By BRUCE CONSTANTINEAU
The Vancouver Whitecaps finally ended a frustrating goal-scoring drought with a well-earned 2-0 victory over the Rochester Rhinos in USSF D-2 play Saturday at Swangard Stadium.
The Caps broke a three-game goalless streak in the 17th minute when rookie forward Cornelius Stewart collected a shot/pass from striker Marcus Haber in the Rochester box and fired a hard strike past Rochester keeper Neal Kitson.
It was the first Vancouver goal in more than 295 minutes of play - following three straight scoreless draws - and the first scored during the run of play in five weeks.
Stewart made his third straight start for Vancouver and the 20-year-old St. Vincent & Grenadines international nearly collected another goal just five minutes later when he was sent in with a nifty pass from midfielder Ansu Toure and fired a shot just wide of the far post.
The speedy Stewart's pace caused big problems for Rhinos defenders and his breakthrough tally clearly inspired a Whitecaps squad that has grown tired of answering questions about the lack of goal scoring this season. Before the game, the Caps had scored just five goals in eight games while allowing only three.
Rochester began the second half with a great scoring chance when forward Anthony Hamilton was sent in alone and forced Vancouver keeper Jay Nolly to make a fine save off a close-in strike.
But the Whitecaps opened a two-goal lead in the 51st minute when defender Greg Janicki got his bandaged head on a Martin Nash cross to beat Kitson at the far post.
Vancouver controlled most of the play after that and Haber nearly made it 3-0 in the 64th minute when he headed a Toure cross off the Rochester crossbar.
The win pushes the Whitecaps back to the top of the NASL Conference with a record to 3-1-3 and 12 points, one more than second-place Montreal Impact.
Vancouver travels to Montreal Sunday to begin a three-game road trip with a Nutrilite Canadian Championship game against the Impact on Wednesday.
bconstantineau@vancouversun.com © Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
