games with Calgary Foothills FC, losing 4-1 on Friday. After a few days to reflect on the match they came back to Centennial Stadium on Sunday to record Victoria's first ever victory against Calgary with a stunning 2-1 win. Special thanks to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Lake Side Buoys for drumming, cheering and launching pyro for Sunday's game while most everyone else was over at Westhills Stadium. Splitting the points with Calgary means that the Highlanders are now in second place in the Northwest Division, tied on points with Lane United FC with accumulated wins as the tie-breaker. Important to note, however, is that the Highlanders continue to have two games in hand over every other team in the division. This weekend the Highlanders will be heading down the Oregon Trail, battling the beleaguered Portland Timbers U23s (who are now tied at the bottom of the table on points with the Rovers) on Friday, followed by a match versus Lane United FC on Sunday that's sure to be as chippy as usual. Let's hope the home sides have some streams available for us. WPSL, Northwest Conference: The Vancouver Island FC took a break this week, no matches were scheduled. They're now solidly at third place in the conference, 3 points behind Seattle Sounders Women and Spokane SC Shadow who are tied for first. Their next and penultimate home game is scheduled for this Sunday at 12:30 pm at Goudy Turf Field. And now you're all caught up.