Highlanders Wipeout Tide in High Scoring Victory
The Victoria Highlanders won the franchise's first home game Sunday, following an unusually high soccer score of 6-3 over the Tacoma Tide at City Centre Stadium.
After 2-1 losses to both Abbotsford and Portland in their first two home games, Victoria took Coach Colin Miller's advice seriously and came out strong offensively against Tacoma, as the team raised their goal total for the season from 9 to 15.
Most of the Highlanders offense came in the first half, as they received goals from Patrick Gawrys, Steve Scott, Rory Hunter, Matt Pele and a Tacoma own goal which gave them a 5-2 halftime lead. Victoria's Jordie Hughes added the team's sixth and final goal in the second half.
But just as sweet as the victory on the field, was the fact for the third straight game Victoria has drawn over 1,000 fans to their game, a rare feat for teams in USL Premiere Development League. This is very good news for Victoria, as reports have circulated that the Highlanders stay in the USL PD League may be short-lived, as they could be slated to replace the Vancouver Whitecaps in the main USL once Vancouver moves to MLS in 2011.
But for now Victoria must try to keep up with their division rivals in their current league, as a three game losing streak prior to Sunday's victory has dropped them to fifth in the Northwest Division.
The Highlanders will next play the Cascade Surge next Saturday at City Centre Stadium, when team officials hope that attendance could crack the 2,000 mark.
