By Alan Douglas/whitecapsfc.com
Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Women picked up a second straight win to start their Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL) season, as they downed the visiting NSGSC Eagles 7-0 at Simon Fraser University on Tuesday night.
The Eagles look to have the makings of a strong squad, however, they were missing too many key players for Tuesday's game. Even with the likes of former Whitecaps midfielder Ashley McGhee, Prospects graduates Brienna Shaw on defence and Shimone Slomowitz in goal, the North Shore-based club were unable to contain a Whitecaps side eager to improve on some lax finishing in their season opener.
The Prospects scored early and often, keeping the visitors on the defensive for most of the match. On eight minutes, a corner kick from Jaclyn Sawicki on the right found Abigail Phillips near the top of the box. She sent a looping shot over Slomowitz and into the far corner of the net for the game's opening goal.
Two minutes later, it was 2-0, as a similar shot from a similar position by Katie Turney gave the keeper no chance.
Vancouver scored for a third time just past the half-hour mark. Turney's corner from the right found Erin Uchacz in front of goal, and the imposing defender powered her header home.
Close calls followed with Taylor Shannik blasting a shot just over the bar, while Maryse Reichgeld beat her marker on the right before forcing the Eagles goalkeeper into a good diving save.
It was 3-0 at the break.
Early in the second half, Raymer got on the end of a hard low cross right in front of goal, but she redirected the ball against the crossbar from close range.
On 58 minutes, the Prospects made it 4-0. A long ball into the box found Kendra Williams breaking, and while she was forced wide of goal, she dropped it for Jenna Di Nunzio, whose quick first-timer squirted under Slomowitz.
The keeper soon redeemed herself with some big saves to deny Turney, who played a great game.
With a quarter of an hour remaining, Williams picked up a loose ball at the edge of the area, and showed good patience to make space and pick her spot, before curling it inside the far post to make it 5-0.
In the closing minutes, the Whitecaps added two more. Nikki Ambrose chipped the keeper from 25 yards, and then Raymer on the right sent a nice cross to Di Nunzio, whose beautifully angled header floated back into the top right corner of the goal.
With the win, the Prospects improve to 2W-0L-0D, and will look to maintain their 100 per cent record when they host Okanagan Whitecaps at SFU on Saturday May 15. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. PT.
Whitecaps Prospects Women
1.Gurveen Clair (Ally Williamson 45'); 3.Nikki Ambrose, 7.Erin Uchacz, 9.Tori Uhl (10.Sydney Morrison 45'), 17.Abigail Phillips (25.Nicole Segovia 45'); 11.Kendra Williams, 14.Jaclyn Sawicki (19.Maryse Reichgeld 33'), 15.Taylor Shannik; 16.Jenna Di Nunzio, 21.Abigail Raymer, 18.Katie Turney
