Preview: Whitecaps FC 2 return to UBC Thunderbird Stadium to take on Sounders FC 2

VANCOUVER, BC
– This one should be fun.
History was made this past Sunday as Whitecaps FC 2 welcomed a sold-out crowd of 3,208 at Thunderbird Stadium for their inaugural home opener. This weekend the ‘Caps are back in action as they host their first Cascadia match at home.

Whitecaps FC 2 (1W-3L-1D) welcome rivals Sounders FC 2 (3W-2L-0D) for the first time. The ‘Caps will be looking for redemption after dropping their first match of the season 4-0 against S2 at Starfire Sports Stadium.

• Spectator information for WFC2 matches at Thunderbird Stadium

Kickoff for Sunday’s match is scheduled for 3 p.m. PT, with doors opening at 2 p.m. PT.

WHITECAPS FC 2

Head coach Alan Koch fielded a lineup with eight Canadians starting in last Sunday's home opener, and a total of 11 Canadians seeing the field. The average age of the starting lineup was 21.5 years old.

The ‘Caps faced a team of similar make up against Toronto FC II, and fittingly the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Richmond’s own Caleb Clarke scored the first home goal in WFC2 history, just as he scored the first goal in team history against Austin Aztex at the start of the month.

“I thought we played very well for the first 30 minutes, probably the best we’ve possessed the ball,” said Koch after the match. “We looked to attack, we played with a lot of confidence. I think we should have capitalized on some of the chances that were created in the first 30, and if we’d done that it’s a whole different game.”

Another boisterous home crowd will be key to helping the young ‘Caps get a big victory over their cross-border nemesis.

Whitecaps FC 2 current roster:
Goalkeepers:Spencer Richey, Marco Carducci, Mark Village
Fullbacks:Jordan Haynes, Chris Serban, Ethen Sampson
Centre backs:Jackson Farmer, Craig Nitti, Tim Parker
Centre midfielders:Ian Christianson, Ben McKendry, Mitch Piraux, Tyler Rosenlund
Wide midfielders:Victor Blasco, Jovan Blagojevic, Brett Levis, Sahil Sandhu
Strikers:Caleb Clarke, Mackenzie Pridham, Billy Schuler
WFC player on-loan to WFC2

SOUNDERS FC 2

It was a dream start to the season for S2 as they won their first three matches, all at home, including a 4-0 victory over WFC2 on March 29.

But the Sounders have had a tougher time since hitting the road for their last two outings, dropping consecutive matches to Tulsa Roughnecks FC and Oklahoma City Energy FC.

Head coach Ezra Hendrickson brings an explosive attack with him to Thunderbird Stadium, as S2 have scored a league-leading 14 goals in only nine matches. However, the Sounders also bring a leaky defence, with their nine goals against being second most in USL. Hendrickson’s side have also shown a recent propensity to give up the lead after being ahead in both of their recent road defeats.

“It’s never easy to beat a team at their place, and even harder after you beat them as recently as we have,” Hendrickson told SoundersFC.com regarding Sunday's match. “They are going to be ready to defend their turf. After last week, we have learned what it’s going to take to sustain leads on the road and to take points from this Cascadia rivalry match.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

WFC2 #26, Tim Parker – There’s no guarantee that Parker will be suiting up for WFC2 on Sunday. However, if the MLS rookie centre back is in the lineup, expect him to play an important role in shutting down a dangerous S2 attack. The native of Hicksville, New York captained the team in Sacramento, and followed that up with a solid 90 minutes in last weekend’s home opener.

S2 #17, Darwin Jones – The 23-year-old striker caused the ‘Caps fits when the teams first met on March 29, scoring a hat-trick on the day. Jones has since added another to sit second in USL with four goals to his name. To shut down S2, Koch’s side will need to keep a close eye on number 17 in green.

Following Sunday’s match, WFC2 are back on the road against LA Galaxy II on Sunday, May 3, and then return back to Thunderbird Stadium for three straight Sunday home matches on May 17, 24, and 31. Tickets for all WFC2 home matches are available at whitecapsfc.com/wfc2tickets.

Come and see the next generation of Whitecaps FC stars as USL arrives in Vancouver. WFC2 matches are a unique and affordable experience for fans, families, students, and supporters. Season Tickets start as low as $118, with prorated prices available. Flex packs are also available to fit your schedule – get seven tickets to use any way you want, to any matches you want. For more information on all WFC2 ticket options, call 604-484-7862 or e-mail wfc2@whitecapsfc.com.