If Things Work Out, Postseason Beckons Shadow Needs One Win To Reach Playoffs
In June, first-year Spokane Shadow coach Stuart Saunders was scratching his head and searching for answers.
What could he do to inspire his team to play with more fire, more emotion, more heart?
Why was it the Shadow were dominating on the offensive end in many matches but unable to capitalize on their opportunities?
Saunders came to realize that with a new crop of players, the only solution would be time.
Time to work things out, get to know each other, heal injuries.
Things have worked out.
With one win this weekend, the Shadow (10-3-3) will advance to the Premier Development League Western Conference playoffs. Spokane has 49 points and is one point behind first-place Yakima in the PDL’s Northwest Division standings entering the final weekend of the regular season.
The Shadow host the Seattle Sounders Select at 7:05 tonight at Albi Stadium. The Select (10-6-1, 46 points), who have lost six of their last eight after beginning 9-0, still have a slim playoff chance. Spokane plays host to the Abbotsford 86ers on Saturday night.
If Spokane and Yakima finish in a tie for points, the Shadow will win the Northwest Division title based on head-to-head results with the Reds.
The top team from each division of the PDL’s Western Conference - Northwest, Southwest and Rocky Mountain - qualifies for the conference playoffs, as well as the second-place team with the most points. If the Shadow advance, they will be home for matches at Albi on Aug. 5-6.
The Shadow, winners of 10 of their last 12, have defeated the Sounders Select twice by one goal.
“We will continue preparing the way we have been the last few weeks,” Saunders said. “We have had a lot of big must-win games, so this is no different. We will prepare as if we’ve never faced them. Right now, it’s just maintaining instead of doing anything different.”
Shadow forward Zane Higgins, the team’s career scoring leader, has 14 goals this season and nine assists for 37 points. He said the team is confident heading into its final two matches.
Higgins is in his fourth year with the team, so the slow start was especially frustrating for him. The Shadow had three ties early in their schedule, and the league no longer plays off ties.
“It just took time for us to get used to each other and predict how we were going to play and how each other works on the field,” he said. “Once we had that down, it showed the talent level we have on our team that we were able to pull it together. We are pretty much the dominant team right now.”
Notes Shadow goalkeeper Ryan Wittstruck is nursing an ankle injury, so Brian Mullen will start in goal. … Defender Matt Zeiset will return to the Shadow lineup after sitting out with a knee injury and defender J.C. Fernandez could be back from a groin injury.
“We are pretty close to full strength,” Saunders said. “We will try to rest guys off and on who have been injured.” … Forward Jeff Rose and midfielder Alika Cosner have left the team because of other commitments.