Travelling squad hit by sickness
In trying circumstances Vancouver Whitecaps women did well to hold on to a hard-fought 2-2 tie against the Seattle Sounders in Tukwila, Wash., Monday.
Illness left Vancouver desperately short of healthy players, with the Whitecaps dominating the first half to take a 2-0 lead, but then wilting in the heat as Seattle came back to tie.
The Whitecaps had been looking forward to the return of coach Bob Birarda and his victorious squad of Canadian U20 players, who had flown back from Mexico on Sunday having won the CONCACAF U20 Championships.
Six of the U20 players were in the Whitecaps squad for Monday's game, but the Mexico trip caught up with them, and all six became ill on the drive down the I-5. Birarda was too sick to even make the trip.
Of the six returning U20s, just three were well enough to start and only goalie Justine Bernier lasted the full 90 minutes.
© The Vancouver Province 2008
