By Alan Douglas/whitecapsfc.com
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Prospects Women prevailed 4-3 over NSGSC Eagles in the Pacific Coast Soccer League on Tuesday night, as a last-minute goal by Maryse Reichgeld kept their win streak alive and raised their record to 13W-0L-0D.
The Whitecaps were missing five players that were away with the Canadian U-20 women's national team, while the squad's Canadian U-17 internationals were still recovering from their camp in Toronto, Ontario. This meant the Prospects were without five of their top six goalscorers. The 'Caps were bolstered, however, by three first-team players, with goalkeeper Stephanie Panozzo and defenders Melanie Booth and Rachael Pelat all starting.
The North Shore side are in a battle for the last playoff spot, so this was an important game for them. They got off to a perfect start, catching the Whitecaps napping from the opening kickoff. April Coffin got in behind the Vancouver defence just seconds in, and the former Prospects player chipped her finish over Panozzo to make it 1-0.
The Whitecaps came right back, as Natalie Boyd broke in from the kickoff and tried to chip Eagles goalkeeper Shimone Slomowitz, but put it just wide. Vancouver continued to apply pressure, creating chance after chance. On 13 minutes, Nikki Wright tested the Eagles goalkeeper from right in front, but Slomowitz made a superb save.
The Prospects were having most of the play, but the home side Eagles came close to scoring again before the half-hour mark. Gill Kilburn headed on goal from in close, but Panozzo made a great reaction save to keep it out.
Vancouver finally equalized on 31 minutes, as Kendra Williams slipped a great through ball for Wright in the Eagles box, and she placed her shot past Slomowitz. It was the forward's fifth goal of the season.
The Whitecaps made it 2-1 shortly before the break on another nice passing play. Williams gave it to Wright, who played a short pass to Boyd. The midfielder took it in her stride superbly, as she broke into the box and blasted it past Slomowitz.
The Eagles battled back early in the second half. On 51 minutes, Coffin's corner kick from the left was knocked into the net from in front by Aly Benes.
However, the Prospects regained the lead on 58 minutes, as Boyd curled a teasing free kick in front of goal. The Eagles defence hesitated and Erin Uchacz latched onto the ball, taking a touch to control before slotting it home from close range.
The Eagles equalized again on 77 minutes, as former Whitecaps midfielder Kate Qually curled a 28-yard free kick over the wall and into the net to make it 3-3.
Both teams went looking for the win in the late stages, but it was the Prospects who found it. Boyd did well to turn on a bouncing ball in the box and fired it in, where Maryse Reichgeld deflected it past the keeper for her fourth goal of the year.
This time, NGSSC had no reply, as their record dropped to 7W-5L-0D.
The Whitecaps play again immediately, as they face another tough opponent. On Wednesday night, the Prospects travel to Langley, BC, to face Fraser Valley Action at Trinity Western University at 7:30 p.m. PT.
Scoring summary:
1' NSG April Coffin
31' VAN Nikki Wright
42' VAN Natalie Boyd
51' NSG Aly Benes
58' VAN Erin Uchacz
77' NSG Kate Qually
90' VAN Maryse Reichgeld
Whitecaps Prospects Women
26.Stephanie Panozzo; 25.Nicole Segovia (23.Tessa Meyer 45'), 16.Erin Uchacz, 4.Sydney Morrison (3.Tori Uhl 55'), 17.Abigail Phillips; 31.Melanie Booth (6.Rachel Pelat 55'), 11.Kendra Williams (76.Vanessa Kovacs 78'), 29.Natalie Boyd, 6.Rachel Pelat (7.Maryse Reichgeld 45'); 9.Taylor Shannik (Jenna Di Nunzio 61'), 20.Nikki Wright
