Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Men recorded their second straight 1-1 draw after sharing the spoils with PSSA Rapids in Washington State on Saturday night.
After taking a point at home to Vancouver Thunderbirds on Thursday evening, coach Hubert Busby jr had just one first-team player available for Saturday's game in Bellingham, Washington, with Mason Trafford partnering Branden McLean in the centre of the Whitecaps back-line.
Playing in a 4-3-3 formation on the turf at Whatcom Community College, the first half was played at a good tempo, as the Whitecaps carried much of the play in the opening 45 minutes, despite a 0-0 scoreline at the break.
The Prospects opened the scoring ten minutes after halftime, as Ben Hemphill's cross found substitute Max Maund at the far post before the Vancouver Island native finished well for 1-0.
The hosts Rapids then pulled level on 70 minutes with a far-post headed finish from Matt Pele, but the young Whitecaps were unlucky not to take all three points from the weekend contest.
Both Maund and Hemphill each had clear-cut goalscoring opportunities, while Ian Clark was denied the game-winner after the PSSA goalkeeper stopped the striker on a breakaway.
Despite not claiming the win, Busby was pleased with his team's performance on the road. "It was probably the best all-around game we have played all season," he told whitecapsfc.com. "We played very well, to be honest, and I thought we should have left Bellingham with three points."
The Prospects Men return to Pacific Coast Soccer League Premier Division action on Tuesday night when they host Peace Arch United at Simon Fraser University. The Rapids, meanwhile, host Vancouver Thunderbirds on Tuesday.
Whitecaps Prospects Men - line-up v PSSA Rapids
Coady Nett; Harry Lakhan, Branden McLean, Mason Trafford, Flo Liu; Nat Blaiklock, Rhys Volkenant, Lawrence Buchan; Ian Clark, Ben Hemphill, Milad Mehrabi
Subs used:
Max Maund
Subs not used:
Matt Robinson, Jordan Whitehead
