By Brandon Timko/whitecapsfc.com
Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Men suffered a 3-1 defeat to Surrey United in Pacific Coast Soccer League action on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Simon Fraser University.
Two goals by striker Michael Evans led the way for the visitors. Gavin Barrett scored the Whitecaps before Matt Rosenlund rounded out the scoring for United at SFU's Terry Fox Field.
United started the match aggressively, with striker Andrew Proctor volleying just over the crossbar eight minutes into the contest.
Bart Choufour’s side looked to take the lead four minutes later when Erik Hacker sent Curtis Helm in alone on goal, but the midfielder was unable to get a shot off, as United goalkeeper Deeter Sandhu slid for the ball and claimed possession.
Surrey formed another dangerous attack on 21 minutes when former Toronto FC player Tyler Rosenlund sent a ball into Proctor, but his low shot was well saved by Prospects goalkeeper Evan Lowther.
On 38 minutes, Evans surprised Lowther with a quick near-post shot that beat the 'Caps keeper to give Surrey a 1-0 halftime lead.
Choufour brought on three new players at the break, but it was Surrey who looked the fresher side. They would have increased their lead, if not for two great saves from Lowther. After saving a close-range strike from Proctor, Lowther did well to tip a high shot from substitute Kule Kambere over the Whitecaps crossbar.
Lowther’s heroics would only go so far, however, as Evans put Surrey 2-0 up on 48 minutes by converting on the rebound after Lowther had initially blocked a looping shot from Proctor.
Trailing by two goals with 25 minutes left, Choufour moved defender Gavin Barrett to striker. The move made an immediate impact, as Barrett quickly received a through ball from Harry Lakhan before firing a hard shot off the United post.
Barrett, however, was not going to be denied, as he got the 'Caps on the scoresheet on 69 minutes after playing a beautiful give-and-go with brother Lucas Barrett before beating Sandhu for 2-1.
The Prospects nearly drew level on 75 minutes when a shot from Hacker deflected off a United defender and rolled just wide of goal.
The comeback, however, was not to be, as Matt Rosenlund closed out the scoring when he broke in on goal and slotted the ball past Lowther with eight minutes remaining to give Surrey a 3-1 victory. "We lost the game in the first half, as we were very anxious with our play," Choufour told whitecapsfc.com after Saturday’s defeat. "We weren’t as composed on the ball, as we were in our first game."
The Prospects Men play their next PCSL Premier Division match on Tuesday evening against Khalsa Sporting Club at SFU's Terry Fox Field. Kick off is at 7:30 p.m. PDT.
Whitecaps Prospects Men
Evan Lowther; Kyle Knees, Gavin Barrett, Ashley Ankiewicz, Adam Staschuk (Erik Hacker), Jerome Lou (Ruben Casablanca), Harry Lakhan, Erik Hacker (Carlos Del Aguila), Curtis Helm (Riley Newport) (Cameron Parkes), Nolan Moore (Bryan Cha), Lucas Barrett
Surrey United
Deeter Sandhu; Sukh Garcha, Nathan Quan, Vinnie Stewart, Tyler Rosenlund, Steve Franzo (Rhys Banion), Robbie Cairns, Dave Adams (Matt Rosenlund), Andrew Proctor, Michael Evans (Evan Simard) (Chris Robazza), Marcos Da Silva (Kule Kambere)
