Calgary Foothills FC hands Highlanders a lesson in basic soccer

Everything the Victoria Highlanders thought they were beginning to know about their team was turned on its head Friday night in a 3-1 loss to Foothills FC in Calgary.

The Highlanders’ defence, which looked to have found its footing by allowing only two goals in its previous three USL Premier Development League games, was exploited by the Northwest Division-leading Foothills (4-1).

“There is a reason they are in first place and are difficult to beat,” said Highlanders head coach Dave Dew. “They are very direct … nothing fancy.”

Calgary carried a 2-0 lead into the halftime break. A goal at 55 minutes by Chris Rushworth pulled Victoria to within one.

“We battled back well, but then came the momentum breaker,” said Dew, referring to Calgary’s third goal.

The two clubs meet again Sunday afternoon in Calgary.

The Highlanders (2-2-2) have lost both their games against Foothills FC this season. Calgary blanked Victoria 2-0 last month at Centennial Stadium.

CORNER KICKS: Highlanders standout central defender Callum Montgomery, a six-foot-two graduate of St. Michaels University School, helped lead the UNC-Charlotte 49ers to the NCAA Div. 1 tournament this season as freshman. A story in Friday’s edition erroneously referred to the school as UC-Charlotte … As a condition of entering the PDL last season, Foothills FC is responsible for paying the airfares to Calgary of all visiting teams … The Highlanders are in Redmond to play the Washington Crossfire next Friday and in Seattle to take on MLS-affiliate Sounders U-23 next Sunday.