NORTH VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite grabbed a point at the death in a 1-1 draw with Altitude FC at Kinsmen Field in North Vancouver in a highly entertaining League1 BC Women’s Division match on Sunday afternoon.
Ashley Roberts fired home the late leveller five minutes into stoppage time to cancel out Yva Rodriguez’s 79th minute opener for the home side, keeping the ‘Caps push to top the regular season standings alive and maintain their record of scoring in all 10 of their matches so far this season.
The first half was a pretty even affair, with both teams enjoying spells of dominance, but without forcing either goalkeeper in any real action.
The home side started on the front foot and had the better of the play in the opening 25 minutes, with Aurora Hughes-Goyette having three long range efforts that didn’t miss by much.
The ‘Caps started to get more of a foothold in the game as the half went on, but Altitude’s defensive shape was keeping the dangerous front three at bay.
Nyema Ingleton was causing some problems up the left wing and came within inches of curling one home into the top corner in the 27th minute.
Kierra Blundell had the ball in the net for the ‘Caps three minutes later but the flag was up quickly for offside.
The visitors finished the half in the ascendancy and Anna Hauer forced a good near post save from Altitude’s Ava Jones in the 42nd minute, as the teams headed in level.
The second half continued at a fast pace and Allie Hughes-Goyette came within the width of the post to open the scoring after pouncing on a spilled ball from Leah Parsons but seeing her effort come off the right post.
The ‘Caps responded and thought they’d found the opener themselves when Jones did well to saw a Hauer shot. The rebound fell to Blundell, who once again put the ball in the net but the flag was quickly up for offside.
Blundell’s afternoon of bad luck continued as she saw an effort come off the post in the 75th minute and was denied by Jones two minutes later, with the Altitude keeper producing a double save to deny Emma Yee off the rebound.
It was the home side who took the lead, however, in the 79th minute, with Rodriguez firing home through a mass of bodies after a scramble in the ‘Caps box.
Altitude had a chance to make it two with seven minutes when substitute Maya Morrell was played in on goal, but Clare Logan recovered superbly to put in a last ditch saving tackle.
The young ‘Caps kept pushing for the equaliser and with the game in the dying embers, they got it when Yee sent in a superb cross to the back of the box and Roberts tucked it away across goal to the back post to earn the latest of last-gasp points with almost the last kick of the game.
The result puts the 'Caps within one point of first place Nautsa'mawt FC as the two sides prepare to face off on Canada Day next Saturday, July 1, 3:30 p.m. PT at Thunderbird Stadium.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Kelsey Carrothers
Scoring summary
79' – ALT – Yva Rodriguez
90'+5 – VAN – Ashley Roberts (Emma Yee)
CautionsNone
Altitude FC50.Ava Jones; 3.Alanah Dulong, 4.Lauren Grey, 37.Holly Tarves; 11.Aurora Hughes-Goyette (17.Clara Slate-Liu 37'), 15.Avery Tulloch, 22.Charlotte Ring (14.Ashley Stewart 80'), 23.Billie Shostak (34.Jessica Marano 62'); 6.Yva Rodriguez ©, 7.Tannis McKay, 9.Allie Hughes-Goyette (19.Maya Morrell 71')
Substitutes
30.Sarah Loewen, 20.Rayna Smith, 21.Jacqueline Reinhard
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite
1.Leah Parsons (31.Carly Uchacz 71'); 14.Sienna Gibson (21.Jeneva Hernandez-Gray HT), 20.Keira Martin, 4.Clare Logan, 17.Nyema Ingleton ©; 8.Sonya Mehta (11.Noelle Sather HT), 15.Ashley Roberts, 10.Anna Hauer; 2.Mya Archibald (3.Iba Oching HT), 9.Kierra Blundell, 12.Jaime Perrault (18.Emma Yee 90')
Substitutes
16.Ire Omotayo, 19.Aja Turner
