Melvin steps up for PFC in draw against Cavalry
It was a different goalkeeper but the same goals-against scoreline for Pacific FC.
Sean Melvin stepped in for the ailing Emil Gazdov to record PFC’s third consecutive clean sheet to start the Canadian Premier League season in a scoreless draw Sunday afternoon in Calgary against Cavalry FC.
Regular-starter G azdov, who was ill and did not make the trip, was also not scored upon in backstopping the Tridents to 1-0 and 2-0 wins against the HFX Wanderers of Halifax and Valour FC of Winnipeg.
“The guys in front of me were rock solid and did not let many shots through,” said Melvin.
“I have been waiting for this [opportunity to play].”
Melvin’s well-travelled career has brought him back to the Island, where he began playing as a kid in the Gordon Head youth system, before graduating to the Victoria United Metro programs.
“I am extremely proud to play for my hometown club,” he said, of his decision to join the Tridents.
The six-foot-four Islander came out of NCAA Div. 1 University of North CarolinaWilmington to sign with the Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer and played with the main affiliate Fresno FC.
Melvin has national team experience and was called up to the Canada pre-camp ahead of a friendly set against Iceland in 2016. He earned his only cap in an almost surreal game in a 2017 win against Bermuda. Melvin went into the game in the second half as an injury replacement for former PFC and current Vancouver FC goalkeeper Callum Irving, only for Melvin also to be injured, and replaced in goal by defender and fellow Victorian Adam Straith.
This is Melvin’s second stint in the CPL after making seven starts with three clean sheets for Atlético Ottawa in 2022. He was the starting ‘keeper for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks of the USL in 2020 and 2021 in a combined 35 games.
Melvin, 29, has been placed in a mentoring role for Gazdov, 20, with PFC. But there is no pro athlete who doesn’t want to play.
“[PFC goalkeeping coach Trevor Stiles] has created a really great environment,” said Melvin.
“Emil [Gazdov] and I push each other every day.”
With his experience, Melvin is pretty much plug and play.
“Big credit to Sean Melvin. We have full trust and confidence in Sean to step up,” said PFC head coach James Merriman.
“The clean sheets have been the result of the daily work [the goalkeepers] have put in. And defensively, we have done very, very well.”
Veteran Cavalry goalkeeper Marco Carducci, who like Melvin has had a brief call-up to the Canadian national team in his career, recorded the clean sheet Sunday for defending CPL regular-season champion Cavalry, which has a loss and two draws in its first three league games.
“It was an amazing crowd today and we were disappointed not to win our home opener,” said Carducci, who played 15 games combined for Canada in U-17, U-20 and U-23.
“We were disappointed not to be able to do that.”
It was about as good as a scoreless draw can be with both Carducci and Melvin having to be alert, although the hosts had the run of play for the most part. Cavalry FC had a goal at 90 minutes disallowed due to an offside call. Then 26-time Trinidad and Tobago-capped PFC attacker Reon Moore was sent in point blank five minutes into injury time with Carducci making the save of the game.
“Reon knows his time will come,” said PFC gaffer Merriman.
Moore has been lurking and dangerous looking but has yet to score in the first three games.
“It happened so fast and was a bit of a blur,” said Carducci.
“I was happy to make the save but disappointed we gave up that late chance after we had the lion’s share of chances.”
It would have been a sudden reverse of fortune.
“These were two points dropped, in my opinion,” said Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr.
“We doubled them in the number of box entries. We can’t leave it to make a late save when we had more chances than them.”
Added the Calgary club’s gaffer: “They made it tough on us. But it’s on us to be the protagonists [at home]. We relish the games with PFC. We’ve had some cracking games against them [over the years]. It makes for really good stories.”
PFC returns to Starlight Stadium on Wednesday night for its Canadian Championship Voyageurs Cup opener against the TSS Rovers of League1 BC before hosting Marty Nash’s York United in league play on Saturday at Starlight.