The Halifax Wanderers celebrate Labour Day Monday by hosting league leaders Cavalry FC at the Wanderers Grounds for the first time this season.
It begins a now-or-never three-match homestand for Halifax as they make one final push for a playoff position. Currently seven points out with just eight matches remaining after blowing three seperate leads in a disheartening 4-3 loss on Vancouver Island to Pacific last Sunday, time is running out.
Historically, however, this homestand comes at a great time for Halifax, who have a solid 10-4-3 all-time record during matches at the Wanderers Grounds in September.
That usually begins with a strong result on Labour Day, during which they host an annual match at the Wanderers Grounds. Halifax have lost just once on the holiday and were victorious the past two seasons, including an emphatic 4-0 win over Inter Toronto last year.
One club that has never been fazed by a trip to the Grounds, however, is Cavalry FC. They have lost just twice in 11 trips to Halifax, the fewest of any CPL opponent (with the exception, of course, of FC Supra, who have visited just once).
Cavalry come into the match undefeated in six straight, following a 1-0 victory at ATCO Field last weekend over Vancouver FC. They are unbeaten in their past eight against the Wanderers, including a 2-0 win and 1-1 draw in Calgary earlier this season.
Five of Cavalry's past six matches, however, came at home, so if they want to take home the CPL Shield, their road form will be critical. Five of their final nine matches of the season are on the road, including two trips to Halifax.
So far this season, Cavalry have been incredibly stingy away from home, conceding just five times in nine road matches -- on pace for the fewest road goals allowed in CPL history in a season.
A big part of that has been 21-year-old Adam Pearlman, who returns to the Wanderers Grounds on Monday after playing 26 matches for Halifax last season. Excellent last season with the Wanderers, he has taken another big leap this season in Calgary and has been one of Cavalry FC's most consistent players.
Will Cavalry continue to lead the league coming out of Labour Day weekend, or can the Wanderers celebrate it with a massive victory?