VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite got their defense of their League1 BC championship off to the perfect start with a dominant 5-1 defeat of visiting Unity FC at Thunderbird Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Kierra Blundell scored a first half hat-trick, while Jaime Perrault and Ashey Roberts also got on the scoresheet for the young ‘Caps in a rematch of last year’s championship game. Unity never gave up fighting, and got on the scoresheet with a second half own goal, but the 'Caps were too strong throughout and sent a strong message to the rest of the league for the season to come.
The 'Caps came out fast on the front foot and had early chances to open the scoring from Noelle Sather, Emma Yee, Kaylee Hunter and Blundell.
The breakthrough came in the 21st minute when Blundell fired home from the penalty spot after Yee was bundled over in the box.
Vancouver made it two just 65 seconds later when Perrault danced through the Unity defence and played a nice give and go with Blundell before firing a nice finish low past Yasmine Pahal in the visitor’s goal.
There was no let up from the ‘Caps, and in particular last year’s joint golden boot winning Blundell, who made in three in the 33rd minute after good work from Iba Oching out wide set her up to skip past two defenders and finish past Pahal.
Blundell completed her hat-trick in first half stoppage time, nicely bringing down a cross in from Yee to fire home.
Unity didn’t let their heads drop, as Sophie Crowther forced 'Caps goalkeeper Kylie Sandulak into a big save four minutes after the restart.
The 'Caps made it five in the 53rd minute when Roberts superbly tucked away a Yee cutback to the top corner.
Unity got on the scoresheet midway through the second half when Tristan Corneil rose well to meet the rebound of an attempted clearance of a Crowther corner. The ball cannoned off the bar and a couple 'Caps players before trickling into the back of the net.
Both sides had half chances to add to their tally, but it'd be the 'Caps who got their 2024 League1 BC campaign off to a fantastic start.
The Girls Elite side is next in action on Sunday, May 5, as they take on TSS Rovers at Thunderbird Stadium.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Sydney Berridge
Scoring Summary
21’ – VAN – Kierra Blundell (penalty kick)
22’ – VAN – Jaime Perrault (Kierra Blundell)
33’ – VAN – Kierra Blundell (Iba Oching)
45+2’ – VAN – Kierra Blundell (Emma Yee)
53’ – VAN – Ashley Roberts (Emma Yee)
68’ – UNI – own goal
Cautions
63' – UNI – Byrana Buttar
84' – UNI – Charity Field
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite
30.Kylie Sandulak; 8.Jaime Perrault, 16.Bridget Mutipula (13.Sammy Reimer 69'), 12.Keira Martin (2.Joy Kimwemwe HT), 3.Iba Oching (14.Tea Mayson HT); 7.Noelle Sather, 4.Emily Wong, 10.Jeneva Hernandez Gray; 17.Emma Yee (26.Abby Anderson 75’), 9.Kierra Blundell (29.Katie Connell 65’), 28.Kaylee Hunter (15.Ashley Roberts HT)
Substitute not used
1.Sidney Venier
