Match Report:

By Alan Douglas/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps women saw their season come to a disappointing end on Saturday, as they lost 1-0 to Seattle Sounders in the USL W-League Western Conference playoff final at Swangard Stadium.

A spectacular bicycle kick from Sounders top scorer Chalise Baysa on minute 67 was the difference, as Seattle now advance to the W-League semifinals in Virginia Beach, Virginia, next week.

Whitecaps leading scorer Tiffeny Milbrett started the game on the substitutes' bench, as she was suffering from back pains. Midfielder Chelsea Stewart was also a scratch, which meant that Paige Adams and veteran Rosalyn Hicks both came in to get the start in midfield.

The visitors started brightly, as Vancouver goalkeeper Erin McNulty had to make a couple of good early saves. On 10 minutes, she did well to hold a 25-yard shot from Annie Schefter. Three minutes later, Lisa Sari hit a 30-yard blast that was heading to the top right corner of the goal, but McNulty was able to get her gloves to it.

The Whitecaps came more into the play as the half progressed, and twice tested Seattle goalkeeper Jessica Salvi on minute 21. First, a header from Julie Armstrong was gathered comfortably, then a few ticks later, midfielder Paige Adams tried her luck with a powerful shot from 25 yards that was right at the Sounders shot-stopper.

There was a moment of controversy on minute 28, as Vancouver had a goal called back by referee Darci Kruse. Defender Chelsea Stang was apparently called for a foul on a defender, as she challenged for a high ball in the area from an Adams' free kick. Salvi came out and missed the ball, which Armstrong fired at goal and Lexi Marton tapped over the goal line, but by that point, the whistle had already been blown.

It was scoreless at halftime.

Both teams had chances just after the break. On minute 46 following a Seattle corner kick, the ball bounced around dangerously in front, before it was finally scrambled away. Back up the field the other way, Katrin Schmidt turned and hit a 25-yard effort just over the bar. Five minutes later from a free kick in a similar position, Kaylyn Kyle landed a dipping shot on to the roof of the net.

Schmidt's attacking play up the left was a problem for Seattle for most of the game, and on minute 59, the German fullback surged forward again and hit a bending shot that Salvi dove to save.

A minute later, Karla Schacher gained possession to the left of goal and centered it for Monica Lam-Feist in front, but her first touch let her down, allowing Salvi to pounce on the loose ball.

A minute after that, Schmidt made another great run into the box, and when her centering pass rebounded back to her, she snatched a shot just wide, with the Seattle keeper beaten.

After a flurry of Vancouver chances, it was Seattle who got on the scoresheet on 67 minutes. From a Sounders corner on the left, Kate Deines stabbed a bouncing ball high towards goal, which McNulty clawed off the line. Shannon Lovejoy headed it back in front to Baysa on the doorstep and she acrobatically scored off a bicycle kick from two yards out.

Vancouver pressed for the equalizer. On minute 78, Schmidt on the left sent across a good ball to Karla Schacher, who did well to get a head to it, but only to see it come back off the left post. It ran to Milbrett, who had just been subbed into the game, and her shot from 12 yards was superbly saved by Salvi on the Seattle goal line.

Milbrett herself was disappointed not to contribute more to Saturday's playoff contest. "I could have tried to play with my sore back a little bit more, but we weren't trailing until around 65 minutes," she said after the game. "Yet, I admit it's frustrating to not be part of the team for a large part of the game."
 
The Whitecaps last chance came in minute 82, as Lam-Feist sent a ball ahead to Schacher breaking on the left. When Salvi came out to challenge, the Vancouver striker did well to fire the ball past her from a sharp angle, but it rolled inches wide of the far post.

Whitecaps centre back Lexi Marton felt her side performed well, despite the season-ending defeat. "It's a disappointment, as we all wanted to go to Virginia and the final four, but I think we are all happy with our performance today. We started slowly but came through to finish strongly in a the game could have gone either way."

Sounders head coach Teddy Mitalas was delighted that his side could overcome their arch-rivals in such a pivotal game. "It's always a great match-up between our two teams," he told whitecapsfc.com. "When we have an even set of players on both sides of the pitch, it makes for a good game, and people saw a good game today. By countering against Vancouver with a 4-3-3 formation, that helped us out, as we played in the same shape that they do. The championship tournament will be a tall order, but we're just happy to be going to Virginia Beach, as it will be our third year in a row in the final four."

This was the second time that Seattle has upset the Whitecaps in the Western Conference final. In 2003, they eliminated Vancouver on penalty kicks. Seattle now advance to the W-League's 'Final Four', where they will face Western Conference rivals Pali Blues in the single-game semifinals on Thursday, July 31, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Pali advanced directly after claiming the regular season crown with a perfect 12-0-0 record. The other semifinal will feature the champions of the Eastern and Central Conferences.

While Whitecaps head coach Bob Birarda was disappointed to see the season end abruptly on Saturday, he felt there was a lot to take from the 2008 campaign. "We don't like to lose the last game that we play in, but I think the season has been a big success," he told reporters after the game. "With the things that we have gone through and had to deal with, I was pleased by the energy and commitment that they showed, and that they still wanted to play for each other. The only disappointing thing was the result, but Seattle are a good team and we faced a lot of adversity from them today."
 
The Whitecaps would like to thank their many fans for their fantastic support throughout a challenging season, in which Vancouver fielded a record 39 different players. Vancouver will be back in 2009 to again challenge for the W-League title.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC have announced that they will pursue one of two Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchises set to be added to the league by 2011. Fans are encouraged to visit whitecapsfc.com/mls to register their support for a Whitecaps MLS franchise and help show the rest of North America what Vancouver and British Columbia have to offer.

Goal Summary:
SEA - Chalise Baysa (Shannon Lovejoy) 67'

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 18 - Seattle 8
Saves: Vancouver 5 - Seattle 9
Fouls: Vancouver 8 - Seattle 7
Offsides: Vancouver 1 - Seattle 4
Corners: Vancouver 1 - Seattle 7

Cautions:
Vancouver: none
Seattle: Chalise Baysa 84'
 
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Erin McNulty; 4.Lexi Marton, 6.Rachael Pelat, 10.Katrin Schmidt, 15.Chelsea Stang; 7. Rosalyn Hicks (23.Tina Romagnuolo 80'), 8.Kaylyn Kyle, 21.Paige Adams; 9.Julie Armstrong (25.Tiffeny Milbrett 77'), 18.Monica Lam-Feist, 24.Karla Schacher

Subs not used: 26.Justine Bernier; 3.Shannon Woeller, 12.Mallory Outerbridge, 17.Eden Hingwing, 19.Anoop Josan

Seattle Sounders
30.Jessica Salvi; 14.Kathrine Reynolds, 15.Shannon Lovejoy, 19.Kate Deines, 23.Kelli Smith; 2.Chalise Baysa, 9.Tafara Pulse, 11.Lisa Sari, 12.Michelle French; 10.Annie Schaefter, 27.Nikki Gamble

Subs not used: 31.Kati Hutlin, 3.MaryAnn Boddy, 5.Kara Hamby, 7.Tameka Sumter, 17.Cara Nordins, 22.Beth Drollinger, 25.Amy Carnell