Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Women recorded their second straight 4-0 win in just three days on Tuesday night, as they defeated visiting Semiahmoo SC at Simon Fraser University.
Leading scorer Alicia Tesan netted a hat-trick to pace the home side, while Chelsea Buckland, back from injury, had the other goal.
The Prospects were without versatile forward Nikki Wright, who has been called up to join the Whitecaps first team for their three-game southern California road trip. Defender Brianna Shaw also got the call to join the W-League 'Caps, but is flying out to Los Angeles a day later, which made her available to start against Semiahmoo.
The visitors came into the game still looking for their first win of the season, and came close to getting off on the right foot when Marley Greiner broke in on goal just three minutes in. However, she was denied by a good save from Whitecaps goalkeeper Shimone Slomowitz.
The Whitecaps respond quickly, as on eight minutes, Sarah Fitzsimmons broke into the box and slipped a nice ball to Tesan to the left of the goal. She calmly stroked it wide of the Semiahmoo keeper and in to give Vancouver an early lead.
It was 2-0 just ten minutes later, and again, it was Tesan who scored. A bouncing ball was nodded ahead by Janine Frazao to Tesan in the box, and she turned well before beating the keeper cleanly.
Full credit goes to Semiahmoo, who battled hard to get back into the game. The visitors applied good pressure on the ball for the balance of the half, rarely letting the Whitecaps to settle. Vancouver did manage a couple of chances just before the break, the best falling to Tesan, who used her pace to break in alone before lofting a high chip over the keeper, which went just wide.
It was 2-0 at halftime.
The second half had barely started when Whitecaps midfielder Natalie Boyd fired a rocket of a shot that smashed against the post. But there was action at both ends, as Slomowitz made another fine save to deny Veronica Rice in close.
On minute 62, the Whitecaps added a third goal in a scramble, as the ball bounced off several players in front before going in, with halftime substitute Chelsea Buckland getting the final Whitecaps touch. Buckland almost scored a beauty minutes later, but her powerful volley from 20 yards out flew wide.
Despite the scoreline, Semiahmoo kept plugging away, with good shots from Emily Hubbard and Cassandra Samarco that were turned back by Slomowitz.
Alicia Tesan, meanwhile, was still looking to add to her tally, as she chases the PCSL scoring title. On minute 80, she completed her hat-trick after turning on the jets to break in alone and fire Vancouver into a four-goal lead.
The last chance fell to Semiahmoo, as Kelly McCale did well to spin and shoot from in close, but the ball skipped inches wide of the far post – thus preserving a well-deserved shutout for Slomowitz.
The Whitecaps improve to 6-1-0 on the season, as they close to within six points of 8-1-0 PCSL Premier Division leaders Victoria Stars. Semiahmoo drop to 0-7-1 and remain in last place.
There is no rest for the Prospects Women, as they return to SFU on Thursday night for a rematch with Surrey United. Kick-off is at 7:30pm.
Whitecaps Prospects Women - starting line-up v Semiahmoo SC
Shimone Slomowitz; Melissa Bowen, Brienna Shaw, Victoria Gonzalez-Milroy, Alanna Foster; Tessa Meyer, Natalie Boyd, Carolyn Bell, Janine Frazao; Alicia Tesan, Sarah Fitzsimmons
