Venue: Swangard Stadium
Match Type: 
Match Number: 1
Kickoff (PDT): 7:00 PM
Video: USL Live
Tickets: Buy

Match Preview:

By Simon Fudge/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps women (0-0-0) begin their 2008 USL W-League Western Conference campaign when they host expansion club Ventura County Fusion (0-1-0) at Swangard Stadium on Saturday evening.

The recent off-season not only brought winds of change for the Whitecaps men's team, it also saw huge turnover in Bob Birarda's women's squad after last season's disappointment in missing out on the Western Conference playoffs for the first time in team history. The Whitecaps third-place finish was a sharp contrast to the triumph claimed in 2006 when the women won their second W-League championship. A record of six wins, three defeats, and three draws saw them finish in behind San Diego Sunwaves and arch-rivals Seattle Crossfire Sounders in the six-team standings.

With the 2007 season now in the books, the Whitecaps enter this year with another new-look squad and as members of a new-look Western Conference. San Diego and Colorado club Mile High Edge did not return for 2008, but in their place came three new teams from Greater Los Angeles to expand the competition to seven clubs – Los Angeles Legends, Pali Blues, and Ventura County. Seattle, Fort Collins Force, and Real Colorado Cougars joined the Whitecaps as the four returning teams, with all seven clubs to play a 12-game regular season schedule.

HOME TEAM

Player transition will be nothing new to Birarda this year, as the Whitecaps head coach had to contend with numerous departures from the 2006 team to the Canadian national team's full-time residency program. Last season, Birarda brought in several NCAA recruits from the United States to combine with emerging local talent. In 2008, the Whitecaps focus will be one of developing some of Canada's top young female players.

Only nine players are returning from last season. They include experienced American forward Tiffeny Milbrett and Canadian internationals Jodi-Ann Robinson and Kaylyn Kyle. Two European recruits will also be part of the squad, as Finland international striker Sanna Talonen and German defender Katrin Schmidt arrive on the Lower Mainland from Florida State University.

CANADA U-20 WOMEN

A large portion of the 2008 Whitecaps squad are also in consideration for Birarda's Canadian U-20 women's national team squad following his appointment to the program's head coaching position last December. The role will see the Whitecaps head coach miss a large portion of the W-League season in late June, as he attempts to qualify Canada for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Chile later this year. The international commitments will not only affect Birarda, but his Whitecaps squad as well. "My double duties will be a big disruption, but the Whitecaps know that this is a year to focus on player development," he told whitecapsfc.com. "I still think we can get some good results, but it will certainly be a balancing act. The objective for the Whitecaps this season is about making a commitment to developing top-level soccer players, so for me, it is about being part of that process."

With former assistants Pat Pohla and Steve Simonson moving on after the conclusion of last season, long-time Langara College men's team head coach Marc Rizzardo is set to deputize in Birarda's absence this summer.

MEET THE FUSION

One of three new clubs to join the W-League this season. Ventura County Fusion will aim to lead a new wave of competitive talent that is entering the Western Conference from Greater Los Angeles. Led by long-standing Loyola Marymount University assistant coach Michelle Myers, the Fusion squad will have a mix of NCAA, USA youth international, and local talent. They include University of Texas defender Kasey Moore, and three members of the 2007 NCAA national champions University of Southern California Trojans - Kasey Johnson, Ashley Nick, and Megan Ohai.

Like Birarda, Myers is not immune to squad disruption herself, as both Moore and Nick are unavailable for Saturday's game due to commitments with the USA U-23 national team. “We’re going to be juggling the roster for the first few weeks because not all our players are available at the same time, but once we get all the pieces put together, I think we’re going to have a very good team,” Myers said of the season to the Fusion's official website.

Ventura County began their inaugural W-League campaign last Saturday, and it proved to be a baptism of fire, as powerful local rivals Pali Blues defeated the Fusion 5-0. Saturday's trip to Vancouver is the second game of a two-match road swing through the Pacific Northwest for the Fusion, as they first take on defending Western Conference champions Seattle at the Startfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington, on Thursday evening.

Following Saturday's game, the Whitecaps will then meet the Fusion again on Friday, June 13, as Vancouver travel down to Buena High School in Ventura, California, for their return regular season contest.

Saturday's game between the Whitecaps women and Fusion kicks off to 7:00pm. Individual match tickets start at just $18 and are available at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centres, online at ticketmaster.ca, and by phone at 604.280.4400 or 1.800.663.9311. CLICK HERE for information on our individual match tickets.

You can also watch Saturday’s game between the Whitecaps women and Ventura County live on USLlive.com.