VANCOUVER, BC – Whitecaps FC Residency teams come home after playing five away games to host a pair of weekend matches against Real so Cal on Saturday, March 1, and Arsenal FC on Sunday, March 2 in the United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA). The 'Caps will play all four matches at Simon Fraser University (SFU), with Saturday's matches at Field #4 and Sunday's matches at Terry Fox Field.
U-18
Whitecaps FC U-18 are fresh of a strong performance which earned them a 3-0 victory against Cascadia club rivals Portland Timbers. The squad's leading scorer, Kianz Froese, found the back of the net in each half to raise his goal total to eight, while Hayden Simmonds-O’Grady also scored his second goal in his third game since joining Whitecaps FC Residency early this year. Goalkeeper Nolan Wirth collected the clean sheet in net.
The ‘Caps now hold a record of 10W-4L-2D as they sit second in the West Conference, Northwest Division tied in wins with first place De Anza Force.
Defender Jackson Farmer will not be at the weekend matches as he will be going on loan to Whitecaps FC affiliate and United Soccer League (USL) Pro side Charleston Battery. This season Farmer has started all 15 of his appearances with one goal.
Marco Bustos, Kianz Froese, Mitch Piraux, and Nolan Wirth, who have been training with the ‘Caps first team in Portland, will return to Vancouver in time for their weekend matches, although goalkeeper Marco Carducci will remain in Portland and finish his training with the first team.
The 'Caps will play Real So Cal on Saturday at 1 p.m. PT at SFU Field #4. Real So Cal are currently third place with a record of 8W-4L-2D in the West Conference Southwest Division.
The last meeting between Whitecaps FC U-18 and Real So Cal U-18 in the 2012-13 season resulted in a 1-1 draw. Real So Cal hosted the ‘Caps as graduated striker and current Duke University player Brody Huitema scored the lone goal for the ‘Caps in the 53rd minute.
Whitecaps FC will host Arsenal FC the day after on Sunday, March 2 at 12 p.m. PT at SFU's Terry Fox Field. The Gunners’ American youth club is having a tough season, currently holding a record of 3W-8L-4D in the West Conference, Southwest Division. The squad has only one win in their last 11 matches.
In their last meeting in the 2012-13 season the ‘Caps shutout Arsenal FC 3-0 as graduated players, Spencer DeBoice, Yassin Essa, and Huitema each recorded goals.
“The boys are coming off a very impressive team performance against Portland last week,” U-18 head coach Craig Dalrymple told whitecapsfc.com. “The challenge to the group now is to maintain the high standards they set last week. The boys are in great spirits and need to continue to be ruthless this weekend against two good squads from Southern California.”
U-16
The ‘Caps U-16 team finished strong against Cascadia club rivals Portland Timbers last week. The Blue and White bested the Timbers by a score of 3-1, with Thomas Gardner finding the back of the net in the first half. The ‘Caps took hold of the game in the second half as leading scorer Dario Zanatta scored two goals raising his season tally to 11.
Saturday's U-16 match will kick off at 3:30 p.m. PT at SFU Field #4. Real So Cal U-16 are having a tough season, sitting in last place in the West Conference, Southwest Division with a record of 2W-6L-4D.
The ‘Caps U-16 and Real So Cal U-16 last faced each other in the 2012-13 season. Real So Cal bested the ‘Caps by a score of 2-1, while Aymar Sigue scored the lone goal for the ‘Caps in the 74th minute.
On Sunday, the ‘Caps will face Arsenal FC U-16 at 2:30 p.m. PT at SFU's Terry Fox Field. Arsenal FC currently hold a record of 4W-7L-4D and sit at 8th place in the West Conference, South West Division.
Arsenal FC bested the ‘Caps in their last meeting in the 2012-13 season by a score of 3-0.
“We're looking forward to playing two southern Californian teams,” U-16 head coach Rich Fagan told whitecapsfc.com. “[Real So Cal and Arsenal FC are] teams that we don’t get to play regularly. But six valuable points are on the line with us pushing for a playoff spot. [Playing at home] is a great opportunity for the players to play in front of family and friends and it gives the supporters a chance to come out and see the players.”
