VANCOUVER, B.C – In a season of debuts, Vancouver Whitecaps FC will turn to goalkeeper Thomas Hasal when they take on expansion side, Austin FC on Saturday at B.C. Place. It’s going to be a special afternoon for Hasal who will be making his first career MLS start at B.C. Place in front of home fans.
The Saskatchewan native will be filling in for Max Crepeau who is away with the Canadian senior national team.
“I played vs Toronto and Montreal last year, but with no fans,” Hasal revealed to Har Journalist. “It’s always been a dream to play in B.C. Place. Now playing with fans is something I’ve looked up to since before I was even in the academy. I was coming to games as a fan from Saskatchewan. Anytime we were here, we would come. It’s been something I’ve been looking forward to.”
The 22 year-old won’t have his parents in attendance on Saturday. His mom is on call as a pediatric neurologist. They are both expected to be at B.C. Place when Vancouver hosts the Portland Timbers on Friday, September 10.
As Vancouver looks to climb into a playoff spot, they will have to depend on Hasal to keep the franchise MLS unbeaten streak going. Hasal was in net when the 4-0-5 streak started on July 17 vs LA Galaxy.
When asked about the impressive run of form Whitecaps FC have been on in MLS play, Hasal chose to look forward and focus on the task at hand.
“Yeah it’s fantastic for the club,” Hasal said. “To be quite honest, as players on the team we’re not thinking about it too much. I haven’t thought about it at all, until now. I’m just looking at coming in for another game and hoping to get the three points.”
In five matches this season, Hasal has a record of 1-1-3 and he’s unbeaten in his last four starts. Even though Hasal has spent the season in a backup role, he still has strong belief in his abilities when he does get the call.
“My confidence comes from playing the sport my whole life,” Hasal explained. “It’s something I’ve done for the past sixteen years of my life, stepping on a pitch, playing the games. It’s nothing new, it’s the same thing I’ve been doing this whole time. It also comes from training and the guys in front of me who fill me with a lot of confidence.”
Whitecaps FC full-back Jake Nerwinski will not be playing alongside Hasal on Saturday.
The Lawrenceville, New Jersey native, is working his way back from a grade 1 MCL sprain. Nerwinski suffered the injury in the first 15′ minutes of action against Pacific FC on August 26. It wasn’t until after the match when his knee started to get “really sore.” An MRI later confirmed the extent of the injury.
Nerwinski could be back training next week.
The second longest tenured first team Whitecap, isn’t worried about Hasal stepping in for Crepeau.
“I think everybody on this team has a lot of confidence in him,” Nerwinski said. “We’ve seen him grow throughout the years. He’s a physical specimen when you look at him. He’s very athletic, serious about his game. I think nothing really changes, we’re comfortable with him in net.”
While goalkeepers can sometimes be a full of emotions and quirks. Hasal isn’t known for being loud. He does his talking on the pitch and doesn’t say a lot. That’s why it was quite a shock to hear the well mannered Canadian drop an F bomb during a media scrum this week.
“He’s kind of the same off the pitch as on,” Nerwinski explained. “He’s a quiet guy and kind of keeps to himself. A very nice Canadian boy from Sask. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him say the F word in the five years that I’ve known him.”
Caps striker Brian White enters the match riding a three match MLS goal scoring streak. White continues to show that he his hungry for goals. His streak started against Austin FC, when Vancouver travelled to the “Lone Star State” on August 18 and came away with a 2-1 win.
White will be looking to continue filling the net. At the other end, he has been impressed by how Hasal has carried himself and stepped into the starters net while Crepeau is away.
“Thomas is a young goalie and he’s been great for us,” White told reporters. “When he came in replacing Max, you can see in training he’s got great quality. We have his back and we’re confident he’s going to get the job done on the weekend.”
Vancouver has a 6-7-8 record and currently sit one point out of the 7th and final playoff spot in the western conference. Struggling Austin FC have a 5-12-4 record and are tied for last place in the west.
Austin FC have scored a league low 20 goals this season.
The points are there to be taken as Vancouver looks to Hasal the opposition.
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