By Alan Douglas/whitecapsfc.com
Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Women made it 11 wins out of 11, as they downed Chilliwack FC 7-0 at McLeod Athletic Park in Langley, BC, on Sunday morning.
The win took the Whitecaps single-season goal total to 66, beating the Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL) record of 63 goals in a season, which this team established last year.
Between injuries and call-ups to the Whitecaps women's team, Vancouver were missing seven starters, as they faced a determined Chilliwack side. The Prospects started slowly, with nearly 20 minutes elapsed before they created a good scoring chance. On 19 minutes, Katie Turney was pushed down by Chilliwack goalkeeper Chantelle Biagiani and a penalty was awarded. Turney took the spot kick herself, but stroked it wide.
Biagiani was huge in the first half for the visitors, turning away a powerful shot from Jenna Richardson, then spectacularly tipping a blast from Maryse Reichgeld against the crossbar on 35 minutes, and a minute later, again denying a good shot from Reichgeld.
With the Prospects now finding their rhythm, the mounting pressure finally paid off. On 37 minutes, Turney down the right played it square for Richardson to side-foot in her 11th goal of the year.
A minute later, Turney sent Richardson in on goal, Biagini came out and blocked it, but Turney collected the rebound and hit the half-empty net from 18 yards.
As a result, the Whitecaps led 2-0 at the half.
Kendra Williams almost added to the lead on 51 minutes with a first-time shot in close from a corner kick that was blocked on the goal line.
A minute later, a cross-shot from Jenna Di Nunzio on the left went over Biagiani and in, with the assistant referee judging that the ball was over the goal line before the Chilliwack defence was able to scramble it away. It was Di Nunzio's seventh goal of the season.
With the visitors looking dispirited, the floodgates were now open. On 66 minutes, Richardson in the box on the right drew four Chilliwack defenders before squaring for Williams to slot home her third goal of the year.
Three minutes later, Richardson from similar position cut it back for Natalie Boyd, and she drilled a low shot home from 25 yards.
On 77 minutes, Richardson beat three players on the right before squaring it for Tessa Meyer to fire in.
At the other end, Chilliwack had their best chance late in the game, as Ellen Kuyer's hard shot was well saved by 'Caps goalkeeper Ally Williamson.
Finally in time added on, Richardson set up Vancouver's seventh goal in some style. She held the ball on the left before playing a sublime defence-splitting pass to Turney breaking on the right flank. She fired in her second goal of the day and fifth of the season.
The Prospects now sit at 11W-0L-0D in the PCSL Premier Division standings, putting them six points up on second-place Victoria Highlanders FC. Chilliwack drop to 5W-4L-0D.
Next up for the Prospects is a match against the always-tough Coquitlam Metro-Ford Xtreme at Simon Fraser University Field #4 on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. PT.
Scoring summary:
37' VAN Jenna Richardson
38' VAN Katie Turney
52' VAN Jenna Di Nunzio
66' VAN Kendra Williams
69' VAN Natalie Boyd
77' VAN Tessa Meyer
90' VAN Katie Turney
Whitecaps Prospects Women
1.Gurveen Clair (Ally Williamson 45'); 4.Sydney Morrison, 3.Tori Uhl, 17.Abigail Phillips (25.Nicole Segovia 45'); 7.Maryse Reichgeld (9.Taylor Shannik 45'), 29.Natalie Boyd, 23.Tessa Meyer, 11.Kendra Williams; 6.Jaclyn Sawicki (13.Jenna Di Nunzio 45'), 2.Jenna Richardson, 18.Katie Turney
