The Glasgow Rangers drew 5,735 fans to UVic’s Centennial Stadium on Monday evening as the storied Scottish club narrowly defeated the Victoria Highlanders 2-1.
Prior to the start of the match four skydivers landed at centre field with one delivering the game ball. It added theatrics as the parachuters were forced to avoid grumpy ospreys, concerned for the young in their nests, high up in the stadium lights.
Bagpipes then greeted the fans and players before the historic friendly kicked off.
The game featured all the scoring in the first half.
Cam Hundal, who scored the game-winnning goal in the 2011 CIS National Championship for the UVic Vikes at Centennial Stadium, was big again, and scored the Highlanders only goal on his home turf against the Rangers.
Hundal, a left-side attacker, received a simple pass and shrugged off a challenge from Ranger Darren McGregor before tucking the ball inside the near post.
Calum Gallagher and Nicky Clark scored for the visiting Rangers.
The Rangers website reported 10 changes in the starting roster from the team’s friendly in Sacramento last week. It will now travel to Ottawa for Wednesday, the Rangers final North American tour match against Ottawa Fury, also of the PDL.
The Highlanders season comes to and end, having been ousted by the Vancouver Whitecaps U23 side, 7-2 in the July 16 playoff match at Royal Athletic Park.
The women’s Coop Highlanders secured the Pacific Coast Soccer League regular season trophy, and an undefeated 10-0 record, with an 8-0 victory over the Mid Isle Highlanders on July 20 at Hampton Park.
Liz Hansen led with a hat trick of goals. Olivia Swinton, Emily Stenerson, and Mia Gunter each scored their first goals of the season and Kristen Livingstone also scored. Mid Isle was tabbed with an own goal.
The women move on to the PCSL Challenge Cup Tournament the weekend of July 26-27 in Penticton.
Extra time: The 2011 CIS National Championship final at Centennial Stadium drew just 3,023 fans, just over half of Monday’s attendance.
