Matthew Lacy is the Victory Lookout – providing inside coverage of Vancouver Washington’s own soccer club. Watch for his columns on your #HometownSoccer club as they stay #ShipShape for the people of Clark County and beyond!

By Matthew Lacy

VANCOUVER, WA— The Evergreen Premier League kicks off this weekend across Washington State as our Vancouver Victory host Yakima United FC (The “Hoppers”) at Hampton Inn Championship Field in the Harmony Sports Complex.  Kick off is at 4pm. These two teams are just getting to know their 2018 season selves, making this clash uniquely interesting. Here is what has me on the lookout.

Promotion Action. The first 40 fans in attendance will receive Muchas Gracias bumper stickers and all can remain to watch the Washington Timbers FC Women vs. Yakima United FC Women game for free.  These nice benefits should fan the flames of an already heated contest. I will be on the lookout to see if they make a difference.

The Victory Attack.  “I want to press, press, press,” stated Head Coach Logan Emory during the preseason and I am looking forward to how this dynamic philosophy plays out this opening weekend.  Emory is, “cautiously optimistic” and is looking to be, “firing on all cylinders.” He went on to say that, “We need to be operating at full speed.” These are strong statements.  I will be watching for that and hoping for a bold front line and wings flying in like jet fighters on a sunny day.

The Victory Core.  Every good EPLWA team has a core group of players that create a solid base of skill and familiarity upon which an entire game (and season) can swing with deadly grace and efficiency.  Who will emerge as that core? We have a handful of players from Warner Pacific University. Could it be them? Most of the team are local players who have played with and against each other in local schools and clubs for years.  Could it be a combination of them? We’ll see.

Hector Valdovinos has been an annual scoring threat up front for Yakima United.

The Victory Readiness.  This pre-season was short; two games and a handful of weeks to practice.  Coach Emory is looking to see which of his players are ready to hit Hampton Inns Championship Field, “committed and bought in.”  I am looking out for those who will emerge when, as Coach Emory stated, “it is time to buckle down and make things happen on either side of the ball.”

The Clashing Coaching Philosophy.  For Yakima United FC, Hector Vega has been the head coach of the Hoppers since the club’s inception in 2010, but he stepped down after the 2017 season, clearing the way for Dennis Stevenson.  New Head Coach Stevenson seems to have a similar attacking philosophy as our gaffer and seeing these two colliding styles will be interesting.  I will be on the lookout for which shape is going to hold up best.

Dennis Stevenson is familiar on the pitch for his years on defense with the Hoppers. Now he’s the man in charge as YUFC Head Coach.

The Action Off the Pitch.  This is V2FC’s first official game of the 2018 season and the stands should be rocking the high seas of Vancouver.  I will be watching the numbers. I also hear the Vangard, a Victory supporter’s group, is looking to make a raucous return after taking a few years hiatus.  The south end of the field may be a little smokey.

It is going to be an exciting match, Sea of Blue.  I’ll see you at Hampton Inns Championship Field in the Harmony Sports Complex at 4pm this Saturday to watch our Vancouver Victory FC take on Yakima United.  Tickets are $6 at the door, kids 12 and under are free. Two season passes can purchased online for $50: https://www.vancouvervictoryfc.com/tickets/

Time to rally behind the Victory as another season kicks off at Harmony.