Victoria Highlanders’ men’s prospect soccer teams found success over the weekend, posting wins in their Division 2 and U-21 weekend games against Lakehill United and Nanaimo United FC, respectively.
Division 2 Prospect Boys – Facing a previously undefeated Lakehill United squad in driving wind and rain, the Highlanders were in tough to capture their fifth win of the 2014 Vancouver Island Soccer League season.
A strong performance from the Highlanders – particularly in the opening half – across the board highlighted a 1-0 victory, Oct. 25 at Finlayson Turf in Victoria.
Division scoring leader Brian Im scored the game’s lone goal for the Highlanders in the opening half of play as he converted on a well-hit volley from distance that caught Lakehill’s goalkeeper unaware.
A lack of possession by the Highlanders in the second half combined with several missed opportunities on goal threatened the slim lead, but Lakehill was unable to convert on the score sheet despite applying high pressure on a continuous basis as Highlanders ’keeper Simon Thomas earned a clean sheet in net for the Highlanders.
U-21 Prospect Boys – The following day, Oct. 26 saw the Highlanders U-21 squad following the Division 2 squad’s lead, earning a 4-2 victory against Nanaimo United FC at Pioneer Park in Nanaimo, their fourth win of the season.
The Highlanders overcame an early deficit to earn the win, with Andre Earthy-Find notching a brace while Charlie Miller and Dan Roke each contributed markers of their own.
Victoria controlled a majority of possession in the opening 45 minutes and scored three consecutive goals to go up 3-1 in the match before a lapse in defending allowed Nanaimo to score and pull within one of levelling the match.
A brief push from Nanaimo to tie the game was extinguished when Earthy-Find found the back of the net for the second time in the 87th minute of play to put Victoria up 4-2. Up by a pair, the Highlanders would earn the victory and now sit in second-place in the league table.
Up next, the Highlanders Division 2 squad face Vantrieghts FC, 2 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 1) at Finlayson Turf. The U-21 squad will also take to the field Saturday, facing Upper Island Riptide at 6 p.m. on Goudy Turf.