Ian Walker
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC men's and women's teams will be looking to keep a number of streaks intact tonight in a pair of road games.
The Whitecaps men will not only be in search of their fifth consecutive victory when they face the struggling Rochester Rhonos, but will be attempting to remain undefeated on the road this season.
To go one further, Vancouver hasn't allowed a goal this season against United Soccer Leagues First Division opponents.
The Whitecaps women play the Ventura County Fusion and will be looking for their fourth win in a row and to remain undefeated on the W-League season.
Men's head coach Teitur Thordarson senses his team is coming together as he envisioned when taking over the job this season.
The Whitecaps (7-2-1) sit atop the USL-1 standings and are coming off their first three-goal performance in more than a year in last Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Portland Timbers.
"It's always good to results, but we have been playing well," said Thordarson, whose team is 4-0-1 when playing away from Swangard Stadium this season.
"I hope that during this current road trip, we will be able to re-create the good results that we had on the road recently."
Rochester (1-4-4) sits second from bottom in the USL-1 standings, having scored just four goals while allowing eight against in nine games.
Eddie Sebrango's late goal propelled Vancouver to a 1-0 home win over the Rhinos in the two team's only other encounter in the Whitecaps season-opener on May 10.
In Santa Monica, the youthful and inexperienced Whitecaps women can take hold of first place in the Western Conference with a victory against the Blues.
Vancouver opened its three-games-in-five-nights set on Wednesday with a encouraging 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Legends.
Canadian international player Amy Vermeulen scored both of the Whitecaps' goals in her season debut with the club.
"It was a big confidence boost for the young girls," said assistant coach Marc Rizzardo.
"Now they've just got to keep it going."
With a majority of the team unavailable due to commitments to the under-20 team, only two Whitecaps have played in all six team games this season.
Still, Vancouver (4-0-2) sits just one-point back of the Western Conference-leading Pali Blues (5-0) and six points in the clear of third place Real Colorado Cougars (2-1-2) as the season hits the midway point.
The Blues and Cougars each have a game in hand heading into tonight's game.
The top two teams in the conference will advance to the playoffs at the end of the season.
© The Vancouver Sun 2008
