A hungry Pacific FC seeks to improve its 2023 top-five finish as it prepares for the 2024 season at Starlight Stadium on April 13.
“We haven’t won the tournament yet,” Pacific FC head coach James Merriman said during a pre-match conference on Friday (April 12).
He said the team was on track to be in the top two for the 2023 Canadian Premier League, but failed to qualify for the finals after losing 2-1 to Cavalry FC.
“We dipped in the summer months.”
Pacific FC will host Halifax Wanderers at Starlight Stadium on Saturday and play the season’s first four of five games in front of their home fans.
The team will host Valour FC from Winnipeg on April 19 and then be away to face Cavalry FC on April 28. They will return home to face York United on May 4 and Forge FC on May 11.
“The fans have been a great 12th man for us,” Pacific FC captain Josh Heard said.
Heard said that the team has to make Starlight Stadium a fortress, and the unique home-field location on Vancouver Island can make it difficult for opposing teams to travel to.
Merriman said the team had a busy off-season, adding new players and difference-makers to crucial positions.
The club signed under-20 national team left-back Christian Greco-Taylor, Trinidad & Tobago international striker Reon Moore, French defender Aly Ndom, Romanian attacker Andrei Tircoveanu, Vancouver Island-born goalkeeper Sean Melvin and former Scottish League One attacker Dario Zanatta.
“We have added a lot of quality,” said Merriman.
There were no injuries were reported heading into the game against the Wanderers Saturday, but fullback Kunle Dada-Luke will be unavailable due to suspension.
The full schedule for Pacific FC can be found at: https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/schedule
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