Home field advantage is huge for Cavalry FC, the host of the Canadian Championship

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A wave is pouring in from the West Coast to play Cavalry FC.

It's been three games and the Islanders and Vancouverites have been trying to hit ATCO Field…with little success at all.

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Want to try the next wave?

It's the mighty Vancouver Whitecaps of Major League Soccer, hailing from the country's left coast, for the second round of Canadian Championship Soccer 2024.

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“Another exciting opportunity for the club,” Cavaliers superstar midfielder Sergio Camargo said ahead of Tuesday's game at ATCO Field (7 p.m., OneSoccer, OneSoccer.ca). “Every time we have an opportunity to face MLS competition, it's another opportunity for us to see where we are and what lessons we've learned from the past.”

Indeed, it's a big deal, as it's the second Voyageurs Cup two-legged series for the Cavaliers in just a few months against an MLS team and a Canadian big-name team.

But unlike the Cavaliers' 6-1 loss to Orlando City in the CONCACAF Champions Cup at the end of February, this home game of the round is scheduled for ATCO Field, not Starlight Stadium on Vancouver Island.

Home sweet home, that is.

“Yeah … it's definitely different because we played our home game away and there was no advantage against Orlando,” Wheeldon said. “We have an advantage here. This is our field. We are on the grass.

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“It's not even midseason yet. But we know the breakthroughs are there, and we're going to play for it.”

That was evident in Friday night's 3-1 win over Vancouver FC in the Canadian Premier League.

The scoreline delighted the visitors from VanCity as the hosts dominated at home – just in time for this massive Cup tie.

“It's about what we learned from Orlando and the preseason in Mexico when the teams played a little bit faster than the regular CPL teams,” Camargo said. “Can we adjust to that speed and intensity and make the decisions we need to move forward and win the game?”

“If we have another chance in Orlando, obviously we want to do well,” continued Cavs teammate Frazier Aird. “But it was a great experience for the club – to be in the Champions Cup for the first time. And we can only learn from it. Five games into our season, I think we're in a better position than we were in February.”

Evidence of that has been the dominance of Vancouver FC in their last three games of a busy 11-day home stretch – a goalless draw with rivals Pacific FC and a 1-0 draw with Vancouver FC – despite playing with 10 men. for the last 40 minutes.

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“We had a good game against Pacific – I thought we should have won that game (zero-zero),” Wheeldon said. “But we played well against Vancouver FC (Friday).”

“We had a real West Coast flavor and played well,” Cavalry president Ian Ellison said. “So we hope to continue the current situation in the right direction because we have a good club and a good process.”

They could also get help from a good – actually bad – patch of weather for Tuesday's tilt.

“We talked about snow and rain and cold weather here the other day,” Allison said of the rain and cold temperatures in the game-time forecast. “We want them to get out of their comfort zone. They're used to playing at BC Place and all that stuff.

“Should be a little wet here Tuesday night, we're farmers so we don't mind the wet.”

Of course, the first trip of these four teams to the West Coast saw the Cavs beat Vancouver FC to earn their spot in Round 2 against the Whitecaps.

“We're in a good spot,” said Wheeldon, whose team has a 1W-2D-1L record in league play, is 2-2-3 all-time and is undefeated in its last three games. “I think we have to deal with playing an established club like the Whitecaps who are in good form now.

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“The White Caps are playing well.”

Indeed, they lost just two games in 10 MLS tilts to finish with a 5-2-3 record.

But like Cavaliera, they exited the Concacaf Champions Cup early, losing 4-1 to Mexican giants Tigres UANL in the first round of a two-legged tie.

However, unlike the Cavaliers, they were fortunate enough to play one of those games in the familiar confines of BC Place.

So the Cavs are hoping to turn the tide with these two players with a home court edge.

“We're hoping to use that advantage to give us some momentum and get west to Vancouver (on May 21),” Camargo said. “While we've turned Orlando games from negative to positive, it's never the same as playing at ATCO Field. We had some traveling fans who were great in BC, they even went to Orlando, which was huge. But it's not like having the home fans at ATCO Field pushing us forward with every touch, every good move and every good dribble.”

“Our fans have been amazing,” Wheeldon added. “Packing the house more and painting the town red is really important for us here because they act like the 12th man. I think when you play against a club like the Whitecaps, you have to make sure you have every advantage.”

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FREE FINDINGS

Cavalry superstar and striker Ali Moussa is doubtful to play against the White Caps after twisting his ankle early in Friday's win over … Teammate Tom Field (leg) injured in the win over Vancouver FC, as well as … Cavalry defender Eric Co. Kobza (nerve strain), midfielder Jesse Daly (leg) ready to go … Calgary's CPL club on Monday revealed its Alberta League 1 men's team roster, which includes goalkeeper Joseph Holliday. Cavalry FC U21s open against Edmonton Scottish League 1 at the Calgary West Soccer Center on Friday night (5 p.m.). Men's league action Tuesday Calgary Foothills FC host Calgary Callies United at the Macron Performance Center (8 p.m.) … League 1 Alberta women's action also begins Tuesday night as Calgary Foothills host Calgary Callies United, also at the Macron Performance Center. (17:30).

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