Whitecaps Women Lose In Season Closer

LITTLETON, CO – Vancouver Whitecaps FC women concluded their W-League season on a down note Sunday afternoon, losing 4-1 away to Real Colorado Cougars in Denver. Kate Qually scored Vancouver’s lone goal in the second half.

Both teams were already eliminated from playoff contention, with Colorado Force having claimed the Western Conference’s second and final playoff spot on Saturday.

Coach Alan Koch made several changes to the side that had lost Friday in Fort Collins. Veteran Ros Hicks came in at midfield in a 4-3-3 formation. Katie Thorlakson was moved up front alongside young speedsters Nikki Wright and Julie Armstrong. At the back, rookie goalkeeper Stephanie Panozzo got the start, as did central defender Kim McMullen.

The match kicked off on a scorching hot afternoon in the mile high city, and was played at a relatively modest pace. Both teams were playing for pride in this game, with Whitecaps hoping they could overtake Seattle Sounders and finish in third spot. However, Real Colorado had other ideas.

In the opening minutes, Vancouver goalkeeper Stephanie Panozzo was twice tested. Just two minutes in, she slid out to block a shot, and five minutes after that collected a rising blast with difficulty.

At the other end, Vancouver came close on four minutes, as a Randee Hermus header off a Thorlakson corner kick was headed off the line by a defender, and out for another corner.

On 14 minutes a shot from Amy Vermeulen had pace, but was right at Cougars keeper Briana Schulze.

Whitecaps suffered a setback midway through the half, as Nikki Wright aggravated an ankle injury which she had picked up late in Friday’s game, and had to come off. Kate Qually took her place.

The home side opened scoring on 35 minutes as Jenna Owens got the ball in the box on the feed from new signing Ameera Abdullah, and fired it into the net. Cougars almost pounced again moments later during a big scramble, in which a couple of shots were blocked, before Whitecaps were finally able to clear.

It was 1-0 at half-time, and still anybody’s game.

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