Highlanders victorious in Spokane

Posted on: Friday, May 1, 2009

Spokane Spiders	vs Greyhound Park Friday May 1st, 2009 Spokane, Washington PDL Northwest Division	Victoria Highlanders FC
0 - 1 FULL TIME
Spokane Spiders Starting 11 GK: Josh Peck D: Dan Phillip D: Rawley Doggan D: Ben Robert D: Tim Muravez M: Nick Love M: Connor Baronski M: Keith Reeling M: Jesse Retan F: Jake Maug (Coach) F: Jay Velcra		Victoria Highlanders Starting 11 GK: Thomas Lindley D: Tynan Diaz D: Robbie Veenhof D: Paul VandenBoomen D: Joey Loreth M: Jordie Hughes M: Jason Devenish M: Rory Hunter M: Cole McFarlane F: Steve Scott F: Patrick Gawrys

 
Game Info:

33^rd Minute – Goal – (Highlanders) – Patrick Gawrys gives the Highlanders a lead through a penalty kick after Jason Devenish is taken down in the box.

60^th Minute – Shot - (Spokane) Big save from Thomas Lindley after a strong Spokane header at the top of the 6yd box.

65^th Minute –Shot – (Highlanders) – Steve Scott screams one off the post from 12 yards on a nice one timer after a beautiful cutback pass from Patrick Gawrys...

66^th Minute – Shot – (Highlanders) – Steve Scott gets away from his marker and hammers a shot just wide of the left post. 

70^th Minute – Substitution – (Spiders) - Jake Prugh and Grant Falco In…Jake Maug and Jay Velcra Out at 74^th Minute – Substitution – (Spiders) – Avery Washington In…Nick Love Out

75^th Minute – Substitution – (Highlanders) – Corey Sanford In…Patrick Gawrys Out

82^nd Minute – Substitution – (Spiders) – Ty Falco In…Jesse Retan Out

87^th Minute – Substitution – (Highlanders) – Jamar Dixon In…Steve Scott Out

90^th Minute – Yellow Card – (Highlanders) – Jamar Dixon

Full Time 1-0 Victoria Highlanders over Spokane Spiders

GAME RECAP

Patrick Gawrys scored the only goal in Victoria Highlanders 1-0 win over Spokane Spiders Friday evening at Greyhound Park (Spokane).  The match marked the first game of the Highlanders inaugural season in the United Soccer Leagues PDL division.

"It was fantastic to get a result in Spokane," said Highlanders FC head coach Colin Miller. "It wasn't the best of matches, but there were a lot of positives to come from it.  Our team could have been up by a larger score line with the amount of chances we had, but I am pleased with the end result.   I would say it was a rusty but solid team performance."
 
The first fifteen minutes of the match were indicitative of a team trying to find its chemistry.  It was shaky at times and the players had to fight through their nerves.  "We were hesitant in the first bit of the match," stated defender Paul VandenBoomen. "And the game didn't go exactly how we would have liked, but we can't complain about the result and as a defender getting a clean sheet in the back on top of the win always makes you feel good."
 
Gawrys becomes the clubs first ever goalscorer with a penalty kick after midfielder Jason Devenish was taken down in the box.  "I'm proud to finally get a record that no one else can beat," joked Gawrys. "Honestly though, I am excited and honoured to be a part of the team and more importantly happy that we got away with the win.  I thought we played well.  Scoreline didn't indicate how well we played.  We hit some posts and missed some good chances.  We kept a clean sheet which was great, but I believe there is more to come from us, and I know we can play better and put more goals away."
 
The Highlanders now head to Vancouver to face a much sterner test against the Whitecaps Residency.  During the off-season the Whitecaps Residency reached the finals of the 2009 Dallas Cup, an annual tournament of clubs from all around the World.  The Whitecaps Residency beat the likes of CF Monterrey (Mexico), River Plate (Argentina) and Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) to reach the finals, but lost out to Sao Paulo (Brazil) 4-0 in the championship match. 
 
"We know we have to be much better," commented General Manager Drew Finerty. "The lads are not going to need any encouragement to get excited for this matchup.  They all know what they are up against and we believe it will be a good opportunity to measure ourselves against one of the better sides in the Division."
 
The game against the Whitecaps Residency is set for 3pm at Simon Fraser University.