VANCOUVER, BC – Another strong team performance led the unbeaten Whitecaps FC Girls Elite to a 5-0 victory over Rivers FC at Thunderbird Stadium.
Captain Kierra Blundell provided a goal and two assists as the ’Caps used their impressive finishing skills to explode for a four-goal first half. The defending provincial and national champions gave Rivers FC defenders fits.
A quarter of an hour in, two veteran Whitecaps combined for the opening goal. Emma Yee blew past defenders and kept her head up. From the goal line, she made a back heel pass to Blundell, who cooly steered the ball off the far post and in.
Blundell has been more than red-hot this season – she’s been incandescent – with seven goals in only five matches so far in 2024.
In an inspired five-minute stretch, the 'Caps connected for three goals. Off of a short pass from Kierra Blundell on a free kick, Noelle Sather took a first touch, and then impressively blasted her strike to the top corner.
Kaylee Hunter quickly connected for the 3-0 lead with a skillful finish . The Calgary native called her contribution to the squad a three-pronged combination of “getting on the ball, making things happen, and scoring goals.”
Then, Blundell returned the favour for a wide-open Yee from 10 yards out.
Rivers FC did have a few silver linings. Kate Ratee was left unmarked and put a 15-yard shot on target that ’Caps ’keeper Sidney Venier alertly snagged.
Venier was subbed out at the half for back-up Samantha Powell. She was immediately tested off a corner kick, but admirably held her ground.
With 12 minutes left, Powell again came out to challenge when Rivers FC’s Norah Bell outran defenders to an open ball – but her low strike skipped just wide of the post.
Powell also steered a long ball onto the crossbar and out of danger to preserve the clean sheet.
Late in the match, Katie Connell finished a solo run down the left flank to round out the scoring.
Head coach Katie Collar was happy with the quality goalkeeping and “really excited” to send Powell in for the second half.
The Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy will next host Altitude FC at UBC’s Thunderbird Stadium on Sunday, June 9. Kickoff will be at noon PT.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Joey Ratcliffe
Scoring Summary
24’ – VAN – Kierra Blundell (Emma Yee)
29’ – VAN – Noelle Sather (Kierra Blundell)
31’ – VAN – Kaylee Hunter (Mya Archibald)
34’ – VAN – Emma Yee (Kierra Blundell)
90’ – VAN – Katie Connell (Mia Guterres)
Cautions
28’ – RIV – Anika Black
29’ – VAN – Noelle Sather
Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy
1.Sidney Venier (32.Samantha Powell HT); 3.Iba Oching, 21.Clare Logan (7.Jeneva Hernandez Gray, 64’), 14.Tea Mayson, 6.Mya Archibald; 20.Chloe Taylor, 10.Noelle Sather (18.Zahra Bains HT), 9.Kierra Blundell © (24.Bianca Patik 77’); 15.Ashley Roberts (8.Jaime Perrault 3’, 29.Katie Connell HT), 11.Kaylee Hunter, 17.Emma Yee (25.Mia Guterres, 74’)
Substitute not used
18.Zahra Bains
