Champs Still Have Much On The Line

In theory, when the Spokane Shadow end their league season against the Puget Sound Bigfoot tonight, the soccer game should be no more than a practice game.

In reality, the Shadow are worried.

Despite a huge discrepancy in records, the league champion Shadow struggle against the cellar-dwelling Bigfoot.

Spokane is 13-2 for 39 points in Northwest Division games and 14-3 overall in USISL Premier League contests.

Puget Sound is 4-8 for 10 points in league games, 8-8 overall.

And while the game is meaningless for the Shadow as far as the regular season, it is critical in the big picture. A win tonight at 7 at Albi Stadium would assure the Shadow of home-field advantage as long as the team is alive in the USISL playoffs.

The winner of the Northwest Division tournament at Albi in two weeks plays the survivor of the Southwest in a one-game playoff at the home of the team with the better record. The San Gabriel Valley Highlanders are 9-3.

“The dangerous aspect from Puget Sound is they have so much talent,” Shadow coach Sean Bushey said. “They have so much talent, they’re dangerous as individuals. Early, they weren’t playing as a unit. Now they’re having success as a team.”

The Bigfoot won all their non-league games, including a 2-1 shootout victory over the Central Coast Roadrunners on the road. Central Coast whipped the Shadow 4-0 in Spokane.

Both Spokane and Puget Sound have University of Washington players, who add to the intensity of the games. Spokane’s wins are 2-1 and 2-0 in Bellevue and 2-1 at Albi.

The top four teams in the Northwest Division make the tournament at Albi. Puget Sound has three games remaining after its visit to Spokane, a potential nine points, and trails Bellingham by five points and Cascade by four. The Shadow have done a better job of controlling play against both those teams and would like to help keep the Bigfoot out of the tournament as well as secure the home-field advantage.

Corner kicks

A win would guarantee the Shadow at least a tie for the best Premier League record for the second consecutive season. The Mid Michigan Bucks are 10-2… . Shadow goalkeeper Josh Fouts has a 1.07 goalsagainst average, third among all keepers for the 30 Premier League teams… . Dave Berto is third with seven assists. Combined with his nine goals, Berto has 25 points, tied for eighth in league scoring.

Shadow radio announcer Jay Stewart pointed out Fouts has a 271-1/2-minute shutout streak going, which is just 3-1/2 minutes short of being three complete games… . Four of Spokane’s last six wins have been shutouts, two by Fouts and two by Brian Mullen. … Overall, Spokane has five shutouts… . Stewart said Bushey has used 31 different players this year, including himself and director of operations Jeff Robbins, and 21 have scored or made a save… . Through 17 games last year, Spokane was 14-3, 10-2 in league games. This year, the Shadow are 14-3 and 13-2 in league play. The Shadow close the regular season next weekend in California with two non-league games against Pro League teams.

, DataTimes MEMO: Today’s game Spokane will play Puget Sound at 7 p.m. at Albi Stadium