Levin (13.3 points a game) and guard Evan Payne (10.8), both of whom are Loyola Marymount transfers.Levin also leads the 49ers win rebounds with 7.5 a despite being a wing player at 6-fo

VANCOUVER -- Brad Knighton was used sparingly during his time with the Philadelphia Union. Now he has a chance to show them what they missed. Knighton is slated to start against his former squad for the first time Saturday as the Vancouver Whitecaps host the Union at B.C. Place Stadium. If all goes according to plan, the goalkeeper will attempt to keep the Whitecaps (9-6-5) unbeaten at home against the Union (8-6-7), which is in contention for top spot in the Eastern Conference. Vancouver has gone 7-0-3 at home. Knighton sports a 6-2-2 mark and two shutouts. "All you can ask for is a chance, and its what you do with that chance," said Knighton after practice on the clubs home turf Friday. "You try and make the most of it and try and show people that have written you off that you deserve to be here, and youre a No. 1 in this league." Knighton was released by Philadelphia after playing just eight games in 2010, his first and only season with the club. He posted a respectable, albeit unspectacular 3-3-1 record during that span. The Union put him on waivers, but there were no takers, and Knighton was forced to play the next season in a lower-tier circuit with the Carolina RailHawks. Current Vancouver coach Martin Rennie guided Carolina that season and, after watching Knighton play every minute of the campaign, brought him to the Whitecaps in 2012. Knighton, a 28-year-old Hickory, N.C., native, was never drafted by a Major League Soccer club but he has fought his way to starting status last season, when he played in Vancouvers first playoff game, and again this season after Joe Cannon, now the third-stringer, began the campaign as No. 1. Accordingly, the opportunity to play against the Union is highly meaningful to Knighton. "I pride myself on how hard Ive worked to get where I was, and all the obstacles that Ive had to come through," said Knighton, who entered the pro ranks after four seasons as a starter with the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. "And to be able to find a place where Ive been able to get a good run of games and show my capabilities as a starting keeper in this league has been fantastic for me, and its helped my confidence tremendously." But Knightons run could come to an end if he cant help his current club succeed against his old one. The Whitecaps signed Danish goalkeeper David Ousted, who became eligible to play July 9. Ousted has been waiting in the wings since then as Knighton enjoyed centre stage. Knighton has helped the Whitecaps stay unbeaten in six of their last seven games, but the Caps are coming off a road loss to Los Angeles last weekend. Ousted, who was signed after the Whitecaps traded defender Alain Rochat to D.C. United to clear cap space, reportedly earns much more than Knightons $66,000 annual base pay. So Rennie, who has praised Knightons play in recent weeks, could be compelled to make a switch if the Whitecaps are not successful this weekend. But Knighton, who was also cast adrift by New England following the 2009 season, is determined to keep his place after going down and up the pro soccer ladder. "Obviously, (succeeding) at the lower level is something a bit different than doing it at the higher level," he said. "Ive been fortunate this year and last year to get a chance at a higher level. Im just trying to make the most of it and show people that I deserve to be here for a long time." Meanwhile, striker Kenny Miller is also looking to excel after he signed a rare six-month contract extension this week. "Obviously, thats a mark now that has been put to rest," said Miller, who has six goals in the 11 games in which he has played this season. ... I can just concentrate on the football now, the game (Saturday) and our undefeated home record and, hopefully, continue our good momentum at home as well and get another three points, which should push us up the table and get us to where we feel we should be ... which is the top of the league." Meanwhile, Whitecaps striker Darren Mattocks has been sidelined indefinitely with a knee injury. Rennie said Mattocks underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday. The coach said the team does not put a time frame on recoveries, but he does not expect the Jamaican international to miss extended time. Mattocks has struggled in his second MLS season after leading the club with seven goals as a rookie. He has started just six of the 13 games in which he has appeared, recording three goals and one assist. Notes: Whitecaps defender Jordan Harvey will also get a chance to play against his former Philadelphia squad. ... Former Whitecap Sebastien Le Toux will suit up for the Union. He spent part of last season with the Whitecaps after being acquired in a trade from Philadelphia. The Frenchman leads the league in assists with nine. ... Whitecaps central defender Andy OBrien (hamstring) is not expected to play. ... Vancouver captain Jay DeMerit (torn Achilles tendon) has resumed training with the team, but is not expected back until late-August.Tim McCarver Jersey .com) - Richie Incognito has reportedly been admitted to a psychiatric care unit in Arizona. Stitched Cardinals Jerseys . I cant pinpoint a date, but I do remember a player from my youth. Brian Downing was with the Chicago White Sox at a time when I listened to every game I possibly could on the radio. That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games. https://www.cheapcardinalsonline.com/164t-jose-martinez-jersey-cardinals.html . In what the team had called a retirement, Ryan said Thursday that he is resigning as chief executive of the Rangers in a move effective at the end of this month. Cardinals Jerseys China . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Brett Cecil Cardinals Jersey .com) - The women will also have a new champion at the Australian Open.Long Beach States murderers row type of schedule on the road to start the season continues Sunday at No. 16 UCLA.After winning the season-opener at home against Cal State Los Angeles, Long Beach State embarked on an arduous road trip that has included blowout losses to Wichita State (92-55), North Carolina (93-67) and Louisville (88-56). The average margin of defeat in those three games is 28.3 points.In the last game at Louisville on Thursday, Long Beach States confidence was subdued from the start allowing an 18-0 run in a four-minute span early in the first half.We just werent able to withstand that first blow to stay in the game, said Long Beach State head coach Dan Monson. Once we got comfortable, it was too late, and the game was over. You come on these road trips to give the team some adversity, to help make them better, and I dont think we handled it any better than we did on Tuesday (against North Carolina).While Long Beach State has taken its lumps on the road, UCLA has won its first three games at Pauley Pavilion by lopsided scores. The Bruins improved to 3-0 Thursday night after defeating San Diego 88-68, which followed a 119-80 win over Pacific and 102-82 victory over Cal State Northridge.The Bruins are scoring 103 points a game with five players with at least 14 points a game, led by freshman forward T.J Leaf and senior guard Bryce Alford, both of whom are averaging 20 points. Freshman point guard Lonzo Ball is averaging close to a triple-double at 15 points, 7.7 assists and 8.3 rebounds a game.Leaf had 22 points and 15 rebounds in the opener against Pacific and tallied 26 points and 10 rebounds against San Diego. Junior center Thomas Welsh allso had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.ddddddddddddI thought TJ was really good, said UCLA coach Steve Alford, who has lauded his teams versatility to shoot from the perimeter and score in the paint. We wanted to attack inside. I thought we really started executing on offense that was geared towards getting the ball inside.It was a season-low for us in threes (5 of 22 performance against San Diego) but it was a game where our emphasis was really getting -- I thought all three of our bigs (including reserve center Gyorgy Goloman) did a really good job.Long Beach State is averaging 68.2 points a game while shooting 36.8 percent from the field and 23.8 percent from 3-point range. Only two players are averaging scoring in double figures, forward Gabe Levin (13.3 points a game) and guard Evan Payne (10.8), both of whom are Loyola Marymount transfers.Levin also leads the 49ers win rebounds with 7.5 a despite being a wing player at 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds.After the game against Long Beach State, UCLA leaves Pauley Pavilion but stays in southern California to play in the Wooden Legacy in Anaheim, Calif., on Thursday, Friday and Nov. 27. The field includes Dayton, Virginia Tech, New Mexico and Texas A&M.The 49ers difficult road trip continues with a game at Washington on Tuesday.Well get better from this, watching it, and our guys will grow, Monson said of the early-season schedule. We have to get into our league and be the best team in our league, and thats why we challenge ourselves as best as we can with this schedule. ' ' '