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.

Jonesing For Answers, June 2019

We met up with Brad Norris-Jones at Centennial Stadium during a Victoria Highlanders match and asked him three questions while enjoying some craft beer.

Week In Soccer Review, June 17th, 2019

This Week in Vancouver Island Soccer...

Canadian Premier League: The good news is that Pacific FC no longer has the worst form of the league! That title now belongs to FC Edmonton as they come onto a 4-game losing streak. The bad news is we slunk further down the table this week, landing at number 6, just one point up from the aforementioned bottom dwellers, FC Edmonton, who have a game in hand on PFC. As we're getting closer to the end of the CPL Spring Season, it's clear that Pacific FC has some thinking to do if they want to have a different outcome during the Fall Season. It's unfortunate that a lack of squad depth and a crisis of injuries has left the team a shell of what it could have been for its inaugural season, with only 5 points and as many goals after 7 games played. Cavalry FC continues to run away with the league, with the full count of 18 points from the 6 games they've played. Forge FC is trailing close behind in second place with 16 points but Calgary still has two games in hand to rack up additional wins. It'll be a busy week for the Lake Side Buoys, with a Pacific FC viewing party on Thursday at the Yates Street Taphouse (5PM) and a home game out at Westhills Stadium on Sunday. Come out for our Sausage Fest Tailgate, starting at 11am! USL League 2, Northwest Division: The rest of Vancouver Island Soccer is far more cheerful, as last Sunday saw the Victoria Highlanders FC put on a show that fans won't soon forget. With a 6-0 scoreline that included a brace each for Daniel Davidson and Goteh Ntignee, the visiting Portland Timbers U23s left Centennial Stadium without a point to show for it. Simon Norgrove picks up a clean sheet for his work in Victoria's net, and it must be mentioned that despite allowing 6 goals in, the Timber's keeper Wilson made some amazing saves (including a penalty save which rebounded and was capitalized on by some quick thinking Highlanders) that probably kept the scoreline from going into the double digits. Check out the action in this highlights reel:

This win places the Highlanders on the second place in the competitive Northwest Division, a single point behind 2018 Champions Calgary Foothills FC, though VHFC still has two games in hand over the league leaders. Lane United FC is tied with us on points, but we squeak by them barely on goal difference. The Portland Timbers U23s have had an utterly dismal season, languishing at the bottom of the table with only 5 points after 9 games played. As if our viewing schedule wasn't tight enough this coming week, the Highlanders return to Centennial Stadium on Friday at 7:15pm AND on Sunday at 2:00pm in an all-Calgary clash weekend. WPSL, Northwest Conference: Vancouver Island FC picked up back to back wins over the weekend, grabbing 6 points which rocketed them up to the top of the table, tied for first place on points with Seattle Sounders Women. Their first home game on Saturday at Westhills Stadium against the Westside Timbers saw a 2-1 scoreline and a small contingent of Lake Side Buoys cheering for the home team. The following day on Sunday saw them competing against OSA XF and picking up a tight 1-0 victory. The ladies only have two remaining games to their inaugural season and they'll be taking some well deserved time off before then. VIFC's next home game is on Sunday, June 30th at the Westhills-Stadium-adjacent Goudy Turf Field where they'll take on the Eugene Timbers FC at 12:30 PM. And now you're all caught up.

LSBTV - SO MANY GAMES

Today on LSBTV, we sit down with Ted Godwin and Ryan Arrowood to talk about all the upcoming games we're planning on watching while we SUPPORT LOCAL SOCCER, including games from the Canadian Premier League, Canadian National Teams, USL League 2 and the Women's Premier Soccer League, all of which have representation here in Victoria.

Week in Soccer Review, June 10th 2019

This Week in Vancouver Island Soccer...

Canadian Premier League:
Pacific FC got a break this week, their next game is this Saturday at 9AM. They'll be looking to pick up their second win this season against standings bottom feeders, York9 FC. Be sure to be at the Yates Street Taphouse to watch the game with the Lake Side Buoys and grab a good breakfast while you're there!

USL League 2 Northwest Division:
It was an exciting weekend for the Victoria Highlanders as they managed to pull off a smash and grab for all three points at Swangard on Friday, their first away game of the season. The Highlanders were awarded a penalty with Victory Shumbusho setting it cleanly in the back of the net. And speaking of nets, a big shoutout to Trevor Schneider for making his keeper debut this season. The Rovers made him work hard for his clean sheet.

This was also the first leg of the Juan de Fuca Plate competition, but with only a 1-0 win, victory is not certain for Victoria as the competition is based on aggregate. The win propelled the Highlanders up to the second place on the table, briefly. They now sit on the third spot behind Lane United and Calgary. VHFC is only 4 points behind division leader Calgary with THREE games in hand. 

Pacific Coast Soccer League:
We haven't talked much about the Victoria Highlanders Pacific Coast Soccer League side this season yet but they are currently at the top of the table, undefeated with 17 points after 7 games. Their playoff chances are looking pretty good.

WPSL Northwest Conference:
Vancouver Island FC had a great weekend, beating ISC Gunners FC 5-3. VIFC currently rests 4th on the table with their next match being played at Westhills Stadium for their home opener on the 15th vs. the Westside Timbers.

And now you're all caught up.

Vancouver Island Review, June 3rd, 2019

This week in Vancouver Island Soccer: Canadian Premier League: We had a weekend that would be better soon forgot as Pacific FC loses to HFX Wanderers FC on the road, sinking Pacific FC down another notch on the table to 5th place. Pacific FC currently has the worst form of any CPL team, with 3 out of the last 5 games as a loss, and taking only a point each of the remaining 2 out of the last 5 matches. Cavalry FC continues to ride high on the table with Forge FC hot on their tail scoring 13 points to Calgary's 15. Cavalry has 2 games in hand over Forge, however, so I don't expect those teams to remain close for long. Poor York9 FC continues to drag behind the rest of the pack with only 3 points after 5 matches. USL League 2, Northwest Division: Centennial was a demoralizing place to be over the weekend as the Victoria Highlanders suffered their first loss of the season. The score line, 3-0 to frenemy Lane United, comes complete with a perfectly executed long ball own goal from Highlander Aly Adib in second half stoppage time, who lobbed the ball into the home net while trying for clearance. The Highlanders take up the 4th slot on the tight Northwest Division table with 2 games in hand over the top two teams, Calgary Foothills FC and Lane United FC respectively. With only a four point difference between 4th place Highlanders and 1st place Foothills, it's vital that the Highlanders brush off this loss and move forward. Their next game vs. TSS Rovers at Swangard on Friday will be critical to regaining their form and it will be the first leg in the Juan de Fuca Plate competition. Women's Premier Soccer League, Northwest Conference: Vancouver Island FC had a quiet week with no games played, however, there was plenty of movement up and down the table. Seattle Sounders Women and Spokane SC Shadow are on the top tied on points, with Seattle squeaking out ahead on goal difference. Of course, all eyes are looking to Saturday the 15th when Vancouver Island FC makes their home game debut at Westhills Stadium as they take on the Westside Timbers who are in a 5-way tie on points with PacNW Women, TSS Rovers, Vancouver Island FC and OSA XF.

And now you're all caught up.