Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Men fell to a 2-1 home defeat against Peace Arch United in Pacific Coast Soccer League action on Tuesday night.
Despite having five first-team players in the starting line-up, the Whitecaps struggled to convert their chances against their fellow PCSL Premier Division strugglers at Simon Fraser University's Terry Fox Field, having out-shot Peace Arch seven to two over the course of the opening 45 minutes.
The Prospects had the first good chance on minute 26, as Max Maund broke quickly on the right and unleashed a hard shot to the near post that United keeper Danny Smythe did well to stop.
The Prospects took the lead seconds later on a well-worked Vancouver corner, as Admir Salihovic helped it on to Ben Hemphill, who spun and fired for 1-0.
Ten minutes before halftime, however, Peace Arch drew level when Ivan Estrada did well to send in a cross that was fired in by one-time Whitecaps Reserve team player Matt Ormerod for 1-1 at the break.
With the game well poised, the Whitecaps looked the brighter side in the first quarter of an hour of the second half, shooting with great frequency, but unfortunately with little accuracy. However, they were unable to maintain their high tempo for the remainder of the contest.
In a game filled with such promising young talent, it was ironically the thirty-something legs of former Whitecaps winger Tiarnan King that rose to the occasion, and carried the visitors to victory. In the final half-hour, King made four strong runs to create chances. The prettiest was in minute 78, as "TK" played a nice one-two with Robbie Tice before blasting a shot that Prospects goalkeeper Michael Branion-Calles was fortunate to get a foot to.
Two minutes later, King fashioned the game winner on a Peace Arch counter-attack. He charged up the middle before slipping the ball ahead to Ormerod, who stretched to neatly flick the ball over the onrushing Branion-Calles to make it 2-1.
It was a disappointing evening for the Prospects, who remain bottom of the PCSL Premier Division following the midweek defeat. The Whitecaps will now turn their attentions to their next league game at SFU on Saturday afternoon, as Kamloops Excel pay a visit this coming weekend. Peace Arch, meanwhile, will host Vancouver Thunderbirds on Wednesday, July 2.
Whitecaps Prospects Men - line-up v Peace Arch United
Michael Branion-Calles; Harry Lakhan, Luca Bellisomo, Ben Leggett, Gavin Barrett (Adrian Bears 68'); Mason Webb, Ben Hemphill, Mason Trafford; Admir Salihovic (Milad Mehrabi 81'), Nick Webb, Max Maund (Ian Clark 45')
