By Alan Douglas/whitecapsfc.com
Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Women recorded their third straight win in the Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL), as they downed the visiting Okanagan Whitecaps 9-0 on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Simon Fraser University (SFU) Field #4.
The Prospects attacked the visitors from the outset. Just four minutes in, Katie Turney played a nice give-and-go with Nicole Setterlund on the right before whipping a cross over for Nikki Ambrose to tap in.
On nine minutes, striker Abigail Raymer got her name on the scoresheet, as she won the ball at the top of the box before sending a low drive past Okanagan goalkeeper Sabrina Gasparac to make it 2-0.
Six minutes later, Jaclyn Sawicki showed good determination to chase a back pass and got a piece of Gasparac's clearance. Sawicki then won the bouncing ball at the top of the area and fed a nice pass to Jenna Di Nunzio breaking into the box. Di Nunzio then beat Gasparac with a low shot for 3-0.
Defender Erin Uchacz had a couple of good chances off set plays. On 22 minutes, her powerful downward header off a corner kick hit a defender's leg on the goal line and bounced back into Gasparac's hands. Minutes later, Uchacz sent another header just over the crossbar with the keeper beaten.
The Prospects made it 4-0 late in the first half, as substitute Jenna Richardson fed a nice ball to Turney on the right. she then put it on a plate for Kendra Williams to tap in at the far post.
Despite being outplayed for most of the game, the visitors continued to show enterprise, and had two good chances in the final minute of the half. Whitecaps goalkeeper Ally Williamson came out to clear a ball, but played it straight to the Okanagan's Michelle Smith. However, Williamson was able to get back in time to stop Smith's long shot at the partially open goal. Moments later, Kirsten Dodds played a great through ball to put Alexa Kennedy in on goal, but Williamson came out quickly to block her close-range effort.
It was 4-0 at the interval.
A couple of familiar names entered the game at halftime, as the midfield duo of Natalie Boyd and Tessa Meyer are back with the Prospects. Boyd had a chance to score soon after the restart following some good work down the right by Taylor Shannik, but Boyd hit her 18-yard shot wide.
Squandered chances would not be a problem for Vancouver in this game though, as the Prospects then hit Okanagan for five goals in a span of eight minutes. On 51 minutes, Richardson nodded it ahead for Raymer, who centered it for a wide open Shannik and she lifted it over the onrushing Gasparac for 5-0.
Three minutes later, Di Nunzio on the left made some good moves before crossing to Raymer who headed it on for Shannik. She rounded Gasparac, but then her shot hit a defender on the goal line, and then the post. It came back to her, however, and she slotted her finish in for her second goal of the game and a 6-0 lead.
Two minutes later, Ambrose down the left played it across for Richardson in front, and though she fell, she was still able to touch it to Raymer, whose hard shot hit the keeper before dribbling over the goal line for 7-0. Raymer then struck again for her hat-trick a minute later. Richardson sent her on a breakaway with a great through ball, and while her first effort was stopped point blank by Gasparac, the ball spilled loose and Raymer fired it home an 8-0 lead.
Richardson then closed out the scoring just before the hour mark with a spectacular solo effort. She outfought an opponent to steal the ball on the left, spun away from her marker, cut in, then powered a shot from the top of the penalty arc, beating Gasparac on the near side for 9-0.
The Prospects had chances to make it double digits, but Gasparac made some good saves in the final half-hour to deny shots from Ambrose, Boyd, and Vanessa Kovacs.
The Prospects Women improve to 3W-0L-0D in the PCSL Premier Division standings. On Tuesday night, the 'Caps host Richmond GSC at SFU Field #4 at 8 p.m. PT.
Scoring summary:
4' VAN Nikki Ambrose
9' VAN Abigail Raymer
12' VAN Jenna Di Nunzio
42' VAN Kendra Williams
51' VAN Taylor Shannik
54' VAN Taylor Shannik
56' VAN Abigail Raymer
57' VAN Abigail Raymer
59' VAN Jenna Richardson
Whitecaps Prospects Women
2.Ally Williamson; 17.Abigail Phillips (15.Taylor Shannik 29'), 7.Erin Uchacz, 9.Tori Uhl (25.Nicole Segovia 45'); 3.Nikki Ambrose ( 14.Jaclyn Sawicki 69'), 13.Nicole Setterlund (19.Tessa Meyer 45'), 11.Kendra Williams (10.Sydney Morrison 54'), 18.Katie Turney (4.Natalie Boyd 45'); 12.Jenna Di Nunzio (16.Vanessa Kovacs 63'), 21.Abigail Raymer, 14.Jaclyn Sawicki (22.Jenna Richardson 36')
