BURNABY, BC – The clash of League1 BC’s top teams had a familiar face scoring a brace, as Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy captain Kierra Blundell ensured her squad remained perfect in the standings.
Blundell struck twice in the second half to lead her squad to a 2-0 win over Burnaby FC.
The captain had faith that the longer the match progressed, she and her teammates would emerge triumphant.
“We knew that we were the fitter team,” Blundell said.
In the first half, Burnaby FC wasn’t cowed by the unbeaten ’Caps. Far from it.
Burnaby’s Raegan McKenzie put all of her right foot into a cannonading drive that ’Caps ’keeper Kylie Sandulak – at full stretch – brushed with her fingertips onto the crossbar.
Sandulak’s remarkable punch out of danger was her best stop of 2024 so far. Though caught “off guard, I jumped as high as I could,” she recalled afterwards.
Blundell pointed out that Sandulak set up her teammates for success. They promptly responded with a glorious chance.
A closely-marked Kaylee Hunter stayed onside and struck a 10-yard volley that Burnaby FC ’keeper Sarah Loewen alertly snagged.
Meanwhile, Burnaby FC had another crack at goal as former Whitecaps FC Girls Elite player Mia Pante cut wide and her low shot dribbled past a fallen Sandulak and just skipped wide past the far post.
After a scoreless first half, it was Blundell’s time to step up. On a counterattack, Jeneva Hernandez Gray chipped a short pass to the captain. From 18 yards out, Blundell powered past a defender and smashed the ball into the top corner for the game-winner.
Burnaby FC stormed back as Hayley Bazille forced Sandulak to kick her boot out for a point-blank save. Sandulak finished with a well-deserved clean sheet.
Once again, the ’Caps turned to Blundell. Katie Connell’s shot off the far wing pushed Loewen to her knees, but Blundell was in the right position to guide the rebound home.
The Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy has a short turnaround until their next match – a home encounter at UBC’s Thunderbird Stadium against Rivers FC this coming Sunday, May 19. Kickoff will be at 3 p.m. PT.
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: Michael Cacho
Scoring Summary65’ – VAN – Kierra Blundell (Jeneva Hernandez Gray)
85’ – VAN – Kierra Blundell (Katie Connell)
Cautions13’ – VAN – Tea Mayson
Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy
30.Kylie Sandulak; 8.Jaime Perrault (29.Katie Connell 77’), 12.Keira Martin, 14.Tea Mayson, 3.Iba Oching (13.Sammy Reimer) 82’); 7.Jeneva Hernandez Gray, 10.Noelle Sather, 9.Kierra Blundell ©; 17.Emma Yee (15.Ashley Roberts 61’), 2.Joy Kimwemwe (6.Mya Archibald HT), 11.Kaylee Hunter
Substitutes not used
1.Sidney Venier, 20.Chloe Taylor, 25.Mia Guterres
