SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR – It was the 25th minute of Thursday's inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup match between Vancouver Whitecaps FC League1 BC women's team and Alianza Women FC.
An exuberant Kaylee Hunter timed her run to perfection in behind the Alianza backline and zipped past Alianza's goalkeeper, with an open net staring into her eyes. The 16-year-old was then brought down in the area before getting a shot away, giving the 'Caps the opportunity to score the first-ever Concacaf W Champions Cup goal and more importantly, take a 1-0 lead in an effort to secure their qualification to the group stage.
Up stepped 17-year-old and Coquitlam, BC native Emily Wong.
Composed, clinical, and fearless are just some of the words that come to mind as the versatile midfielder slotted home a confident, right-footed strike from the spot into the left corner.
The team continued to threaten Alianza in their own house, while also standing brave and mature in defence, something not many teams from North America often do on their trips to Central America.
In the end, the girls made history by securing a 1-0 victory to punch their ticket to the group stage, all while going into an unfamilair environment and showing they belonged, no matter their age.
"One of the cool things about them being young is they play free and it's something we see as a super strength of ours," mentioned head coach Katie Collar in Thursday's post-match press conference.
"We are definitely young in this tournament but I think for us, [it's about] focusing on the good things about it and the fact that these kids are ready to play and they're excited to be here."
Of the 22 players on the roster, 16 are teenagers. 11 of those teenagers had a hand in Thursday night's victory.
"They really just play with a lot of gut, a lot of heart, and they play free," added Collar.
Along with the youthfulness of the squad, Collar also touched on having some experience in the group, which the 'Caps gained back in July with the additions of Dakota Beckett, Morgan McAslan, Brianne Reed, Josie Longhurst, Jessica De Filippo, and Jourdan Ziff.
# | FIRST NAME | LAST NAME | POSITION | AGE | HOMETOWN |
4 | Emily | Wong | D/M | 17 | Coquitlam, BC |
7 | Jeneva | Hernandez Gray | M | 17 | Coquitlam, BC |
8 | Jaime | Perrault | D/W | 18 | Pitt Meadows, BC |
11 | Kaylee | Hunter | F | 16 | Calgary, AB |
12 | Keira | Martin | D | 17 | Langley, BC |
13 | Sammy | Reimer | D | 17 | Calgary, AB |
14 | Téa | Mayson | D | 16 | North Vancouver, BC |
15 | Jade | Mitchell | F | 17 | Port Moody, BC |
16 | Bridget | Mutipula | D | 16 | Halifax, NS |
18 | Zahra | Bains | M | 16 | Surrey, BC |
19 | Josie | Longhurst | M | 22 | Edenbridge, England |
20 | Chloe | Taylor | D | 15 | North Vancouver, BC |
21 | Jourdan | Ziff | F | 26 | Temecula, California |
22 | Jessica | De Filippo | F | 23 | St. Lazare, QB |
24 | Bianca | Patik | M | 16 | Calgary, AB |
25 | Mia | Guterres | W | 15 | North Vancouver, BC |
26 | Abigail | Anderson | F | 16 | Surrey, BC |
27 | Quinn | Johnson | F | 17 | Vancouver, BC |
28 | Brianne | Reed | D | 30 | Tinton Falls, New Jersey |
30 | Kylie | Sandulak | GK | 16 | Delta, BC |
32 | Dakota | Beckett | GK | 21 | Langley, BC |
33 | Morgan | McAslan | GK | 24 | Waterdown, ON |
"Alianza brought a good game to us and played some good football, but I think we delt with the pressure well and we managed to get the one goal in the end which got us the win so we're super happy," said Longhurst, who played the full 90 minutes.
Defender Keira Martin, who also started the match and played the full 90 minutes, also spoke after the match. The 17-year-old, Langley, BC native originally joined the club's Pre-Girls Elite squad in August 2020 after previously playing with Surrey United SC in the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League.
"I'm so honoured to have the opportunity to play in this game, it's been such a dream come true for me and everyone else on the squad, I think we've worked so hard for everything that we've gotten the opportunity for and it was just such an incredible game," expressed Martin.
"I'm so proud of every single person on the field and what they did, it was such a surreal moment."
Make no mistake, Thursday night will live long in the memory for the women's game in Canada and is sure to inspire even more girls across the country to follow their dreams of reaching the professional level.
Vancouver are now set to play each team in Group B once, for a total of four matches per club.
Collar shared her thoughts on qualifying after the match and can't wait to see her team challenge themselves against some of the world's best.
"The next round is going to be unbelievable," stated Collar.
"The opportunity to be tested against some of the top players in the world, it's going to be tough and we are young, but I think we never back out of a fight and we're up for a challenge."
Whitecaps FC will open the group with a visit to Mexican side Club América Femenil at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes on Wednesday, August 21 and then travel to Panamá to face Santa Fe FC at Estadio Universitario on Wednesday, September 4.
The 'Caps will conclude group play when they host National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) clubs San Diego Wave FC on Tuesday, October 1 and Portland Thorns FC on Tuesday, October 15 at BC Place. Whitecaps FC Season Members will receive pre-sale access with a preferred member rate and tickets will be on sale to the general public on Tuesday, August 27 at 10 a.m. PT.
