Match Report:

By Alan Douglas/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps women recorded a comfortable 3-1 win over the visiting Fort Collins Force, with striker Tiffeny Milbrett hitting for two goals and an assist, all in the first half.

The win will likely be enough to see the Whitecaps into the W-League playoffs, depending on the outcome of out-of-town results this coming Friday.  Regardless, the Whitecaps can clinch a playoff spot on Sunday, July 20, when they host Real Colorado Cougars in their final match of the regular season.

With thirteen players now back in the squad following Canada's triumphant showing at the CONCACAF U-20 Women's Championship in Mexico, the challenge for coach Bob Birarda is to re-integrate these players with the eight additions that were made in their absence.

"It was strange bringing the group back together," commented Birarda. "It was a challenge, like a third start to the season, with everybody's roles readjusting again. I was a little bit nervous about today because Fort Collins were really good in Colorado."

Birarda did not have to be nervous for long, as Vancouver opened the scoring just 11 minutes in. Midfielder Monica Lam-Feist first-timed a pass to Milbrett on the left, and she took on her marker before firing a low cross to Karla Schacher, who was coming in at the far post. Schacher blasted it in from six yards to score her first Whitecaps goal.

Milbrett had a good chance from a similar position moments later, as she broke in from the left. Goalkeeper Emma Bailey, who was making her Force debut, came out well to make the stop.

On minute 38, Lam-Feist did well to turn in the box between two Fort Collins defenders, only to be brought down by one of them in Sally Cole. Referee Alan Roosch pointed to the spot, and on minute 39, Milbrett converted the penalty kick to make it 2-0.

Lam-Feist, who was one of Canada's standout players in Mexico, was happy to be back in Vancouver. "It's really nice to come back and play for the Whitecaps, especially with the home crowd. I really love playing here."

Just four minutes later, it was 3-0, and again it was Milbrett. A long throw-in from defender Chelsea Stang on the left went over the head of Jodi-Ann Robinson and into the six-yard box, where Fort Collins defender Cole got crossed up with her goalkeeper Bailey and sent an awkward header almost straight up in the air. Milbrett reacted quickly, chesting the ball down and neatly firing it past the Force keeper on the half-volley. It was her team-leading fourth goal of the season, and 25th of her Vancouver career, moving her ahead of Diana Artuso and Andrea Neil into third place in the club's all-time goals list.

It was 3-0 at the halftime break, with Fort Collins yet to record a shot on goal.

Milbrett almost scored her third goal in the opening minute of the second half. A cross from Amy Vermeulen found its way to the veteran striker to the left of goal. Milbrett beat Bailey with a shot to the near post, but the ball hit the post and rebounded dangerously behind the Fort Collins keeper and across the face of the goal before being cleared.

The woodwork saved Fort Collins again in a wild sequence on minute 58. Another long throw from Stang bounced through to Lam-Feist right in front of goal, and her point-blank shot was blocked by Bailey. The rebound went to Julie Amstrong, who had just substituted into the game. From a sharp angle to the right, her shot hit a defender on the line, ricocheted back across the face of goal, then hit the inside of the right post and bounced out!

Fort Collins keeper Bailey also made several good saves in the second half, stopping Milbrett on minute 62, denying substitute Mallory Outerbridge on a partial breakaway on minute 77, and then barely keeping out a low shot from Lam-Feist two minutes later.

Overall, however, Vancouver failed to show the same intensity in the second half as they had in the first, something which did not please coach Birarda. "In the second half, we tried to get them to keep going because it could come down to goal difference. I was a bit disappointed we didn't keep at them."

The visitors did not seriously threaten the Vancouver goal until late in the game. On minute 84, leading scorer Katie Eriksson made a good move down the right before blasting a hard dipping shot just over the crossbar.

Three minutes later, Fort Collins got on the scoresheet as veteran midfielder Cayla Deacon, who is also the team's general manager, curled a 22-yard free kick past Whitecaps goalkeeper Justine Bernier - thus ruining her shut-out bid.


The win puts the Whitecaps at 6-2-3 with 21 points, as Vancouver remains in second place in the USL W-League Western Conference. Depending on what they do with their games in hand, third-place Real Colorado could be in position to overtake Vancouver when the two teams meet on Sunday, July 20. The Swangard clash would make it either a game for a playoff spot or for the right to host the Western Conference playoff final.

Scoring hero Milbrett is the only player who has been with the team for almost the entire season, giving her a unique perspective on what they have been through and what they can accomplish, now that the Canadian U-20 players have returned. "The team that was together all of June was a really good squad," she said. "We got some results and were able to fill in and hold our own very well. We feel pretty proud of what we've been able to do, and hopefully we can feel that next Sunday."

Fort Collins, meanwhile, are now eliminated from playoff contention, as they drop to 3-5-3 with 12 points to sit fifth in the Western Conference. They play their final game of the season on Tuesday in Seattle, with head coach Craig Deacon hoping for a positive result. "Our season has gone downhill a bit towards the end, as we've had a lot of injuries, but Vancouver were a very good team today," said the Force coach.

Vancouver's final game of the regular season is on Sunday, July 20, against Real Colorado. Kick off is at 4:00pm at Swangard Stadium.

Goal Summaries:
VAN - Karla Schacher (Tiffeny Milbrett) 11'
Midfielder Monica Lam-Feist first-timed a pass to Tiffeny Milbrett on the left, and she took on her marker before firing a low cross to Karla Schacher, who was coming in at the far post. Schacher blasted it in from six yards to score her first Whitecaps goal.

VAN - Tiffeny Milbrett PK - 39'
Monica Lam-Feist did well to turn in the box between two Fort Collins defenders, only to be brought down by one of them in Sally Cole. Referee Alan Roosch pointed to the spot, and on minute 39, Tiffeny Milbrett converted the penalty kick to make it 2-0.

VAN - Tiffeny Milbrett 43'
A long throw-in from defender Chelsea Stang on the left went over the head of Jodi-Ann Robinson and into the six-yard box, where Fort Collins defender Sally Cole got crossed up with her goalkeeper Emma Bailey and sent an awkward header almost straight up in the air. Milbrett reacted quickly, chesting the ball down and neatly firing past the Force keeper on the half-volley. It was her team-leading fourth goal of the season, and 25th of her Vancouver career, moving her ahead of Diana Artuso and Andrea Neil into third place in the club's all-time goals list.

FTC - Cayla Deacon 87'
Veteran Fort Collins midfielder Cayla Deacon curled a 22-yard free kick past Whitecaps goalkeeper Justine Bernier to ruin the Vancouver shot-stopper's shut-out bid.

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 16 - Fort Collins 5
Saves: Vancouver 1 - Fort Collins 5
Fouls: Vancouver 21 - Fort Collins 12
Offsides: Vancouver 2 - Fort Collins 1
Corners: Vancouver 6 - Fort Collins 1

Cautions:
Vancouver: Amy Vermeulen 18', Monica Lam-Feist 63'
Fort Collins: Sally Cole 38', Katie Sturges 54', Julie Williford 66'

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
26.Justine Bernier; 4.Alexandra Marton, 6.Rachael Pelat (3.Shannon Woeller 70'), 10.Katrin Schmidt, 15.Chelsea Stang; 8.Kaylyn Kyle (7.Rosalyn Hicks 70'), 18.Monica Lam-Feist, 24.Karla Schacher (13.Chelsea Steward 46'); 22.Jodi-Ann Robinson (12.Mallory Outerbridge 61'), 25.Tiffeny Milbrett, 32.Amy Vermeulen (9.Julie Amstrong 58')

Subs not used: 27.Sian Bagshawe, 17.Eden Hingwing

Fort Collins Force
00.Emma Bailey; 5.Maureen Smunt (20.Megan Humke 74'), 18.Katie Sturges (11.Sara Aspinwall 54'), 22.Sally Cole, 24.Estelle Johnson; 9.Cayla Deacon, 10.Sara Campbell, 12.Lisa Kosena, 15.Betsy Kyle (23.Erin Bello 56'); 3.Katie Eriksson, 6.Julie Williford (14.Maggie Doe 66')