VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite (9W-0L-1D) celebrated a second consecutive League1 BC regular season title with a 3-1 victory over Harbourside FC (1W-6L-3D) at Thunderbird Stadium on Saturday.
The 'Caps remained unbeaten despite a changing of the guard, with five key players now departed to begin their collegiate careers. With the regular season title in hand, Whitecaps FC will have a chance to defend their League1 Canada Inter-Provincial Championship in Hamilton, Ontario, held next month from August 9 to 11.
Katie Collar's young side started strong with a Kaylee Hunter header that Harbourside FC goalkeeper Milena Ramirez ably collected.
The 'Caps also took heart from Mya Archibald’s determination. Barreling down the left wing, she caused havoc for defenders; one of her crosses fell to captain Jeneva Hernandez Gray, who fired an attempt from the top of the box into Ramirez’s gloves.
Harbourside FC defenders ably held their ground off corner kicks until the 38th minute.
From eight yards out, Whitecaps FC forward Mia Guterres leaped to nod the ball just under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.
Six minutes later, the 15-year-old showed a veteran’s poise with an inside-out stutter-step to throw off a defender. Guterres then cracked a 16-yard screamer that just curved inside the far post for a first-half brace.
As play resumed, the ’Caps switched ’keepers. After making her debut, Dakota Beckett gave way to Sidney Venier.
Venier was tested early, as she alertly dove to stop a 10-yard strike from Harbourside FC captain Erin Jensen.
With just over 10 minutes remaining, Jamie Perrault put the icing on top for the ’Caps with a sublime 12-yard effort that streaked past an outstretched Ramirez – off the post and in.
As the match wore on under the beating sun, Harbourside FC’s Ruby Nicholas ripped up the ’Caps clean sheet with a successful penalty kick in the 89th minute.
Before looking ahead to the League1 BC playoffs, the Girls Elite will be back in action next weekend, with a clash against cross-town rivals Burnaby FC on Sunday, July 14 at Thunderbird Stadium. Kickoff will be at 12 p.m. PT.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Denzil Sharma
Scoring Summary38’ – VAN – Mia Guterres
44’ – VAN – Mia Guterres
79’ – VAN – Jaime Perrault
89’ – HAR – Ruby Nicholas (penalty kick)
CautionsNone
Whitecaps FC Girls Elite
33.Dakota Beckett (1.Sidney Venier HT); 8.Jaime Perrault, 16.Bridget Mutipula (10.Noelle Sather HT), 21.Clare Logan, 6.Mya Archibald; 7.Jeneva Hernandez Gray, 4.Emily Wong (14.Téa Mayson 81’), 20.Chloe Taylor (12.Keira Martin 80’); 24.Bianca Patik (13.Sammy Reimer 64’), 11.Kaylee Hunter, 25.Mia Guterres (28.Lacey Kindel 61’)
Substitute not used
18.Zahra Bains
