PDL-leading Calgary overpowers Highlanders

The Victoria Highlanders woke up to no lack of inspiration Sunday morning with surprise results galore in the World Cup.

But there would be no underdog heroics on the Centennial Stadium pitch later that afternoon. Form held stubbornly in a 4-1 victory by the Northwest Divisionleading Calgary Foothills in United Soccer League Premier Development League action.

Tommy Wheeldon Jr., who next season steps up to the pro level to become the first head coach and GM of Calgary’s Calvary FC of the new Canadian Premier League, has the annual powerhouse Foothills to their accustomed position atop the divisional table at 7-1-2.

Opponents have been left wondering if pro soccer hasn’t arrived early to Calgary. The 2016 Northwest Division champion and 2017 runners-up Foothills have been led this season by 33-year-old former Bundesliga pro Nik Ledgerwood, who has 50 caps for Canada, and former Vancouver Whitecaps MLS-signed Canada U-20 and U-23 goalkeeper Marco Carducci.

It says a lot about Calgary’s depth that they won by three goals Sunday without either Ledgerwood or Carducci in the lineup.

“We played a very experienced team, and for the most part, did well,” said Highlanders head coach Thomas Niendorf.

Calgary didn’t take long to strike at five minutes before Mackenzie Cole lifted the home side with an equalizer before halftime as the Highlanders began to come on.

“[Wheeldon] told me he felt he needed to make subs,” said Niendorf, of his post-game chat with his good friend and Calgary counterpart.

Wheeldon’s bench wheeling worked. A trey of second-half goals by Jay Wheeldon, Moses Danto and Sergio Camargo sealed the deal for Foothills, who swept the three-game set against Victoria for the full nine points that have greatly buoyed Calgary’s season.

Highlanders’ goalkeeper Nolan Wirth, the former Pac-12 player with the Oregon State Beavers who shared the Canadian crease with Carducci at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, could do little to quell the onslaught.

“We had some good opportunities to get the go-ahead goal ourselves early in the second half,” said Niendorf.

“So to concede that second goal was very disappointing and took the spirit out of our group, because we knew how difficult it would be to come back.”

Calgary’s depth was in evidence in the second half.

“[Foothills] made four quality subs and we couldn’t counter,” said Niendorf.

“We are competing well but we still need to learn and need to be better.”

Victoria fell to 2-6 in starting the second half of the season.

The Highlanders now hit the Oregon Trail for games Friday in Eugene against Lane United and Sunday in Portland against Timbers U-23.