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Trials a chance for Highlanders coach to find missing pieces

Training season is underway for the Victoria Highlanders FC men’s Professional Development League team.
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Saanich product Sam Prette chases the ball during warm up at the Victoria Highlanders FC players trials on the turf field of PISE on Monday night.

Training season is underway for the Victoria Highlanders FC men’s Professional Development League team.

The majority of the squad is already in place for the 2013 PDL season but head coach Steve Simonson is not against adding players where he can.

Night sessions were held at the Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence earlier this week but the trials period will carry on throughout the month, he said.

“Tryout period is to let people know we are looking, but we’re not looking for anything in particular. If anything, we are open to someone from outside of our scouting network.”

The roster’s basic components are intact, with the Hughes brothers, Tyler and Jordie, as well as a core of UVic Vikes, Andrew and Adam Ravenhill, Thomas Mallette, Gavin Barrett, Sam Prette, Craig Taylor, Gareth Langdon and Elliot Mitrou, the Highlanders starting goalkeeper from 2012.

“With us trying to use local players, and UVic being the local school, there’s a real overlap. But we’re not just another version of the Vikes,” Simonson said.

The amateur-status Highlanders use many NCAA and CIS players. A few players have flown in from Europe and the U.S.A. looking for spots but no signings have been made to date.

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