VANCOUVER, BC – A memorable day for Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite began before kickoff when the squad was presented with the League1 BC regular season championship trophy, and ended with another victory to nearly complete an undefeated campaign.
Whitecaps FC (10W-0L-1D) continued their remarkable run of form as their 4-0 win took three points off first-year rivals Burnaby FC (6W-4L-2D). The young ’Caps will be the top seed in the upcoming postseason.
A few minutes into the action, Whitecaps FC went up one goal to the good. Chloe Taylor put a pinpoint through ball ahead deep in the danger area for Mya Archibald. Archibald’s low attempt from five yards out squeaked through the wickets of Burnaby FC’s goalkeeper Sarah Loewen in the seventh minute.
Her counterpart, Whitecaps FC ’keeper Samantha Powell, was barely bothered in the first half as her defenders kept Burnaby FC hemmed in.
The 'Caps doubled their lead just before halftime, as Chloe Taylor expertly volleyed home a loose ball.
Ten minutes after play resumed, Burnaby FC midfielder Raegan Mackenzie slipped a defender and put a screamer on target that Powell bravely denied.
The first Burnaby substitution led to a unique situation – a battle of the Connells. Forward Bella Connell joined her sister, and fellow sub, Whitecaps FC forward Katie Connell, on the pitch.
As the clock ticked up, captain Kaylee Hunter showed intense determination. Her low strike from the top of the box looked headed for glory – but Loewen slid and clipped the ball off the far post, which then took a fortuitous Burnaby bounce.
However, Hunter would not be denied on her next attempt. From a 20-yard free kick, she whipped that chance into the top corner to salt the match away.
Zahra Bains would add one more in the 82nd minute, blasting home from close range.
Next up for the Girls Elite, they will head to Kamloops to take on Rivers FC in their regular season finale on Saturday, July 20 at 3 p.m. PT.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Quentin Benetti
Scoring Summary7’ – VAN – Mya Archibald (Chloe Taylor)
44’ – VAN – Chloe Taylor
65’ – VAN – Kaylee Hunter
82’ – VAN – Zahra Bains (Mya Archibald)
Cautions10’ – BUR – Cassia Crozier
64’ – BUR – Olivia Sheppard
Whitecaps FC Girls Elite
43.Samatha Powell (33.Morgan McAslan 78’); 13.Sammy Reimer (16.Bridget Mutipula HT), 14.Téa Mayson (18.Zahra Bains 78’), 12.Keira Martin; 6.Mya Archibald, 4.Emily Wong, 20.Chloe Taylor, 8.Jaime Perrault (23.Racquel Partovi 71’); 24.Bianca Patik (26.Abigail Anderson 71’), 11.Kaylee Hunter © (28.Lacey Kindel 81’), 25.Mia Guterres (29.Katie Connell HT)
Substitutes not used
None
