Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2's come-from-behind victory on the road against the Swope Park Rangers on Wednesday evening was just the latest in a collection of impressive performances to kick off its season, and one which sent an unbeaten WFC2 to the top of the Western Conference standings.

It's been quite the turnaround for Alan Koch's young side, which had a tough inaugural USL season as it finished 11th out of 12 teams in the West, and with the joint second-worst defensive record in the league.

Lessons were learned, experience was gained, key additions were made to their defense and their attack, and a lot of work was put in during the offseason. The team is now reaping the dividends in the early stages of the new campaign.

"I do think we changed a few major spots," WFC2 defender Brett Levis told USLsoccer.com about the reasons behind the team's turnaround. "Especially in our backline. We acquired Sem [de Wit] from the Netherlands.

"Also just getting a year of experience under our belts has helped us understand the league a little bit more and be able to grind out wins. This year on the road, already we have nine points, which is close to what we had all last year on the road."

Levis was one of the standout performers for WFC2 in its debut USL season, and his own first year as a pro. A torn ligament in his left ankle, suffered in a game against Portland in July, saw the young Canadian forced to miss 10 weeks of the season, but he still finished third on the team with four goals, and clocked up more than 1,000 minutes in his 20 appearances in Vancouver's midfield.

Signing as a professional for Vancouver was the culmination of a long journey for Levis. Growing up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, a city more noted for producing hockey and football players, his family moved from the west side of the city to the east side, so that a young Levis could attend a school with a soccer academy.

He played his college soccer locally, with Saskatchewan Huskies, spending two summers playing in the PDL, first with the Victoria Highlanders – whom he helped claim the Western Conference Championship in 2013 – and then the Whitecaps U23 side. His performances continually improved, putting him firmly on Vancouver's radar, where he became one of their first USL signings last year.

Although the club may have struggled, it was a successful first season for Levis personally, as his level raised even higher in the professional environment.

"I feel that the last year has really helped me grow, not only on the field, but off the field as a professional," Levis said. "Whether that's preparing for games, or on the road, different routines that I might have. I just think overall, getting a year under my belt in that environment, to know how teams are, and it is another level. Getting that experience and getting that professionalism on and off the field has definitely helped me a lot. I feel like I've grown a lot in that sense."

Levis had been widely tipped as a player to watch this year. The 23-year-old has played all bar 30 minutes in WFC2's five matches so far this season, the second highest on the team, and he's done so in an entirely new role, that of left back.

The change was sparked by Whitecaps MLS head coach Carl Robinson after Levis was one of several WFC2 players included in the 'Caps MLS preseason camp. An early injury to another, Deklan Wynne, saw Levis pitched in at left back. He soon impressed, leaving Robinson to comment "I think [left-back] is going to be the position we should look at him in because he seems to be made for it."

For those used to seeing Levis on the left wing or commanding the center of the park, the move initially surprised many, including Levis himself, who had never played there before. But Robinson's eye for talent was proved correct and the player has been thriving in his new position.

"It was kind of out of the blue," Levis admitted. "I played there a bit and they really liked me there and then the first couple of games of preseason, when we went down to Arizona against Seattle and Houston, they put me there and they really liked me and I think I did well.

"I've been getting a lot of positive feedback. I enjoy it. It's a little bit different, having to stay at home. I'm usually used to going forward but I'm definitely getting used to it and I've got a few guys around me that are helping a lot. I've just got to keep learning every day."

Transitioning to any new position is never easy for a player, and it's often tougher for those making the move from an attacking role to that of a defender. Levis knows he still has a lot to learn in his new position but feels that his aggressive attacking style is actually helping to make the move to left back a little smoother.

"The last couple of years, I've worked a lot on my defensive responsibilities when I was playing left mid, so I think that's helped me transition a lot to left back," Levis said. "I do get forward quite a bit. I would still think of myself as an attacking player, so I think that's one of the things that the first team really liked about me."

The learning curve is steep, and Levis is more than aware that the room for error is now greatly reduced in his new role.

"I would just say that it's a lot less of a forgivable position," he said. "In terms of if you give the ball away in that sort of area than if you give the ball away in left mid or that sort of role. Also, always having to be turned on.

"As a left mid, if you turn the ball over you've got people behind you to help you out, whereas at left back, you need to make sure you're watching the line and make sure you're tracking runners and talking to people in front of you."

Levis has also been able to call on a veteran to help him find his feet at left back in Jordan Harvey. With 10 MLS seasons under his belt Harvey has been a great brain for Levis to pick.

"I've spoke to him a couple of times," Levis said. "He's obviously played there for the whole of his career. I definitely look up to him and I enjoy watching him play and I take as much as I can from him. He's given me a few pointers here and there, but it'll come the more I play there.

"I feel I'm already getting better each game, so I just got to keep continuing how I'm doing. Hopefully the team can continue getting wins and continue to push on."