Pacific FC’s road woes hit a new low Saturday afternoon in Calgary, where they were outclassed in a 4-0 defeat to Cavalry FC at ATCO Field.
The two teams entered the contest neck-and-neck in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) standings, but it was clear from the opening whistle which side had momentum.
Cavalry struck early and never looked back, sending Pacific home without a shot on target and extending their winless streak on the road. They have earned just one point out of a possible 12 during their four road matches.
It was a rough weekend for the Langford-based club, which announced Friday that striker Ronan Kratt and defender Juan Quintana – two key contributors – would be out of the lineup for the remainder of the season due to sustained ACL injuries.
Their absences were felt on both ends of the pitch. Without Kratt’s spark up front, Pacific managed just five attempts toward goal, none of which troubled Cavalry keeper Marco Carducci. On the other end, the defensive shape faltered under pressure; Pacific gave up goals from a corner, two penalties and a free kick – three of which came after halftime.
Cavalry scored first in the seventh minute through Mihail Gherasimencov, who controlled a bouncing ball off a corner kick and smashed a composed half-volley past Sean Melvin. The early tally brought the crowd at ATCO Field to its feet and set the tone for a long afternoon for the visitors.
WHAT A MISSILE BY MIHAIL 🚀 pic.twitter.com/MZ37XhVO0M
— Cavalry FC (@CPLCavalryFC) May 17, 2025
The Tridents struggled to respond. Though they found some rhythm in possession during the first half, they lacked the cutting edge in the final third and couldn't break through Cavalry’s compact shape.
The second half brought more misery for the visitors. Tobias Warschewski doubled the lead in the 61st minute with a calm finish from the penalty spot, followed by another successful spot kick from Ali Musse in the 69th. Musse, named man of the match, added his third of the CPL season with the effort.
A stoppage-time free kick goal from Nicolas Wahling capped off the scoring.
NICOLAS MAKES IT FOUR AT THE FINAL WHISTLE! 😤pic.twitter.com/EI0bmIUleH
— Cavalry FC (@CPLCavalryFC) May 17, 2025
The loss adds to an already worrying trend for Pacific, who now lead the CPL in goals conceded with 14, and sit near the bottom in goals scored, with just seven. The team’s lack of finishing and defensive breakdowns continue to hamper any momentum gained from their early home performances.
Head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. of Cavalry noted post-match that his squad is beginning to find its form.
“We're getting there. It's a process; sometimes we're a bit slow out of the gates, but good things are starting to happen," Wheeldon said. "It was all about just finding rhythm, and it's nice to do that at home in front of our fans. A lot of goals to celebrate, but also a shutout.”
For Pacific, Saturday’s result leaves more questions than answers. With the season entering the quarter-mark, they’ll look to regroup quickly and find consistency – especially away from the comforts of Starlight Stadium.
Their next opportunity comes on home turf, Saturday, May 24, when they host Forge FC. The Hamilton-based club has won four of the CPL’s six titles and will provide another tough test for a Pacific squad eager to bounce back in front of its home supporters.
