MILE HIGH EDGE PREVIEW

July 7, 2007 - Vancouver Whitecaps FC women look to maintain their fine recent form when they host Mile High Edge in Chilliwack on Sunday.

Bob Birardaï¿½s side were forced to move their July 8 contest to the Fraser Valley city, as Swangard Stadium continues to play host to games in the U-20 World Cup. The 2,000-seat Exhibition Field will be the venue for the Whitecaps second W-League Western Conference meeting with Mile High and their first home game since completing a highly-successful road trip to the US state of Colorado.

Vancouver claimed three wins and a draw on their travels late last month - that included a 2-1 victory over the Edge in Golden, Colorado, on June 27. As a result, the Whitecaps now sit at the top of the Western Conference standings by one point from second place San Diego Sunwaves. ï¿½I think the road trip was a great time to build a common language for the whole team to share something together,ï¿½ Birarda told whitecapsfc.com. ï¿½We came out of that knowing each other a lot better.ï¿½

Sundayï¿½s game, which takes place on the same day as CBCï¿½s Soccer Day in Canada, is the second home match that Birardaï¿½s side have had to play away from Swangard this term. Before the women embarked on their extended road trip, they defeated Fort Collins Force 4-0 at UBC Thunderbird Stadium on June 17. ï¿½The people in Chilliwack do a fantastic job and itï¿½s always a great atmosphere when they get the crowd out there,ï¿½ Birarda said ahead of Sundayï¿½s game. ï¿½Itï¿½s kind of nice to go somewhere different and itï¿½s a unique experience to share in the excitement with a smaller community. Hopefully, they come out in full force to support us.ï¿½

The Whitecaps now prepare to face a Mile High side that currently sit bottom of the Western Conference standings. Danny Sanchezï¿½s side have struggled for results all season, having claimed just two wins from their first eight games. The Edge are currently winless in their last four contests, with their last result being a 1-1 home draw with Colorado rivals Fort Collins on Canada Day. Mile Highï¿½s visit to Chilliwack will be the second match of a three-game road spell for the Arvada, Colorado-based club, with their first road encounter taking place in Tukwila, Washington, on Friday evening against Seattle Crossfire Sounders.

Birarda expects a different encounter from Mile High than their first meeting late last month. ï¿½I think itï¿½s so much different playing away from home then it is playing at home,ï¿½ he said. ï¿½I think in the last game against us, they approached it more like a road game where they were very conservative. With our team being very tired as well, it ended up being a very slow-paced match. I would be shocked if it would be like that again, as we do know that they have some very talented players. Iï¿½m sure that will make for an interesting day for us.ï¿½

Sundayï¿½s game between the Whitecaps and Mile High Edge at Exhibition Field in Chilliwack kicks off at 4pm. Click here for information on tickets for the weekend W-League contest in the Fraser Valley. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. For more information on Whitecaps ticket packages and group rates, please call 604.669.WAVE (9283) or visit our tickets page.

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