Following a three-match road trip in California, Vancouver Whitecaps FC women (4W-1L-1D) return home to play the expansion Los Angeles Strikers FC this Friday, June 10, in the third match of the 2011 Whitecaps Women’s Soccer Series - presented by Kia. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. PT at Surrey’s Newton Athletic Park, and will be hosted by Surrey FC Pegasus.
WHITECAPS FC
Whitecaps FC are looking to get back to their winning ways on Friday against the visiting Strikers. On the tail end of their recent three-match California road trip, the 'Caps suffered their first regular season loss since 2009, falling 5-2 to Santa Clarita Blue Heat.
Two days prior to that match, Whitecaps FC came out on the winning end, as they downed the Strikers 4-2 in Pasadena on goals by Jen Stoltenberg, Tiffany Weimer, and two by Surrey, BC, native Sydney Leroux. Weimer now leads the W-League in scoring with six tallies to her credit, while Leroux is not far behind with four goals to her name.
STRIKERS FC
It's been a bumpy ride so far for LA Strikers FC in their first season of W-League play. After winning two of their first three games, the Strikers fell 4-1 away to Colorado Rush, prompting the team to fire head coach Reggie Rivas just ten days into their season. Under replacement coach Demian Brown – who also heads up the California State University, Fullerton women’s team – the Strikers lost three straight at home, including that 4-2 decision to Whitecaps FC. Now they are on a difficult three-game Pacific Northwest road trip. On Wednesday, the Strikers got back in the win column with a 3-2 victory on Vancouver Island over fellow expansion side Victoria Highlanders FC. After Friday’s clash, LA head to Seattle to face the Sounders on Sunday.
Up front, the Strikers feature a pair of Republic of Ireland internationals in Cherelle Khassal and Julie-Ann Russell. Khassal leads the team with three goals and an assist and was named the W-League Player of the Week earlier in the season.
The key midfielder for Los Angeles is Australian international Amy Chapman. In goal, the Strikers are backstopped by Erin Frushon. A local connection on the squad, meanwhile, is defender Katie Tarrant, who is from Vancouver, BC. She played last season for Santa Clarita, as did Khassal and Frushon.
The Whitecaps FC women’s squad return to Surrey's Newton Athletic Park on Friday, June 24, as they host Pali Blues in the fourth match of the 2011 Whitecaps Women's Soccer Series presented by Kia - in partnership with the Girls Metro Soccer League. That match will also be hosted by Surrey FC Pegasus, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT.
Individual match tickets are available for the affordable price of $12 online at whitecapsfc.com/wtickets. Groups and teams can receive special ticket pricing and benefits by contacting Hugh Hamilton at 778-330-1360or by e-mail at hhamilton@whitecapsfc.com. Tickets will also be available at the gate.
