Whitecaps Women Tie Defending Champs

BURNABY, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC women battled to a well-earned 1-1 draw against the defending W-League champions Pali Blues, Sunday afternoon at Swangard Stadium. Forward Kirsteen Buchan gave Vancouver a first-half lead, before Pali equalized early in the second half. It was only the second game in their history that Pali had failed to win.

With Sophie Schmidt unavailable, Coach Alan Koch switched Amy Vermeulen back into midfield in a 4-4-2 formation. New signing Carmelina Moscato slotted into central defence alongside Randee Hermus, while Katie Thorlakson remained at left fullback. Shannon Woeller returned to the starting eleven at right fullback, as Rachel Pelat was pushed up into midfield. Jodi-Ann Robinson and Kirsteen Buchan started up front for the second game in a row.

Vancouver started very well and had most of the opening play. Just two minute in, young midfielder Chelsea Stewart hit a good left-footer from the top of the box which Pali goalkeeper Kristin Olsen did well to punch over the bar.

At the other end, Pali’s best chances came from US international forward Lauren Cheney, who fired a couple of efforts over the bar, inside the first quarter hour.

Whitecaps opened scoring on 28′. A good tackle from Carmelina Moscato in midfield won the ball for Amy Vermeulen who fired it ahead to Kirsteen Buchan on the edge of the area. Buchan took one touch with her right foot then quickly volleyed the ball with her left, sending it past the keeper just inside the left post. It was the first time in three meetings that Vancouver had scored on Pali.

The visitors had few good opportunities in the opening 45, with the best being carved out by Cheney. On 38′, the 2008 Olympic gold medallist got the better of Shannon Woeller to the left of goal, then moved in, and from the sharpest of angles fired the ball across the face of goal dangerously.

Vancouver hit straight back on the counter-attack, with Jodi-Ann Robinson leading a two-on-two. She was forced to stop, but then slipped a great ball to Buchan breaking on the right. Buchan got to the ball 15-yards out, and hit a crisp shot to the far top corner that whistled just over the bar with the goalkeeper beaten.

Vancouver led 1-0 at halftime.

Full Story