Shadow try to avoid letdown as foes visit

Step one: Qualify for Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Check.

Step two: Maintain energy and focus before actually playing in U.S. Open Cup.

That could be considerably more difficult.

With all the energy spent qualifying, it would be easy for the Spokane Shadow soccer team to take its foot off the gas this weekend when Yakima and Abbotsford visit Joe Albi Stadium tonight and Saturday, respectively.

Both games kick off at 7 p.m.

“There’s always a possibility (of a letdown),” head coach Stuart Saunders said early this week. “Because there’s the importance of all qualifiers being league games, we had to do well to get a result and move on. But now we need to separate ourselves in the Northwest Division and keep that gap open.”

That gap could grow considerably after this weekend. The Shadow, undefeated so far at 4-0, sit atop the Northwest Divison with 12 points. Abbotsford is third at 1-3 (three points), and Yakima is 0-4.

The last thing Spokane wants to do is give either team the faintest glimmer of hope by looking ahead to the Open Cup matchup against the Sacramento Knights next Wednesday.

“We’ll talk about that before we get to that point,” Saunders said. “It’s just like any other game, the next one is the most important. The one after doesn’t matter until we get there.

“Obviously, we have a chance to separate ourselves more from Yakima and Abbotsford this weekend and we need to take that to heart.”

Tonight’s game will mark the beginning of a difficult stretch where the Shadow will play five games in a 10-day span.

It’s a run that could seriously test Spokane’s depth, though that depth will get a lift as midfielder John Palladino, who was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in last Friday’s 3-2 win in Yakima, should be able to return to the lineup after serving the requisite one-game suspension against Cascade last Saturday.

Garth Cummings, who saw a straight red against Yakima, will likely remain suspended for tonight and Saturday’s game, but should be ready for the Open Cup encounter.

“We just want to put our best foot forward and have the best guys available and play them and continue on,” Saunders said.

Johnson earns weekly honor

Spokane midfielder Paul Johnson was named to the Premier Development League’s team of the week Thursday.

Johnson scored twice in the 3-1 win over Cascade that helped the Shadow qualify for the Open Cup. Johnson has three goals on the year and is fourth on the all-time Shadow list.