Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Optimum weather conditions and a fourty minute travel delay with the late arriving Kamloops Heat did not dispell the 500 supporters who came out to see the new Highlanders FC in their Pacific Coast Soccer League debut at Royal Athletic Park. The locals came back from a one goal deficit late in the second half to draw the visitors 2:2.
Never daunted, the locals kept pushing forward. Mackenzie Cole, a U18 player in the former Highlanders youth program made his mark as a second half subsitution. He sent six year Highlander veteran, Adam Ravenhill free on a diagonal through ball to the grandstand touchline. Ravenhill, sent a cross into the penalty area that was effortlessly settled by striker Derek deGroot between two Kamloops defenders and he buried it from six yards away in the 80th minute.
Highlander FC Head Coach, David Dew knows he has a little work ahead. “We took risks in areas where we shouldn’t and it cost us a couple of goals. We need to address that”, he said. “Despite that, I’m really pleased we were able to comeback and tie the game”.