Whitecaps Women Lose To Pali Blues

LOS ANGELES, CA – Vancouver Whitecaps FC women lost a close 2-1 decision away to the defending W-League champions, Pali Blues, Tuesday night in the Los Angeles district of Pacific Palisades.

The host side benefited from two second-half penalty kicks to score their goals, with the winner coming with just three minutes left on the clock, and three minutes after Vancouver’s Jodi-Ann Robinson had tied it up. It was the second time on the three-game California road trip that Vancouver conceded a late winner.

Following Saturday’s win over Ventura County, Whitecaps head coach Alan Koch switched to a 4-4-2 formation, with Amy Vermeulen dropping back into midfield. Other changes to the squad saw Carmelina Moscato recovering from illness to start in midfield, in place of the unavailable Sophie Schmidt, while Sian Bagshawe returned to her starting spot in goal.

For Pali, former Whitecaps star Kara Lang started on the bench, but subbed in on minute 75 to face her old teammates for the first time.

The game was played at a fast pace, with end-to-end runs, but neither team could generate much in the way of quality scoring chances. Vancouver had a number of good early forays, while speedy Pali forward Nikki Washington was a constant threat at the other end.

On 15′, Vancouver’s Monica Lam-Feist had the best chance in the half with a hard shot, however, Pali goalkeeper Joslyn Slovek did well to make the save. Five minutes later at the other end, Sian Bagshawe had to react quickly to pounce on a loose ball in a dangerous-looking scramble in front.

Both teams went into the break scoreless.

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