BURNABY, BC – The top-ranked Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite returned to the win column with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over TSS Rovers.
In their road blues on the Swangard Stadium pitch, the young ’Caps improved their record to 7W-0L-1D to top the League1 BC table.
Early on, captain Kierra Blundell juked her way into open space past frozen defenders. Her 17-yard shot squeaked past Rovers goalkeeper Kirstin Tynan to nudge the far post and out of play.
Blundell has rarely missed from the danger area so far this season. She leads League1 BC in both scoring categories with 10 goals and six assists.
Off a Jeneva Hernandez Gray corner, Blundell had another glorious chance with a half-volley from in close, but it was not to be.
The ’Caps had the majority of possession and showed glimpses of why they were the defending provincial and national champions. But they couldn’t solve Tynan in the first half.
Meanwhile, Whitecaps FC goalkeeper Kylie Sandulak was barely bothered. That quickly changed after play resumed as the second half became the Sandulak show.
She displayed her trademark composure after a punch away for a deep cross that took a dangerous bounce off her glove near her goal.
Off the ensuing corner kick, Rovers forward Devon Kavanagh was left wide open for a 15-yard attempt, yet Sandulak smothered the chance.
How high is her confidence level right now? “Very high,” she said afterwards. “For me, it’s all about keeping the team composed and coming up big in these moments…it’s a great feeling!”
Kaylee Hunter finally put the ’Caps on the board with a deflection off her shin as she slid into traffic for a 1-0 lead after the hour mark.
The Rovers then tested Sandulak from long range – both Kavanagh and Katie Bishop cracked impressive drives that grazed off the ’keeper’s gloves and the crossbar.
But Hernandez Gray relieved the pressure when she turned and split defenders at the top of the box. Her low drive beat a splayed-out Tynan for the insurance marker.
In stoppage time, Sandulak added to her highlight reel to finish with a well-deserved clean sheet; she went airborne to punch away a Joanna Dolezal 30 yard-free kick.
Whitecaps FC Girls Elite next head to Surrey's Cloverdale Athletic Park for a clash with Unity FC on Wednesday, June 26, at 6 p.m. PT.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Stephen Lebrechthausen
Scoring Summary62’ – VAN – Kaylee Hunter
81’ – VAN – Jeneva Hernandez Gray (Clare Logan)
Cautions
None
Whitecaps FC Girls Elite
30.Kylie Sandulak; 8.Jaime Perrault, 16.Bridget Mutipula, 14.Téa Mayson (4.Emily Wong HT), 3.Iba Oching (13.Sammy Reimer 90’+2); 10.Noelle Sather, 7.Jeneva Hernandez Gray (25.Mia Guterres 81’), 9.Kierra Blundell ©; 11.Kaylee Hunter; 2.Joy Kimwemwe (6.Mya Archibald HT), 17.Emma Yee (27.Clare Logan 74’)
Substitutes not used
1.Sidney Venier, 18.Zahra Bains
