Veteran Nik Ledgerwood Guiding FC Edmonton In Return To Postseason
Photo credit: Tony Lewis/FC Edmonton
In November, four teams will enter the NASL postseason and compete for the Soccer Bowl trophy. Winning two more games, once the tournament begins, means being crowned champions for 2016 and the significance isn’t lost on Nik Ledgerwood, the Canadian international who is enjoying a strong spell in his first NASL season.
“We’ll take it one step at a time and the good thing is that it’s a one-game knockout – you win and you go through,” he told NASL.com. “There’s two games to win the championship and if you do, you got it. We definitely have a very good chance to surprise a lot of people.
“To have a Canadian team win this championship would be one of the highlights of my career.”
Ledgerwood, who grew up in Lethbridge, Alberta, returned to Canada in part to be a veteran presence in the locker room, but to also help grow the game further in his home country after a lengthy career in Europe.
“I’m an Alberta kid so it’s nice to promote the team and soccer here close to my hometown and help move it towards the right direction soccer should be in Alberta and in Canada – every little success helps,” he said.
“It’s huge for a Canadian team and players playing for Canada. It shows that the level is high and that we have Canadian players playing for the championship.”
FC Edmonton faces a stern test in The Championship Semifinals, needing to defeat Indy Eleven at Carroll Stadium on Nov. 5 to advance. No team was able to beat the Boys in Blue at home during the 2016 regular season.
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“Indy has been a team that we actually matched up really well against, even playing there,” Ledgerwood said. “I thought we played some of our better games when we were in Indy but came out on the wrong end on the scoresheet. Everyone is confident going there and we’re going to do what we can to get the job done.”
Heading into what will be a hostile environment created by the Brickyard Battalion and Slaughterhouse-19, Ledgerwood, 31, will use his vast experience at club and international level to be a guiding force for several young Eddies.
“It’s getting everybody in the right headspace so they can play their game,” he said. “The biggest thing is getting them to enjoy it and getting them to play the way they can. I definitely try to help the younger players wherever they need it or want it. Shamit Shome and Ben Fisk are two young players with great careers ahead of them.”
Over the course of 2016, the Eddies have shown a rugged defense and strong organization, coupled with counterattacking ability. The Eddies have conceded just 20 goals in 31 games (the club wraps up the Fall Season against Miami on Friday night). If FC Edmonton can replicate that success in the postseason, Ledgerwood believes the chances of the Eddies pushing to The Championship Final is within their reach.
“It’s about sticking to what we’ve done all year,” he said. “We’re hardworking defensively and we will create our chances. It’s sticking together defensively and being tough to break down. If we do that and stick to our game plan like we’ve been doing – be patient and do the right things – I think will get the right result and surprise people in Indy.”
