The Victoria Highlanders find themselves at the foot of the table as they hit the Oregon Trail this weekend.
The Highlanders (2-6) are on six points in the Northwest Division of the United Soccer League Premier Development League. They are still well within hailing distance of third place in the six-team division, currently held by Lane United (2-2-4) on 10 points.
The Highlanders are in Eugene tonight to face Lane in a fixture that could go a long way toward avoiding the divisional basement at season’s end.
Victoria then heads up the I-5 to Salem to play fifth-place Portland Timbers U-23 (2-3-2), who have eight points and play the fourth-place Seattle Sounders U-23 (2-4-3 for nine points) tonight.
Victoria head coach Thomas Niendorf is under no illusions this trail is going to be an easy one this weekend.
“We have to face facts and be prepared for tough games,” said Niendorf, following the 4-1 loss last weekend to the runaway division-leading Calgary Foothills (7-1-2).
“This road trip is part of the process and an opportunity to continue to grow. We are competing well but we still need to learn and need to be better.”
The Highlanders return to the Centennial Stadium pitch on June 29 to face the Surrey-based TSS Rovers. Divisional second-place TSS (4-3-1) won the first two games of the B.C. derby earlier this season to clinch the Juan de Fuca Plate, the side competition between the Rovers and Highlanders.
The three division champions in the PDL Western Conference — currently Calgary in the Northwest, Colorado Rapids U-23 in the Mountain Division and FC Golden State in the Southwest Division — will advance to the conference playoff semifinals along with the highest-finishing second-place team in the conference.
