Cavalry FC is poised to battle for the North Star Cup again this fall.
The Canadian Premier League club is one point away from clinching a spot in the five-team playoff with a 2-0 road victory over York United on Sept. 20 followed by a pair of favourable results on the out of town scoreboard.
“It’s been a really weird season for the amount of injuries that we’ve had and the circumstances that have presented,” said Cavalry FC head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. “But we’re still in the conversation.
“I think what we have is a mentality of refusing to lose, hence the draws when we were weakened. Find a way to win, that’s what we challenged.”
The Cavalry gaffer called it a professional performance on the road from the team on the heels of a strong home game that ended in a 2-2 draw with Ottawa due to a couple of defensive miscues.
On Friday, Ali Musse continued his terrific form with a 20th minute tally and Sergio Camargo added the insurance marker in the second half with a brilliant chip shot over York goalkeeper Thomas Vincensini from well out of the box in the 60th minute.
“We come here, and we know it’s going to be a hard game,” said Cavalry FC right back Michael Harms. “And it’s a big game for us in the season with how the table is and not many games left so coming here and getting three points is all we can ask for.”
Harms, an 18-year-old Calgarian, helped Cavalry keep the high-octane York off the scoreboard in his first start of the season. Marco Carducci earned his seventh clean of the season.
“I had to adapt a little bit,” Harms added. “The game changed from first half to second half so I just tried to do my role as best as possible, first half I was trying to get forward a little more and second half we really had to fight and defend.
“These big games are the ones I want to play in, it’s the best feeling and the reason why we all play.”
Forge FC, who top the table with 44 points and Atlético Ottawa have locked down playoff spots. Cavalry, with 38 points, is one away from booking its postseason ticket with the final three berths still up for grabs.
York is poised to claim the fourth spot with 36 points while just three points separate fifth from eighth in the standings. The CPL Playoffs kick-off in late October.
In addition, to playoff positioning the CPL Shield, which goes to the top team in the regular season, is still up for grabs
“I think it’s a great race,” added Wheeldon Jr. “You’ve got the top four that are trying to play against eachother to fight for the shield, you’ve got the bottom four trying to fight for the fifth spot in playoffs.
“I think that’s what a league of parity brings.”
Cavalry FC returns to Spruce Meadows’ ATCO Field for its second last home match on Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. versus Vancouver FC in what is the club’s annual Pinkout! Match, presented by Mayfair Diagnostics, in support of cancer awareness.
The initiative hits close to home for Cavalry FC as Carducci has been an ambassador for getting checked after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2022.
The Cavs will be making a donation to Wellspring Alberta to support the cause and fans are encouraged to wear pink to the match.
For more information, go to cavsfc.com.
Editor's Note...A previous version of the story stated Cavalry FC had clinched its playoff spot. An update from the CPL on Sunday apologized for putting out that information, correcting the record that one more point was needed to sort out the potential tiebreakers.
