Match Report:

By Alan Douglas/whitecapsfc.com

Vancouver Whitecaps FC women downed Ventura County Fusion 3-1 in front of 2,148 enthusiastic Canada Day fans at Swangard Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Jodi-Ann Robinson scored two goals, including the match winner, after Kirsteen Buchan had headed the Whitecaps to a lead just two minutes in.

Whitecaps head coach Alan Koch made two changes from the starting XI that played in Sunday's 1-1 home draw with Colorado Force FC. Sian Bagshawe replaced rookie Stephanie Panozzo in goal, while Buchan got the nod up front in a 4-3-3 formation alongside Amy Vermeulen and leading goalscorer Robinson.

Goalscoring has been a problem for the 'Caps this season, but the Blue and White wasted no time making their mark on the scoresheet in Wednesday's USL W-League match. Just two minutes in, Katie Thorlakson curled a free kick into the Fusion box, which Buchan met in the air and headed past Ventura goalkeeper Kay Hawke. It was Buchan's second goal of the season.

The visitors' best chance of the opening half came on nine minutes, as Brazilian winger Heloisa Oliveira on the left fired a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but there was nobody there to get a final touch for the Fusion.

At the other end on 11 minutes, Vermeulen danced passed two Ventura defenders on the left to break in on goal, but Hawke got enough of the sharp-angle shot to touch it against the outside of the post.

The Whitecaps were enjoying the better of the play. Robinson had a couple of chances, with Buchan twice chipping a nice ball into her, but the striker could not get a shot off.

On 24 minutes, Carmelina Moscato tried an opportunistic volley from 35 yards, but Hawke was not caught out, as she made the save.

Whitecaps doubled their lead on 39 minutes, as Vermeulen on the left of midfield slipped the ball inside for Robinson, who went past several defenders with a burst of speed, then blew past the last defender with another burst of speed. She charged in on goal before striking a left-foot shot over the sprawling Hawke and into the net.

It meant the 'Caps led 2-0 at the break.

Ventura County pulled a goal back on a penalty kick on 52 minutes. The Fusion were awarded the spot kick after Oliveira went down in the box under the challenge from Whitecaps fullback Rachael Pelat. Midfielder Emily Cressy did the honours, slotting the ball inside the right post, with Bagshawe going the wrong way.

Three minutes later, Cressy almost fired in a shock equalizer, but Bagshawe made a diving save to preserve Vancouver's lead.

Just past the hour mark, a cross from Pelat found Robinson, who sent a looping header goalward, but Hawke was well positioned to make the grab.

On 69 minutes, Vermeulen made a great run down the left, cutting in and getting over a cross from just inside the six-yard box. The ball was cleared in front, hit Buchan, then ricocheted wide of the post.

The Whitecaps put the game away on 72 minutes, as a long ball out of the back from Randee Hermus was headed on by Vermeulen to Robinson, who again got behind the Fusion defence to go in on goal. She stroked home her second goal of the match, and team-leading sixth of the season.

"Sometimes as a striker, every ball you touch you score, and this was one of those games for me," Robinson said after the game. "I didn't get a lot of shots, but the shots I did get I finished."

"It's definitely a confidence booster knowing that this team drew with Seattle," Robinson added. "We just want to keep winning our games to get a shot at playing in the playoffs."

Both keepers had a couple more routine saves to make before the final whistle sounded, giving Whitecaps their first home win of the season, by a 3-1 score.


Coach Koch was delighted with his team's performance as well getting the win in front of the large and noisy home crowd. "We were playing like that on our California road trip," he told Whitecaps FC, "with the same intensity, but we just didn't quite get the results we wanted."

The much-needed win raises Vancouver's record to 2-2-5, as 'Caps jump from fifth place to third in the tight W-League Western Conference standings. With three games remaining, Whitecaps are three points behind 3-0-5 Seattle Sounders, who also hold a game in hand in the race for the final playoff spot.

"The challenge for us us that it's only a 12-game schedule," said Koch. "It always takes a few games to figure out how you are going to play; that's been evident this season. Today we showed we know how to play, know we need to carry that forward in the last three games."

The win for Bagshawe was the 28th in her Vancouver career, surpassing the team-record total of 27 held by Erin McLeod. As well, Robinson's two goals move her into tenth in Vancouver's career scoring list with 12 goals and four assists, passing Sara Maglio.

The Whitecaps next game is their final regular season home match of the season, against Real Colorado Cougars Sunday, July 5, at Coquitlam's Percy Perry Stadium. The game starts at 4 p.m. and Coach Koch hopes his players will be ready. "We know we're capable of playing well; we just need to make sure we show up and play with that same intensity for 90 minutes."

Scoring Summary
2’ – VAN – Kirsteen Buchan (Katie Thorlakson)
39' - VAN - Jodi-Ann Robinson (Amy Vermeulen)
52' - VEN – Emily Cressy (penalty)
72’ – VAN – Jodi-Ann Robinson (Amy Vermeulen)

Match Stats
Shots: Ventura 8 - Vancouver 13
Saves: Ventura 7 - Vancouver 4
Fouls: Ventura 9 - Vancouver 14
Offsides: Ventura 1 - Vancouver 8
Corners: Ventura 2 - Vancouver 6

Cautions
51’ – VAN – Rachael Pelat

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Sian Bagshawe; 3.Shannon Woeller, 8.Rachael Pelat, 11.Randee Hermus, 16 Katie Thorlakson (19.Eden Hingwing 60’); 13.Chelsea Stewart, (7.Ashley McGhee 89’) 18.Monica Lam-Feist, 29.Carmelina Moscato (17.Kim McMullen 89’); 4.Kirsteen Buchan (25.Chelsea Buckland 70’), 6.Amy Vermeulen, 10.Jodi-Ann Robinson (2.Kate Qually 88’)

Subs not used: 26.Devon Wharf, 22.Rosalyn Hicks

Ventura County Fusion
00.Kay Hawke, 4.Fabiane Nascimento, 10.Paula Pires, 13.Ericka Baer (7.Faith Perry 81’), 20.Loretta Nixon; 8.Natalie Martineau, 11.Heloisa Oliveira, 14.Melissa Peck, 22.Jazmarae Strozier (2.Cat Walker 62’); 21.Emily Cressy, 24.Jessica Velazquez (18.Daisy Vazquez 62’)