Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Men suffered a 4-0 home defeat to Seattle Wolves in Pacific Coast Soccer League action at Simon Fraser University on Saturday.
The Wolves wasted no time going for the jugular against the young Whitecaps, who are still looking for their first PCSL win. Just three minutes in, Clay Walton-House turned well at the top of the area before playing it square on the left to Santa Maria Rivera, and he fired the visitors into an early lead.
The visiting Wolves then hit the outside of the post ten minutes later before Seattle defender Dave O'Neill blasted a shot off the underside of the crossbar following a corner kick on the quarter-hour mark.
Seattle's pressure soon paid off, as on 19 minutes, a Whitecaps turnover gave the Wolves a chance. While one Wolves attacker mis-hit his shot at the top of the area, the ball ran to Mark Williams on the left, and he fired home from a sharp angle for 2-0.
At the other end, on 23 minutes, Gavin Barrett unleashed a good shot to the bottom right corner to force a diving save from Seattle goalkeeper Sean Conlan.
Five minutes later, Conlan made another stop off Riley Newport, but Seattle came right back on the counter-attack and scored to make it 3-0. A long ball forward was chased by Rivera, and bounced just at the edge of the Whitecaps goal area where goalkeeper Michael Branion-Calles collided with a defender.
The mix-up left Rivera an empty net to score his second of the game for 3-0.
The Whitecaps had more of the play in the second half, but couldn't find a way past Conlan in the Seattle goal. Substitute Brayden Gant had a great chance just minutes after the restart when he found himself face-to-face with the keeper in front of the Seattle net, but the bouncing ball wouldn't sit for him, and he couldn't get a good shot off.
On the hour mark, Whitecaps forward Gavin Barrett did well to spin and shoot, but he sent his effort over the Wolves crossbar.
Whitecaps head coach Bart Choufour brought on substitute goalkeeper Matt Robinson soon after, and on minute 75, he made an outstanding diving save to deny Seattle's Ian Walsh.
However, Robinson could do nothing to prevent a fourth Seattle goal with two minutes remaining. The Vancouver defence was stretched, as Williams fired a deep cross to the far post. Several players climbed for the header, but the ball found its way over the goal-line on its own, giving Williams his second goal of the game to close out the scoring.
The Prospects Men drop to 0-4-0 in the PCSL Premier Division standings, while Seattle improve to 2-2-1.
These two teams have no time to rest, as they now head down Interstate 5 for Sunday's rematch at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington.
Whitecaps Prospects Men - starting line-up v Seattle Wolves
Michael Branion-Calles; Jordan Whitehead, Branden McLean, Ben Leggett, Jordan Casoli; Ben Hemphill, Nat Blaiklock, Riley Newport; Ian Clark, Gavin Barrett, Milad Mehrabi
