It seems almost unfair that Ottawa Fury FC has to deal with a lengthy layoff between seasons after a shortened spring campaign.

With only nine games in the spring season before the North American Soccer League stopped play during the World Cup, Fury FC seemed to be hitting its stride.

Not withstanding the season-closing loss to the Cosmos in New York, Ottawa seemed to have fixed many of those typical expansion team kinks as the season's end drew near.

A dominant, 1-0 blanking of FC Edmonton the week before was perhaps the best example of players fully committing to the possession-oriented attacking style brought in by head coach Marc Dos Santos.

The Fury players had a week off to rest and recover and have since resumed training, moving to the pitch at Algonquin College from Carleton University -- the latter featuring a pitch that was the subject of numerous complaints by players and coaches.

There are inter-squad games planned to keep the players from going too long without a match, but this isn't training camp and the coaches will expect the intensity in training to remain consistent, even with with weeks left before Fury FC opens its fall season in Edmonton July 13.

"The first week usually takes care of itself because everyone is excited to get back," said defender Mason Trafford, who played every minute of the spring season.

There's plenty on the horizon to keep the players motivated, said Trafford, including the start of training on the brand new pitch at the brand new TD Place and opening the season at home against the Cosmos.

But before then, Trafford and his teammates know there is plenty of work to be done to reach the squad's ultimate goal for this year.

"Our goal for sure is to be top-4," he said. "We want to be in the playoffs. We don't care if we're expansion or whatever, we're going for top spot.

"That's kind of what's motivating us right now, just using these four weeks to really get our game on track again and just come out of the gates flying.

That isn't a stretch nor is it wishful thinking.

From the beginning players and coaches stressed they wouldn't play like an expansion club and wouldn't settle for mediocrity.

The Fury finished just four points -- or a win and a draw -- out of fourth spot on the NASL table.

Anything less at the end of the fall season will be considered a disappointment.

STILL STINGING

Trafford pointed out the unfortunate similarity between the United States letting a win slip away in the final seconds against Portugal in World Cup action Sunday and some of Fury FC's own misfortune this season.

Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo picked a good time to show up in the tournament, delivery an incredible cross that was headed in by Silvestre Varela in fifth minute of second half stoppage time to draw the States 2-2.

Twice during the spring season, Fury FC was scored on in the dying seconds of the match, sending the squad off the pitch in disbelief. It was a similar scene in Brazil Sunday.

"I was pretty devastated," said Trafford, who was born in the USA but grew up in Canada. "It felt like one of those Ottawa Fury games when you thought it was over and then in the last second they score."

MESSOUDI BACK TO MTL

Midfielder Zakaria Messoudi has returned to MLS side Montreal Impact after his spring season loan agreement with Fury FC wasn't extended. While Messoudi, 20, got some valuable training experience with the squad, he didn't play in any matches for Ottawa and it seemed unlikely he would be back in a Fury uniform.

Meanwhile, Toronto FC defender Ryan Richter continues to train with Fury FC, though the team had no news Monday on the status of the still-to-finalized loan agreement that officially bring Richter to Ottawa, at least for the fall season.

Assuming Richter is loaned to Ottawa, it wouldn't be surprising if Dos Santos makes another move or two during the transfer window to further bolster his squad.

SIDELINES

The turf at Algonquin was getting two thumbs up from everyone Monday. Mind you, playing on gravel might have been a step up from the playing surface at Carleton University. The turf there was so hard that players were all smiled when it rained because it softened up the ground ... "I think the whole setup here is better," said technical director Philip Dos Santos, who was running practice Monday in the absence of his head coach brother and assistant Martin Nash ... Heinemann, who returned to the Fury lineup against Edmonton after sitting out all season with an injured ankle, was named the NASL's Player of the Week for the final week of the spring season ... A number of players are nursing bumps and bruises but with so much time remaining until the next match, there's no concern about the injuries at this point. "