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In many ways, the Chicago team the hosts face on Saturday at Foothills Composite High School is reminiscent of the 2016 Foothills squad.

The Chicago team is entering the game coming off a major upset, having knocked off the undefeated Des Moines Menace in the last round of the playoffs to earn the PDL’s Central Conference championship.

Foothills, meanwhile, is riding a nine-game winning streak and hasn’t conceded a goal in over 535 minutes of play. Last weekend, it was crowned the PDL’s Western Conference champion after beating FC Tucson 2-0 with a dominant performance.

The club – in only its fourth year – has established itself as one of the elite teams in the PDL.

“We’ve been here before, and what we’re trying to do is create a culture of excellence,” Wheeldon said. “There’s a great spine of guys who have been here since Day 1 — some additions from 2016 onwards, a couple more in 2017, and some additions this season.

“What we’ve tried to do is set standards.”

A win Saturday would set Foothills up to have a chance at going one step further than 2016 and finish the season with the PDL championship.

That would be particularly poetic this year. Next season will see the launch of Calgary’s Cavalry FC, the new professional team that will play in the inaugural season of the Canadian Premier League.

Wheeldon will be coaching that team, and there are sure to be several players from this Foothills squad who join him at Cavalry FC.

While the Foothills team will continue playing in the PDL going forward, this is likely the last kick at that particular can with the core group of players which has been wearing the green and white Foothills jersey for these past couple of years.

“Personally, for me, it’s a bit of a swansong,” Wheeldon said. “What’s going to be pleasing is there’s a core group of players here who are going to come along with me.”

daustin@postmedia.com

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