Shadow Forward Plans First Appearance Higgins Ready For Season Debut After Missing First Two Outings

All that Spokane Shadow forward Zane Higgins knows about the team’s first two matches is what he heard on the radio and read in the newspaper.

And maybe a few highlights from his teammates during practice this week.

The fourth-year player missed the season-opener May 5 against the Cascade Surge in Salem, Ore., because he was coaching the Medical Lake boys soccer team in the playoffs Saturday.

Higgins had every intention of making it to Sunday’s match with the Seattle Sounders Select in Seattle, but his truck broke down near Vantage at 11:30 a.m.

He waited three hours at a rest stop for a friend to pick him up, then waited for a tow truck. He got home at 7:30 p.m.

“It was a long day of doing nothing,” Higgins said. “I was very disappointed I couldn’t make that game.”

The truck is running fine now, and Higgins plans to be on time tonight at Albi Stadium for the Shadow’s 7:05 home opener against the defending Northwest Division champion Willamette Valley Firebirds. This is the third of four U.S. Open Cup qualifying matches.

The Shadow (1-0-1) defeated Willamette in the semifinals of the United Soccer League’s Premier League national championship at Albi last August. The Firebirds played at Yakima on Friday night.

“I definitely want to get on the field,” said Higgins, the Shadow’s career assists and points leader who needs six goals this season to break Dave Berto’s record of 30 and become the team’s all-time leading scorer. “We haven’t been able to scrimmage too much, so I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how I do.”

The Shadow has 12 new players, including five under-19 development players from Spokane-area high schools.

“We should be just as strong,” Higgins said. “The whole atmosphere around the team is very professional. They try to get in the best players they can every year. I think the Spokane team will be strong no matter what happens.”

First-year coach Stuart Saunders said his team struggled to finish shots in its 2-2 tie with the Surge but responded well Sunday in a 3-2 win over the Sounders Select.

Saunders never knows who will show up at practices. High school players from Mead and Ferris are still involved with playoffs. Some college players have had finals recently.

“We haven’t been playing together so we were throwing guys on the field and saying `OK, play together,”’ Saunders said. “We’re trying to get used to each other. Training will help us in the long run.”

Defenders Brett Houck (foot) and Matt Pritchard (ankle) both suffered injuries last weekend but Saunders expects them to be ready to play today.