Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-11 and U-12 Prospects teams opened Day One of San Diego Surf Cup XXIX with mixed results on Saturday.
The U-11 Boys and Girls teams fared well, but it was a tough day for the U-12 Boys and Girls teams, as they suffered defeats in their opening two matches.
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GIRLS
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-11 Girls 1 – Los Angeles Rampage FC 0
The Whitecaps U-11 Girls got off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory over Los Angeles Rampage FC. There were chances at both ends in the first half, with LA hitting the crossbar on 14 minutes, while the 'Caps had chances through Brooke Walton and Ashley Burgess on 19 and 20 minutes respectively.
In the second half, Teagan McManus struck the post on a breakaway on 38 minutes before Gurneet Dhaliwal struck a shot over the crossbar five minutes later following a cross from McManus.
The Prospects won the match through a goal from Dhaliwal on 47 minutes. Her shot from the right-hand side deflected off a Rampage defender before finding the back of the net.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-11 Girls 0 – San Diego Surf White 4
The U-11 Girls came back down to earth in their second match, as San Diego Surf White scored two goals in the first seven minutes of the match to defeat the Whitecaps 4-0.
The tournament hosts added a third goal off a cross from the right on 28 minutes before striking a fourth goal before the end. Despite the defeat, Allyson Dickson and Selena Karmali played well for the 'Caps at their fullback positions, while Sonali Dholliwar had a solid performance on the right wing.
The Prospects wrap up group play against Georgia's Tophat 16 Gold on Sunday at 9:40 a.m. PDT.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-12 Girls 1 – Arsenal FC 3
The Whitecaps U-12 Girls fell 3-1 to Arsenal FC of California South in their first match of the tournament. Despite a strong start, Arsenal took the lead on 10 minutes through a fortunate deflection off a corner. Emma Leese and Rachel Jones missed chances in the first half for the 'Caps.
Arsenal made it 2-0 off a through ball and finish on 29 minutes before the Whitecaps replied five minutes later. Some great combination play involving Reetu Johal, Jenna Baxter, and Addy Townsend allowed Jones to go around an Arsenal defender at the penalty spot and slot the ball past the goalkeeper for 2-1.
Arsenal, however, made sure of victory on 48 minutes with a third goal off a counter-attack, as the Whitecaps were caught pressing for an equalizer.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-12 Girls 0 - Carmel Valley Manchester 3
The U-12 Girls fell to another California South club in Carmel Valley Manchester in their second match of the day.
All three goals came off corner kicks, with Carmel Valley taking the lead just five minutes in before doubling their advantage on 29 minutes. They sealed victory with a third goal on 39 minutes.
The Whitecaps will play their final Surf Cup match on Sunday against Palm Beach Magicjacks at 11:00 a.m. PDT.
BOYS
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-11 Boys 1 - Santa Barbara SC White 0
The Whitecaps U-11 Boys defeated Santa Barbara SC White 1-0 in their first match of the day. In the eighth minute, Surrey United product Nikhil Reddy capitalized on a rebound off a Liam Fraser free kick. Coquitlam Metro-Ford’s Patrick Dominguez earned the shutout in goal for the Prospects.
Despite the early goal, the 'Caps struggled to find their regular rhythm throughout their match. White Rock native Fraser struck the crossbar and North Vancouver’s Thomas Gardner found the post with a shot, but that was as close as they would come to adding to their lead.
On the other end, Santa Barbara nearly equalized on a couple occasions, but Surrey’s Kerman Pannu and Zachary Verhoven were both able to clear the ball off the goal line and secure the 1-0 victory.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-11 Boys 5 - San Diego Surf Academy 2
The Whitecaps U-11 Boys dominated San Diego Surf Academy 5-2 to end the day with a perfect record of two wins and no defeats. Vancouver's attack was lead Surrey United product Zachary Verhoven with three goals and two assists, and Peach Arch’s Liam Fraser with one goal and three assists.
With both the 'Caps and Surf Academy winning their earlier matches 1-0, both teams were expecting a close match. However, what pursued was quite the reverse. The young Whitecaps took complete control of the match in the first 12 minutes.
In the seventh minute, Fraser released Verhoven, who beat his first opponent and fed Nikhil Reddy at the far post. Reddy made no mistake and gave the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead. On 10 minutes, after a nice four-way combination, it was again Fraser finding Verhoven. Verhoven dribbled by the center back and calmly slotted it home to make it 2-0.
Two minutes later, the same pair hooked up after Matteo Polisi held up the ball well for Fraser. Fraser then sent Verhoven in alone before the forward dribbled by the goalkeeper to make it 3-0.
On 23 minutes, a nice combination between Lions Gate's Andres Garza and South Burnaby Metro’s Stefan Cuk created space for Fraser to send in Verhoven for the fourth and final goal of the half. It was a very impressive display of sound positional play and creativity, with simple and accurate passing.
At the start of the second half, the Whitecaps continued to press and were quickly rewarded. Two minutes after the restart, a great sequence of passing started in the back, with Surrey FC’s Kerman Pannu passing to Verhoven, who this time returned the favour to Fraser with a nifty reverse pass. Fraser faked a move inside, but went outside on his left and finished a shot into the far corner to make it 5-0.
Shortly after, Fraser and Verhoven received a well deserved rest, but the Whitecaps continued to create a number of chances without scoring again. The Surf Academy were able to score two late goals, one off a 25-yard free kick that sailed into the top corner where Coquitlam Metro-Ford’s goalkeeper Patrick Dominguez had no chance, and the other on a softly rewarded penalty. It finished 5-2 to the Whitecaps.
The 'Caps wrap-up group play against the PAC Impact on Sunday at 12:40 p.m. PDT.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-12 Boys 0 - Dallas Texans 97B South Red 2
The Whitecaps U-12 Boys fell 2-0 to Dallas Texans 97B South Red 2 in their first match of the tournament.
In the opening half, the Whitecaps controlled the majority of the play against a very athletic and big Dallas Texans team. The best chance of the half saw Lynn Valley’s Brendan Shaw volley the ball over net from four yards out after receiving an excellent cross from Port Coquitlam’s Ross Merton.
In the second half, it was the Texans that had the majority of the play and created a number of chances. Eight minutes after the restart, Dallas capitalized when their very big, fast, and skillful winger got behind the Vancouver defence and fed his center forward with an excellent low cross that was drilled into the back of the net. The same Dallas players would connect again for the second goal after the Whitecaps were caught in the last minute trying to find the equalizer.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-12 Boys 0 - San Diego Surf Academy 1
The Whitecaps U-12 Boys suffered their second defeat of the day after falling 1-0 to San Diego Surf Academy.
Entering the match in a must-win situation, the young ‘Caps had the majority of the play and completely dominated the second half, but it was the Surf Academy that was able to capitalize.
Coquitlam Metro-Ford’s goalkeeper Aman Thind came up huge with two great saves to keep the game level, however, he was beaten once on the counter early in the second half. Following the goal, coaches Ruben Casablanca and Bart Choufour went to a very unusual 3-3-4 formation to try and create more scoring opportunities. In the end, it was not to be, as the Surf Academy hung on for a 1-0 win - thus eliminating any chance for the U-12 Boys to advance in the tournament.
The Whitecaps will play their final Surf Cup match tomorrow against Crossfire Premier Spidahl at 11:30 a.m. PDT.
