Close X
Saturday, October 5, 2024
ADVT 
Sports

Vancouver Whitecaps Enjoying Life On Top, But Taking Nothing For Granted

The Canadian Press, 07 Aug, 2015 01:42 PM
    VANCOUVER — Jordan Harvey remembers the tough times.
     
    Acquired by the Vancouver Whitecaps during their inaugural 2011 campaign in Major League Soccer, the veteran defender was a part of teams that usually had to battle just for a chance at the playoffs. Sometimes the made it, sometimes they didn't.
     
    The route to the post-season doesn't look like it will be a problem in 2015.
     
    The Whitecaps sit atop the Western Conference heading into their home date with Real Salt Lake on Saturday, an unfamiliar position for the club but one Harvey is thoroughly enjoying.
     
    "In the past we'd go on lulls or bad points in the season and we'd try to change things up," said the 31-year-old. "The thing that's happened this year is when we do lose we stay the course. That's been a huge thing for us — consistency and staying the course and really believing."
     
    The players might believe, but Vancouver has made few waves despite a 12-8-3 record. The Whitecaps don't have a superstar or play in a major U.S. market, but remain happy flying under the radar even after last weekend's stunning 3-0 road win over the Seattle Sounders.
     
    "Throughout the years that I've been here we've always been the underdog," Harvey said. "You may not see it in the papers, but we know what we have in this locker-room and that's what's most important."
     
    Vancouver has endured summer struggles in the past, and Harvey said nothing is being taken for granted with just seven points separating first from sixth in the conference.
     
    "We have some really good personalities in here," he said. "I don't think it's an issue at all when you talk about this locker-room."
     
    Salt Lake (7-8-8) enters the weekend in an unfamiliar position of being on the outside looking in for the playoffs. A perennial contender, Real sits three points adrift of a playoff spot, and the Whitecaps can push them 13 back of top spot with a victory on Saturday.
     
    "It's tough to finish off anybody in this conference," said Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted. "There's definitely going to be a big gap if we win it and we're going to try and have that killer instinct."
     
    Salt Lake dealt the Whitecaps' playoff hopes a critical blow in the same fixture back in September 2013, and Vancouver would like nothing more than to return the favour.
     
    "Those are the ones you remember," Harvey said of that 1-0 loss. "You always remember the tough losses and that was one of them. It keeps you grounded, but it keeps you motivated as well."
     
    Vancouver and Salt Lake are both coming off mid-week CONCACAF Champions League matches where the teams took very different approaches. The Whitecaps went with a completely altered starting 11 from the one that defeated the Sounders over the weekend when the teams met up again for a 1-1 draw in Vancouver on Wednesday, while Real played most of its first team in a 1-0 road victory over a Guatemalan opponent.
     
    Ousted said he hopes his team can get on the front foot early on Saturday to see how the visitors deal with pressure after travelling to and from Central America.
     
    "We're going to try and be at it from the very first minute. We were in Seattle. The energy levels were fantastic ... we need to find that balance of going at them, but also being smart. This is a team coming in that can still hurt us."
     
    The Whitecaps worrying about a team sneaking up on them is quite a change from the past, and one they could get used to.

    MORE Sports ARTICLES

    Canucks Reunite Burrows With Sedin Twins On Vancouver's Top Line At Practice

    Canucks Reunite Burrows With Sedin Twins On Vancouver's Top Line At Practice
    VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Canucks reunited Alexandre Burrows with Henrik and Daniel Sedin on their top line at practice Monday.

    Canucks Reunite Burrows With Sedin Twins On Vancouver's Top Line At Practice

    Ryan Miller Makes 29 Saves As Vancouver Canucks Beat Detroit Red Wings 4-1

    Ryan Miller Makes 29 Saves As Vancouver Canucks Beat Detroit Red Wings 4-1
    The veteran goalie made 29 saves — including one point-blank chance off Drew Miller in the first period — as the Vancouver Canucks downed the Detroit Red Wings 4-1.

    Ryan Miller Makes 29 Saves As Vancouver Canucks Beat Detroit Red Wings 4-1

    Up And Down: Vancouver Canucks Looking For More Consistency Moving Forward

    Up And Down: Vancouver Canucks Looking For More Consistency Moving Forward
    The Vancouver Canucks know the one game on, one game off approach isn't going to get them very far. Following a hard-fought 3-1 road win over the San Jose Sharks, the Canucks were badly outplayed in a 3-2 loss to Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, blowing a 2-0 lead in the second period while getting outshot 40-16 on home ice. 

    Up And Down: Vancouver Canucks Looking For More Consistency Moving Forward

    Goals 53 seconds apart lift Kings over Canucks 3-2

    Goals 53 seconds apart lift Kings over Canucks 3-2
    VANCOUVER — Ryan Miller sat alone at his locker-room stall for a long time, pondering two lost points for the Vancouver Canucks.

    Goals 53 seconds apart lift Kings over Canucks 3-2

    Mahendra Singh Dhoni Retires From Test Cricket, Kohli Assumes Reigns

    Mahendra Singh Dhoni Retires From Test Cricket, Kohli Assumes Reigns
    Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni Tuesday sent world cricket into a tizzy by announcing his shock retirement from Tests, making way for Virat Kohli to take charge of arguably the most stressful job in the sport.

    Mahendra Singh Dhoni Retires From Test Cricket, Kohli Assumes Reigns

    WHL Roundup: Levi Cable scores four goals to lead Ice in rout over Hitmen

    WHL Roundup: Levi Cable scores four goals to lead Ice in rout over Hitmen
    CRANBROOK, B.C. — From the opening faceoff, it was all Levi Cable.

    WHL Roundup: Levi Cable scores four goals to lead Ice in rout over Hitmen