Highlanders End Inaugural Season on High Note
It's hard to say what was more impressive in the Victoria Highlanders final portion of the season; the three game winning streak to end the campaign or the outstanding crowd support which has undoubtedly shown the team that Victoria has welcomed them with open arms.
Following a blowout 5-0 win over Tacoma in their final road game last weekend, the Highlanders returned home on Friday night to take on the league leading Kitsap Pumas. Although Victoria had long since been removed from the playoff picture, pride was still very much on the line as Kitsap came into the game without a loss in the season. First half goals by Patrick Gawrys and Paul Van Den Boomen gave the home side a 2-1 lead into a half time which turned out to be the final score. Victoria received solid goaltending from Jose Herrera who helped the Highlanders snap Kitsap's 14 game undefeated streak in front of a crowd of nearly 2,000 at City Centre Stadium.
The team finished off their inaugural season on Sunday against the Vancouver Whitecaps U 23 residency squad. Even though Vancouver had also been eliminated from playoff contention, fifth place in the PDL Western Conference was on the line which kept the competition in an otherwise meaningless final game of the season. Jordie Hughes, Rory Hunter and Matt Pele all scored for the Highlanders in the first half, before Hughes netted his second of the game which gave Victoria a demanding 4-0 lead they would not relinquish. Hughes' two goals gave him eight on the season to lead the team in scoring. With the win Victoria secured fifth in the PDL Western Conference with a record of 6-6-4.
Sunday's game was also a monumental one for the front office, as over 2,200 fans packed into City Centre Stadium to watch the Highlanders conclude the season. Highlander's GM Drew Finerty beamed that team's overwhelming success in selling tickets "Truly solidified our beliefs that Victoria has a strong and passionate soccer community.”
With season one now complete, Victoria hopes the winning streak that ended this season will roll over to early season success next year and give the team an opportunity to play in the PDL playoffs.
