By Alan Douglas/whitecapsfc.com
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Prospects Women overpowered the defending Pacific Coast Soccer League regular season champions Fraser Valley Action 7-3 in Langley, BC, on Wednesday night, with Nikki Wright scoring three goals.
The win took Vancouver's record to 14W-0L-0D, and all but clinches the regular season title for the young Whitecaps.
Still missing a half-dozen starters due to national youth team duty, this was a challenging fixture for the Prospects. Fraser Valley rarely lose at home, and would be looking to pay back the Whitecaps for the 5-0 defeat they received earlier in the season. This was also the second game in as many nights for both teams, and with the temperature soaring, fitness would be key.
Both sides had chances early on, but it was the Prospects who drew first blood. On 24 minutes, Maryse Reichgeld got behind the Action defence on the left, cut in and fired at goal from a sharp angle, with the ball deflecting off a defender and looping over Fraser Valley goalkeeper Veronika Rogina and in. It was Reichgeld's fifth goal of the season and third in as many games.
Fraser Valley struck right back. Just a minute later, Daniela Gerig in the box dropped it for Alexis Foster, and she wired it into the top left corner for 1-1.
Vancouver took control of the match just past the half-hour mark, with two quick goals by Wright. On 31 minutes, Abigail Raymer sent Wright in on goal, and though Rogina came out to clear it, Wright blocked the kick, retrieved the ball and fired into the empty net.
Two minutes later, Raymer did well battling against two defenders deep on the right, with the ball running to Wright in a crowd, and she fired it in.
Vancouver made it 4-1 on 39 minutes, as Natalie Boyd ripped a rising 22-yard shot which Rogina got a piece of, but not enough.
Fraser Valley came close late in the half, but Vancouver defender Sydney Morrison blocked a shot on the goal line.
The home side started the second half brightly, and pulled it back to 4-2 on 56 minutes. Former Prospects forward Alicia Tesan pulled away from the defence to break in on goal, and while Morrison did well again to stop the ball on the goal line, Rachel Antoniuk was there to force the ball home.
On 63 minutes, Vancouver's Taylor Shannik hit the post when left unmarked on the left.
The Whitecaps scored two minutes later, as Nicole Segovia whipped in one of her many fine crosses from the right, and Tessa Meyer headed it home. Later, another fine Segovia cross was volleyed superbly by Wright, producing a spectacular one-handed save from the Action's substitute goalkeeper Ana Pruim.
Foster scored her second of the game on a penalty kick on 77 minutes to make it 5-3. The two teams then traded shots off the crossbar, with Tesan pinging one from 30 yards, and Wright doing the same from 20 yards.
Wright completed her hat-trick with five minutes remaining, putting away the rebound after Raymer's shot was stopped.
Vanessa Kovacs then rounded out the scoring direct from a corner kick, as she curled the ball in with the outside of her boot! It was the defender's first goal for the 'Caps, and was well deserved.
With Vancouver still maintaining a 100 per cent record, the best that second-place Victoria Highlanders FC (11W-2L-0D) can do is pull level with the Prospects on points. However, they would still need a 28-goal swing to match Vancouver's superior goal difference. That's unlikely but not impossible, as the two teams do play each other towards the season.
The Prospects can make it all academic and clinch the title with a win or tie on Saturday when they travel to Kelowna, BC, to face Okanagan Whitecaps FC at UBC-Okanagan Turf. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. PT.
Scoring summary:
24' VAN Maryse Reichgeld
25' FVA Alexis Foster
31' VAN Nikki Wright
33' VAN Nikki Wright
39' VAN Natalie Boyd
56' FVA Rachel Antoniuk
65' VAN Tessa Meyer
77' FVA Alexis Foster
85' VAN Nikki Wright
89' VAN Vanessa Kovacs
Whitecaps Prospects Women
27.Ally Williamson; 16.Vanessa Kovacs (11.Kendra Williams 45'), 9.Tori Uhl, 7.Erin Uchacz, 17.Abigail Phillips (16.Vanessa Kovacs 65'); 11.Kendra Williams (25.Nicole Segovia 25'), 4.Natalie Boyd, 49.Tessa Meyer, 19.Maryse Reichgeld (10.Sydney Morrison 30'); 21.Abigail Raymer (Taylor Shannik 45', 21.Abigail Raymer 82'), 15.Taylor Shannik (41.Nikki Wright 19')
