Match Report:

By Alan Douglas/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps women tasted defeat for the first time this season, as they closed out their southern California road trip with a 4-0 loss to the Pali Blues, who regain top spot in the W-League Western Conference.

Playing their third road game in six days with a patchwork line-up on a sunny Sunday afternoon, this was always going to be a tough contest for Vancouver against a rested and well-prepared Pali side. The Blues scored just eleven minutes in, doubled their lead on a penalty kick early in the second half, then added two more goals late on. The two teams will meet again next Sunday at Swangard Stadium.

With midfielder Selenia Iacchelli injured on the trip, coach Marc Rizzardo fielded the same starting eleven that had comprehensively defeated Ventura County on Friday. Unfortunately, the Blues had every opportunity to scout the Whitecaps in their previous two wins on the trip, while Vancouver's coaching staff had never seen the Palisades team play.

The home side opened scoring just eleven minutes in, following a defensive mistake. A Vancouver player accidentally flicked the ball on to Blues winger Liz Bogus, who broke in and hit the top corner of the goal with her shot past Whitecaps goalkeeper Sian Bagshawe.

The two teams traded chances as the half wore on, but fatigue and injuries were taking their toll on the visiting Whitecaps. Coach Rizzardo had to make two substitutions in the first half alone.

One of the players to come in, 19-year-old forward Mallory Outerbridge, used her speed to good effect, creating some of Vancouver's best chances. Late in the half, she broke in alone but was thwarted by Pali goalkeeper Valerie Henderson, who raced out of her box and played the ball with her hands, having been lucky to escape without being booked.

It was 1-0 at halftime.

Early in the second half, a Pali player got behind the Whitecaps defence from a throw-in and broke in on goal. Defender Eden Hingwing tracked back well to break up the play in what looked to be a fair challenge, but the match referee adjudged her to have committed a foul. A penalty kick was awarded, which Danesha Adams converted.

With the Vancouver players running out of steam, the Blues scored again on minute 74, as a through ball to Katy Cross caught the Vancouver defence square, and she finished to make it 3-0.

Then on minute 84, Pali's Mele French took advantage of the heavy legs of the Vancouver defenders, finding space for a shot to close out the scoring with a fourth goal for the home side.


This was Vancouver's worst defeat since the 2001 W-League Championship final, when the team that was then known as the Breakers fell 5-1 to Boston Renegades in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Shots finished 14-6 for the home side. "It was definitely not a 4-0 game," said coach Rizzardo, "and our players battled very well. Overall, we can compete with them, and I'm looking forward to next Sunday when we will have some fresh bodies and can work on some tactics that we can use to stymie their attack."

The Whitecaps record drops to 5-1-2 for 17 points, as they sit in second place in the Western Conference, a point behind the 6-0-0 Pali Blues, who are clearly the team to beat this season.

The Whitecaps will have the opportunity to turn the tables on the Blues, when they meet again on Sunday at Swangard Stadium. The game is a 4:00 p.m. kickoff and is the first half of a Whitecaps doubleheader, and will be followed at 7:00 p.m. by the first-place Whitecaps men taking on Miami FC Blues.

Scoring Summaries:
11' - PAL - 0-1 Liz Bogus (Leah Tapscott)
A Vancouver player accidentally flicked the ball on to Blues winger Bogus, who broke in and hit the top corner of the goal with her shot past Whitecaps goalkeeper Sian Bagshawe.

49' - PAL - 0-2 Danesha Adams (PK)
A Pali Blues player got behind the Whitecaps defence from a throw-in and broke in on goal. Defender Eden Hingwing tracked back well to break up the play in what looked to be a fair challenge, but the match referee adjudged her to have committed a foul. A penalty kick was awarded, which Adams converted.

74' - PAL - 0-3 Katy Cross (Amy LePeilbet)
With the Vancouver players running out of steam, the Blues scored again, as a through ball to Cross caught the Vancouver defence square, and she finished to make it 3-0.

84' - PAL - 0-4 Mele French
French took advantage of the heavy legs of the Vancouver defenders, finding space for a shot to close out the scoring with a fourth goal for the home side.

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 6 – Pali 14
Saves: Vancouver 4 – Pali 5
Fouls: Vancouver 6 – Pali 7
Offsides: Vancouver 2 – Pali 3
Corners: Vancouver 1 – Pali 3

Cautions:
Vancouver: none
Pali: Tantillo 77'

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
27.Sian Bagshawe; 6.Rachel Pelat (3.Diane Rizzardo 79'), 10.Katrin Schmidt, 17.Eden Hingwing, 18.Chelsea Stang; 7.Rosalyn Hicks (19.Anoop Josan 63'), 15.Caitlin Davie (16.Melissa Mobilio 34'), 29.Kirsteen Buchan (12.Mallory Outerbridge 34'); 4.Amy Vermeulen (21.Lauren Lachlan 87'), 14.Sanna Talonen (28.Nikki Wright 80'), 25.Tiffeny Milbrett

Pali Blues
1.Valerie Henderson; 3.Amy LePeilbet, 4.Kendall Fletcher; 2.Kara Kabellis, 7.Liz Bogus (23.Sasha Andrews 82'), 10.Leah Tapscott (20.Caroline Dew 84'), 19.Jill Oakes; 8.Kandace Wilson, 9.Danesha Adams (24.Mele French 79'), 11.Ilaria Pasqui (25.Katy Cross 45') 16.Rosa Tantillo (17.Erika Prado 82')