By Alan Douglas/whitecapsfc.com
Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Women recorded a comfortable 3-0 away win over Richmond GSC on the opening day of the Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL) season at Minoru Park on Saturday afternoon.
With the Whitecaps having trained throughout most of the off-season, they had a clear edge in fitness and organization over a Richmond side that was still in the process of assembling their squad. Head coach Jesse Symons started with a 4-4-2 formation, but his game plan hit an early snag when star winger Jenna Richardson limped off with a sore knee after just ten minutes.
Despite the setback, Vancouver carried play throughout the match, with Whitecaps goalkeeper Gurveen Clair rarely touching the ball. Only bad luck in front of goal and poor finishing prevented the score from being higher.
Several early shots went wide, while on set plays, the height of big defender Erin Uchacz caused problems for the Richmond defence. She had one early header blocked in front by a defender, and another sailed just over the bar.
Winger Jenna Di Nunzio had a great chance on 19 minutes, but sliced her shot wide when the ball found her alone front. Di Nunzio did put the ball in the net in the closing seconds of the half, after a defender's mis-hit clearance came back off the post, but the Vancouver player was flagged for offside.
It was scoreless at the half.
Vancouver's edge in fitness began to show, as the Prospects applied constant pressure, and jumped to a quick 2-0 lead. On 50 minutes, Di Nunzio raced past her marker on the left and crossed for Katie Turney in front to side-foot into the goal. Three minutes later, the Whitecaps struck again. Substitute Taylor Shannik dropped the ball for striker Abigail Raymer to hit, and her shot deflected off a defender, and ran nicely for Di Nunzio in front to slot past the keeper.
Just past the hour mark, Turney sped into the box on the right and blasted a shot off the bar from 12 yards. On 71 minutes, Turney broke in again on the right, and this time elected to cross. The low square ball hit Richmond defender Kristine Hiduk, and deflected into the net to make it 3-0.
The match turned into a shooting gallery. On 74 minutes, Raymer fired a hard shot in a scramble, which Richmond goalkeeper Yvonne Riopel touched onto her crossbar. Moments later, Nikki Ambrose had several cracks at goal from close range in a wild sequence, but the first effort was blocked, the second stopped by Riopel while on the ground, and a third hit the base of the post.
The last good chance went to Di Nunzio right in front, on a cross from Turney, but the ball somehow ricocheted clear.
The Whitecaps will look to improve to 2W-0L-0D in the PCSL Premier Division on Tuesday night when they host NSGSC Eagles at Simon Fraser University at 8 p.m. PT.
Whitecaps Prospects Women
1.Gurveen Clair (Ally Williamson 45'); 3.Nikki Ambrose, 5.Jen Castillo, 7.Erin Uchacz, 17.Abigail Phillips (15.Taylor Shannik 45'); 12.Jenna Di Nunzio, 11.Kendra Williams (10.Sydney Morrison 58'), 18.Katie Turney, 22.Jenna Richardson (19.Maryse Reichgeld 10', 25.Nicole Segovia 68'); 14.Jaclyn Sawicki (9.Tori Uhl 68'), 21.Abigail Raymer
