By Brandon Timko/whitecapsfc.com
Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Men wrapped up their weekend in the British Columbia Interior with a second straight 2-1 defeat - this time at the hands of Okanagan Challenge on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Mission Turf in Kelowna, BC.
Prospects head coach Bart Choufour made three changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Kamloops Excel on Saturday evening. Matt Robinson replaced Evan Lowther in goal, while Riley Newport replaced Cameron Parkes in the visitors' midfield. Carlos Del Aguila, meanwhile, started in place of the suspended Lucas Barrett.
The match opened up early in the second half following a goalless first half, in which both teams battled their way through the hot temperatures. The Whitecaps opened the scoring on 50 minutes when which Ashley Ankiewicz flicked a long forward ball by Robinson into the path of Curtis Helm. The midfielder then split the Challenge defence before firing a shot into the back of the net for a 1-0 Prospects lead.
The lead, however, last a mere five minutes. Okanagan broke in on goal, but were denied by a sprawling Robinson. Unfortunately for the 'Caps, Robinson was judged by the match referee to have also gotten a piece of the player, and for a second straight match, a penalty was awarded against Choufour’s side. Okanagan would put away the spot kick to level the match at 1-1.
The home team would strike again on 65 minutes, and against the run of play. A quick counter-attack was finished past Robinson to give the Challenge a 2-1 lead.
Vancouver pressed for the equalizer for the remainder of the match, but it was to no avail, as defeat dropped the Whitecaps to 1W-7L-2D in their Pacific Coast Soccer League Premier Division campaign.
The Prospects Men now prepare for a Canada Day match on Wednesday against Khalsa Sporting Club at Gates Park in Port Coquitlam, BC. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. PDT.
Whitecaps Prospects Men
Matt Robinson; Kyle Knees, Rhys Volkenant, Erik Hacker, Jerome Lou; Adam Staschuk (Bryan Cha 30’), Riley Newport (Curtis Helm 45’), Curtis Helm (Harry Lakhan 30’), Ashley Ankiewicz, Carlos Del Aguila (Riley Newport 60’), Denny Serifovic (Cameron Parkes 30’)
