Article content continued

FC Edmonton goes into the contest on a three-game unbeaten streak. They tied the first two games of the homestand with a scoreless draw against Valour FC of Winnipeg and 1-1 tie against Forge before defeating the HFX Wanderers of Halifax, N.S., last week.

Pacific is currently sixth out of seven teams in the Fall campaign with just a win and tie from its first five matches. Edmonton has two wins, a loss and two ties through their first five games of the 18-game Fall Competition.

“We’ve been having some good performances and I think we control our destiny a little bit,” Paulus said. “I think we’ve manage to stay with the lead group (in standings). We’re seven points behind Forge for the overall but that’s achievable to catch them, we play them one more time here as well. In the Fall season we’re two points out and that’s achievable. However, nothing but wins at this moment are really acceptable for the group.”

FC Edmonton finished in a tie for third in the 10-game Spring Competition and have played well so far in the second portion of the split-season format.

They had struggled to score, however, until being able to get two in the win against the Wanderers, who were running on fumes on an extended road trip by the time they got to Edmonton.

“I think that we’ve done some good things in the past and not scored goals from it, but I think we’re seeing the enthusiasm of (striker) Easton Ongaro, he’s had a bit of a spark there and he’s just a difficult player to have to deal with, he combines a little bit of everything,” Paulus said. “Things will start to come for (striker) Tomi (Ameobi) as well. I think overall, the whole team is committed to getting forward.”