Saturday, May 4, 2013
VICTORIA, B.C. -- The Victoria Highlander FC kicked off their 2013 Premier Development League season with a victory, taking a 3-0 victory against the Kitsap Pumas in front of 1,804 fans at Royal Athletic Park. Thomas Mallet, Brett Levis and Jordie Hughes each found the net, while Highlanders goalkeeper Joel Wilson saved a late penalty to record the shutout.
Kitsap opened the game well, and came close to taking the lead inside the opening 10 minutes as Alejandro Chavez put an effort wide. The Highlanders took the lead in the 17th minute, however, as Mallet broke the deadlock, finishing off a chance created by Levis. Mallet nearly netted a second in the 26th minute, firing a shot right above the crossbar as Victoria pressured the Pumas defense throughout much of the opening half.
Victoria was able to maintain its momentum into the second half as Levis added a goal to his earlier assist, with the 20-year-old increasing the lead to 2-0 in the 65th minute as he lobbed a volley over Kitsap goaltender Dustin Brym that found the back of the net. Jordie Hughes added the final tally during the 75th minute when he finessed a ball past the Pumas goalkeeper.
The Pumas had a chance to get back into the game three minutes later when they were awarded a penalty kick, but Alex Rodriguez's effort, a low strike to the right corner, was denied Wilson. The win provided an ideal start to the season for Victoria, which is looking to return to the PDL playoffs after missing out last season.