After a few dismal seasons, and a few major-league distractions, Vancouver refocuses on quality soccer -- remaining unbeaten is a bonus
BY BRUCE CONSTANTINEAU
A Vancouver team that has missed the playoffs two of the past three seasons has a genuine shot at going undefeated this year.
Is the revamped Vancouver Whitecaps women's squad really that good? So far, yes.
With just four games left to play in the compact 10-game USL W-League regular season, the Caps have four wins and two draws and have no road games remaining. They beat the two-time W-league champion Pali Blues 2-1 in Los Angeles last week, ending the Blues' two-year, 33-game undefeated streak.
The two sides meet again this Sunday when the Whitecaps host Pali at McLeod Athletic Park in Langley.
Vancouver forward and Canadian international veteran Melissa Mancredi said it's a "small goal" for the team to go unbeaten during the regular season.
"We just want to make the playoffs and make our statement from there -hopefully win a championship," she said after a training session Friday. "But undefeated would be nice, I'm not going to lie."
The Whitecaps-- W-League champions in 2004 and 2006 -- are clearly fielding their strongest team in a long time and first-year head coach Hubert Busby attributed a variety of reasons for that.
He said the club "refocused" on the women's team this year after committing many resources in recent years to its Major League Soccer franchise bid.
Financial problems at the Women's Professional Soccer league -which has seen franchises fold in Los Angeles and St. Louis -- also made several quality players available.
Mancredi played with the WPS Saint Louis Athletica last year while veteran Vancouver defender Martina Franko played with the now-defunct Los Angeles Sol. Franko, a 34-year-old Canadian international, has been a solid influence on the back line, just months after giving birth to son Micah.
The Whitecaps also added veteran 23-year-old Canadian midfielder Kara Lang this year, while other solid performers include defender Robyn Gayle, midfielders Sophie Schmidt and Chelsea Stewart and forwards Jodi-Ann Robinson and Amy Vermeulen.
"We have tremendous depth this year," Busby said. "I have the confidence to go to any player at any time and know they will step up and do the job."
He noted the Caps lost starting keeper Siobhan Chamberlain to the English national team last week so backup Stephanie Panozzo came in and played two "amazing" matches -- getting named to the W-League Team of the Week.
Busby likes to get the most from his talented squad by employing varying versions of an aggressive 4-3-3 starting lineup.
"People like to come out and watch an attacking brand of football and we have dynamic players that definitely bring that quality to our side," he said.
Lang, who has recovered from a second anterior cruciate ligament injury to her right knee, is still a substitute but steadily increasing her playing time as she regains match fitness.
Busby has used her as a rightwinger and as an attacking midfielder and she scored her first goal of the season this week in a 3-1 road win against the Seattle Sounders.
Lang, who dribbled and juggled a soccer ball in high heels for Macy Gray's Beauty in the World video, is pleased the Whitecaps women's team appears headed in the right direction.
"This team should have people watching -- it's good soccer," she said. "We're proud of the way we're playing right now."
Lang said players are concerned about the financial problems at WPS but she's convinced of the long-term viability of the women's professional game.
She said the defunct Women's United Soccer Association -which folded in 2003 -tried to go "too big" by playing in huge venues that were never filled and lauded the WPS for playing in smaller stadiums.
"But I still think it needs to be more of a grassroots community thing, more like the Whitecaps are doing this year," Lang said. "You need to reach out to the younger players because it's women's soccer and that's who's interested in women's soccer. You're not going to get the same fan base as the NFL or NBA."
bconstantineau@vancouversun.com
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