rounds. All of them were aware of the issues that plagued that

VANCOUVER -- By ending a scoring drought and managing to win their first game in a month the Vancouver Whitecaps hope they have planted a seed that will bloom into a Major League Soccer playoff berth. The Whitecaps head into their game Saturday against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium believing they have cleared a hurdle in their race to reach the playoffs for the second time in three years. You can catch all the action starting at 8:30pm et/5:30pm pt on TSN2. "I continue to stick to my belief in the way the game should be played and they (the players) continue to stick to their belief within the system," said Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson. Vancouvers 2-0 win over the San Jose Earthquake Wednesday leapfrogged the Whitecaps past the Portland Timbers into the fifth and final playoff spot in the MLS Western Conference. The Caps have an 8-6-13 record for 37 points -- two more than Portland. Dallas sits fourth in the West with 42 points (12-9-6). After riding a 10-game unbeaten streak Dallas has lost its last two matches, both on the road. They were beaten 2-1 Sunday by Real Salt Lake. "Its been tough the last two weeks, road trips getting no points, but thats the league," head coach Oscar Pareja told the Dallas FC website. "The league is tough like that and Im proud of this team. "Theyve done an excellent job so far and they control their own destiny. The boys have done so many good things this year and maybe these last two results cant bring us down. We need to keep pushing. We know where we are, we know where we want to be at and we will be fine." The Whitecaps are feeling good about ending a 450-minute scoring drought that saw the team go four games without a goal. Prior to the San Jose game Vancouver had just two wins in 11 matches. Robinson said the victory makes the flight to Dallas a little more relaxing. "It was very important for us," he said. "It gives us a little bit of confidence. It gives us a good standing going into a very difficult place. "We are chasing them, so it can drag us a little closer to them if we can get a win there." Goalkeeper David Ousted, who leads MLS with nine shutouts, said the victory was important but the team has to focus on the future. "It was nice to get the goals, and you saw how happy the guys were and the fans, but its back to work now," said Ousted, who has played every MLS game for Vancouver this season. "We need to go to Dallas and still have a strong performance, get goals and points." The Dallas match will be Vancouvers third game in eight days. The Whitecaps tied D.C. United 0-0 at home last Saturday. Veteran defender Any OBrien said winning helps fight fatigue. "When youre winning games you want games to come thick and fast," he said. "When things arent going so well youre anticipating the next game. "Its nice to go into the next game with a good result at home. You know weve been waiting for solid goals to come." The tight race in the West means the Whitecaps cant afford any slips. Only seven points separate seventh place Colorado from Vancouver. All three teams have seven games remaining. Portland plays in Colorado Saturday. Dallas hasnt been a friendly place for the Whitecaps. Since entering MLS in 2011 Vancouver is 0-0-4 in Dallas and has been outscored 8-1. The Whitecaps, who are 2-3-8 on the road this year, settled for a 2-2 draw with Dallas in Vancouver on July 27. Heading down the stretch the Whitecaps play in Portland Sept. 20 and end their season at home Oct. 25 against Colorado. Vancouver also has another game against Dallas and play league-leading Seattle on the road. The fifth-place finisher in each conference plays the fourth-place team in a winner-take-all match. The winner of that game then faces the conferences top seed in the semifinals. Robinson doesnt want to predict how many wins his team will need to clinch a playoff berth. "I just want to be above that red line," said the first-year coach. "Thats all we have to aim for. "If I knew a points total I would be able to tell you. It could be high, it could be low. It could be two wins, it could be five wins, it could be seven wins. Every week it seems to change, every result it seems to change." The Whitecaps need to focus on what they can control, Robinson said. "All Ive said all along is take care of your business. Thats all we can control. "We cant control what Colorado, what San Jose, what Portland does unless we are playing them. We have control of ourselves. Saturday is another one that is in our hands." Elvis Andrus Jersey . -- Dee Ford prefers to keep things simple: Play hard and fast, and let others worry about his NFL draft stock. Ryan Rua Jersey . Specifically, thumbs up to the Canadian-based teams in the NHL, or at least most of them. http://www.cheaptexasrangersjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-tony-sanchez-jersey . Ramon, 30, played in a career-high 97 games with the Goldeyes in 2013. He also matched a career-high eight home runs and posted 52 RBI. Drew Robinson Jersey . Today, he looks at the offensive line. 1. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (OT, McGill) You Should Know: Over the course of his university career, Duvernay-Tardifs commitments to medical school and the family business frequently limited him to one practice per week, yet he was still the Metras Trophy winner as the Top Lineman in CIS football in 2013. Nomar Mazara Jersey . Today, well look at five frontcourt players today, here from the Bay Area. 1. AMIR JOHNSON (Raptors): I cant figure out what the issue or problem is, but based upon what Im seeing, hes not right.DAVIE, Fla. - Miami Dolphins centre Mike Pouncey claims to have no regrets about last seasons incidents in a bullying scandal in which an NFL-sanctioned investigator identified him and two teammates as principals involved. Pouncey talked to reporters Tuesday for the first time since the Ted Wells report implicated him, left guard Richie Incognito and right guard John Jerry as being behind alleged hazing and harassment of tackle Jonathan Martin. "No, not at all," Pouncey said when asked if he had any regrets. "Weve moved on from that. Im not worried about anything in 2013, honestly, its all about 2014 for me." On October 28, three days before the Dolphins played Cincinnati, Martin abruptly left the team after storming out of the cafeteria, and never returned. It wasnt until the Wells report was released that Pounceys name was directly attached. The NFL is waiting for him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation before issuing any discipline. Pouncey said he does not need such an evaluation. Dolphins coach Joe Philbin stood behind Pouncey during his news conference after the practice. Philbin confirmed that he and the team will be in constant communication with the league regarding any discipline for Pouncey. "The one thing thats without question about Mike Pouncey which is important is he wants to be a great football player," said Philbin, who invited Pouncey to a dinner with free agent left tackle Branden Albert before the team signed him. "He wants to make a valuable contribution to the Miami Dolphins, and hes not unlike any other player that we have in terms of theres an educational process every player goes through. But I love the effort and energy that he brings and that hes put forth into this off-season and todays Day 1. Its a long, long process, but hes off to a good start." New offensive co-ordinator Bill Lazor also expressed confidence in Pounceys leadership. "Mike and I walk into this professionaal relationship with a real clear picture," Lazor said.dddddddddddd "I spoke with him on the phone and I laid out what I was looking for. He was very excited to do it and I think hes the right guy to do it." Pouncey didnt help matters last month after Miami drafted Tennessee right tackle JaWuan James in the first round when he tweeted he was looking forward to the gifts James would have to deliver to the veterans. The 2011 first-round pick insisted he was joking, reiterating that he believes he is the type of leader his teammates want him to be. Incognito, Jerry, Martin, Tyson Clabo and Bryant McKinnie all started alongside Pouncey on the offensive line at times last season. Now, only Pouncey remains. In addition to signing Albert and veteran guard Shelley Smith, the Dolphins drafted James and guard/tackle Billy Turner in the early rounds. All of them were aware of the issues that plagued that unit in 2013. Philbin knew that would have to be addressed. "We didnt really say an awful lot," he said. "We want them to make their own decisions. When they walk into the building, when they feel the energy, the excitement that the coaching staff has in working with these guys every day, when they see the way these players are treated by our equipment staff, by our security staff and by our medical staff, I dont really have to say a whole lot. "The people that come to work here every single day create an outstanding atmosphere ... and again I think the players feel that. If you have to talk about that, then you probably dont have one." NOTES: WR Brandon Gibson was back to work after recovering from a torn patellar tendon that cost him the last nine games of 2013. ... Former star defensive end Jason Taylor was on the field Tuesday as a special guest coach. ... Koa Misi worked at middle linebacker, with Danell Ellerbe joining Philip Wheeler on the outside, which was a switch from previous lineups. ' ' '