WHITECAPS DEFEAT FORT COLLINS 4-0

June 17, 2007 - Fort Collins Force - 0
Vancouver Whitecaps - 4

UBC Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver, BC (attendance: 781)

Vancouver Whitecaps women recorded their second win of the season after a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Fort Collins Force on Sunday.

Game Photos || Western Conference Standings || The Province Article on Tiffeny Milbrett

First-half goals by Sophie Schmidt, Holly Gault, and Jodi-Ann Robinson sent the Whitecaps on their way to all three points, with Umbro Player-of-the-Game Tiffeny Milbrett capping a dominant Vancouver performance with a fourth goal early in the second half.

A small but enthusiastic crowd greeted both sets of players on an overcast evening at UBC, and it was the home side that seemed to settle better on the playing surface than their Colorado-based visitors.

Whitecaps head coach Bob Birarda made three changes to the side that claimed a fortunate 2-2 draw with San Diego Sunwaves last Sunday, with Jill Oakes moving from midfield to centre back to play alongside Erin Ramsay.

Vancouver had the first chance soon after the kick-off, with Gault shooting wide after latching on to an Anna Caniglia cross from the left before Fort Collins goalkeeper Tawny Poggio made saves from Robinson and Schmidt minutes later. However, it only took the Whitecaps just seven minutes to break the deadlock, as Schmidt headed Tiffeny Milbrett’s inswinging corner from the left past a statuesque Poggio.

After struggling with San Diego this time last week, the Whitecaps looked intent on finishing off the Force, with Ramsay unfortunate not to head home another Milbrett corner. Milbrett herself then had a chance to strike at goal from a free kick after Force defender Christy Harms had fouled Robinson near the edge of the Fort Collins box, but the former USA international curled her set-piece effort just wide.

Milbrett admitted the Whitecaps looked a far better side on Sunday. “We took a lot of field time this week to make sure we were playing connected and setting the foundation for what we needed to work on,” the veteran told reporters after the game. “We’re all very proud today because we felt like a more cohesive unit, so that makes us feel good.”

Vancouver’s ability to hit Fort Collins on the break was causing the visitors numerous problems at the back, and it was on the counter-attack that Birarda’s side claimed their second goal on 15 minutes. The ball found its way to Milbrett on the right and her cross to Gault found her unmarked on the right-hand side. With acres of space and time, Gault confidently fired the ball past Poggio to put the Whitecaps in command of the contest.

The home side’s dominance of the opening 45 minutes could be summed up by the 13 shots they had before halftime, as Milbrett, Ramsay, Schmidt, and Ella Masar all tested Poggio in the Fort Collins goal. Masar herself felt there was an improvement in performance from the team’s previous outings. “I felt we were a lot more connected,” said the striker. “They were giving us more space to play in and we did a great job to utilize that. We really needed this win tonight.”

Vancouver extended their lead further on 36 minutes, as fine individual work by Robinson on the right flank saw the Canadian international cut in along the edge of the Force box before unleashing a fierce shot past Poggio for 3-0.

In contrast, Fort Collins offered little in terms of attacking endeavour in the first half, though Julie Williford did have the ball in the Whitecaps goal early in the game before it was correctly called back for offside, while Kerry Gragg struck a shot across the face of Cori Alexander’s goal.

The second half brought more of the same from the home side, as they looked to move into their upcoming four-game road trip in positive spirits.

Those spirits were further enhanced on 52 minutes with a fourth Whitecaps goal, as Milbrett made it two goals in as many games with a low drive that slipped under the diving Poggio after Masar had cut the ball back from the byline for her strike partner.

After suffering a similar 4-0 defeat to Seattle Crossfire Sounders on Friday evening, Fort Collins looked a shell-shocked group of players, though Williford showed a bit of her striking qualities after hitting Alexander’s crossbar with a close-range drive, but such chances were rare from the Force on Sunday.

The Whitecaps remained a real threat on the counter-attack in the second half, and Poggio needed to make further saves from Milbrett on 75 minutes and Gault two minutes later to keep the scoreline from getting out of hand.

In the end, the Whitecaps wrapped up an important three points before embarking on a four-game road trip to the state of Colorado next week. Their first visit will be a return meeting with the Force in Fort Collins on Friday. “After Fort Collins had played two nights ago, they maybe lacked a bit of energy tonight, but I think they will be a lot better down there,” Birarda told reporters. “We’ll need to take that next step on the road next week.”

Scoring Summary:

7' Vancouver 1-0 Sophie Schmidt (Tiffeny Milbrett)
Milbrett's corner kick from the left found Schmidt six yards out, and her glancing header angled inside the far post. It was her second goal of the season.

15' Vancouver 2-0 Holly Gault (Tiffeny Milbrett)
Milbrett broke down the left, outpaced her marker and the crossed for Gault who was wide open inside the box. She took a touch to control and then blasted it in from 14 yards for her second on the season.

36' Vancouver 3-0 Jodi-Ann Robinson
A great solo effort, as Robinson carried the ball from midfield, then blasted it in from the edge of the area on the right. It was her second goal on the year.

52' Vancouver 4-0 Tiffeny Milbrett (Ella Masar)
Masar picked up the ball in the box to the right of goal, then cut it back for Milbrett in front to fire in her second goal of the season.

Game Stats
Shots: Vancouver - 22 - Fort Collins - 8
Saves: Vancouver - 4 - Fort Collins - 13
Fouls: Vancouver - 17 - Fort Collins - 11
Offsides: Vancouver - 3 - Fort Collins - 1
Corners: Vancouver - 9 - Fort Collins - 2

Referee: Alain Ruch
Cautions: Vancouver - none - Fort Collins - none

Vancouver Whitecaps
00.Corinne Alexander; 7.Jill Oakes, 8.Erin Ramsay (2.Emily Zurrer 45'), 9.Carly Peetz (23.Lindsay Rohla 69'), 13.Anna Caniglia (4.Carey Gustafson 69'); 16.Sophie Schmidt, 18.Clare Rustad, 22.Jodi-Ann Robinson (21.Paige Adams 57'), 24.Holly Gault (19.Sari Raber 81'); 15.Ella Masar, 25.Tiffeny Milbrett (11.Selenia Iacchelli 79')

Subs not used:
1.Sian Bagshawe

Fort Collins Force
1.Tawny Poggio; 4.Sarah Elnicky, 5.Sarah Helldoerfer, 3.Christy Harms (11.Kerry Greer 64'), 23.Amanda Thomas; 9.Cayla Deacon (17.Sandy Spliter 81'), 2.Jenny Kehl (20.Tracy Chao 57'), 18.Renee Scachetti; 7.Kerry Gragg, 13.Debra Nelson (10.Annette Dyke 83'), 6.Julie Williford (8.Allison McDowell 83')

Subs not used:
0.Jackie Fede

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