Victoria Highlanders News Release -- www.victoriahighlandersfc.com
Friday, May 3, 2013
VICTORIA, B.C. -- Time is winding down before the Victoria Highlanders finally face-off against the Kitsap Pumas on Saturday evening at Royal Athletic Park in the opening game of the 2013 PDL season. To date the Highlanders have a record of 3-1-4 against the Pumas, a team that has been very competitive in the Northwest Division since its inception in 2009, the same year the Highlanders joined the league.
In the eight games played between the two teams each has played at home four times. Each team has scored eight goals throughout the series, averaging a goal a game.
The Highlanders' first win came on July 17, 2009 as they took a 2-1 victory at home, avenging a 2-1 defeat earlier in the season. Patrick Gawrys and Paul Van den Boomen both scored for the Highlanders and Mark Conrad notched Kitsap’s lone tally. There were four cautions given out that game and Kitsap's Stephen Phillips was ejected in the 67th minute.
The second time the Highlanders were able to top the Pumas came two years later on July 23, 2011. The Pumas were having an amazing year, and would go on to win the PDL Championship, and entered the final game of the regular season with a record of 12-0-3. The Highlanders had other ideas and played the role of streak-busters, winning 1-0 at home on Ash Burbeary’s goal. Again, four cautions were given out.
The third and final time that the Highlanders topped the Kitsap Pumas was June 24th, 2012. This proved to be a turning point in the season for the Highlanders when they beat their rivals 3-0 on the road. It was new head coach Steve Simonson’s third game at the helm and his first win while in charge. After what was looking to be a disappointing season for the Highlanders they were able to keep the momentum from that game going and finish the 2012 season with five consecutive games undefeated. Jordie Hughes scored two goals and Sasa Plavsic added another.
The air is tense leading up to the 2013 PDL season for the Highlanders. It starts off with a heated match against a rival squad. The building pressure is to be released at Royal Athletic Park at 5 p.m. PT, and season tickets are on sale through the club's website.