VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency will look to continue their perfect start to the 2013-14 United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) campaign this weekend against a pair of Southern California rivals.
After opening the season with three straight road victories, Whitecaps FC’s U-18 and U-16 sides will make their home debuts Saturday against Pateadores at UBC’s Dhillon Field. They will then make a short trip to Bellingham, Washington to host Strikers FC at Whatcom Community College on Sunday.
U-18
The U-18s are fresh off a perfect California road trip to begin the season, with their most recent result being a 2-1 victory over San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday.
Striker Jordan Haynes knotted things up at one in the first half and midfielder Kianz Froese scored the eventual game winner to extend Vancouver’s winning streak to three matches.
Froese and fellow midfielders Marco Bustos and Matthew Chow now each have a pair of goals on the young season. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Nolan Wirth has posted a 1.00 goals against average in his two victories, while Marco Carducci kept a clean sheet in his lone appearance.
Gordon Forrest’s side currently sits in first place in the West Conference, Northwest Division standings with a spotless record of 3W-0L-0D.
Pateadores will open their season against the ‘Caps on Saturday after having a decent go last season, finishing in fifth place in the West Conference, Southwest Division with a record of 15W-11L-5D.
Last season, Vancouver won their lone meeting against Pateadores in their regular season opener September 8, 2012. Graduated players Spencer DeBoice, Yassin Essa, and Brody Huitema all scored to give the ‘Caps a gritty 3-1 road win. Wirth was in net to record the victory.
Strikers FC will also be making their season debut this weekend after finishing just behind Pateadores last season in the Southwest Division with a 14W-11L-6D record. Whitecaps FC did not perform as well against Strikers FC last season, losing their only meeting 3-0. Graduated striker Paul Salcedo Borrego bagged a hat-trick on the night to give Strikers FC the victory.
"The Residency boys are looking forward to playing two more games this weekend, in particular the chance to showcase themselves at home on Saturday at UBC,” U-18 head coach Gordon Forrest told whitecapsfc.com. “It's been another good week on the training field with the boys and they're excited for the weekend to play against two challenging teams."
Kickoff for Saturday’s match vs. Pateadores is set for 2:30 p.m. PT at UBC’s Dhillon Field, while Sunday’s meeting with Strikers FC is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. PT at Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, Washington. All Whitecaps FC Residency home matches are free of charge to the public.
U-16
Like their older counterparts, Whitecaps FC’s U-16 side are off to a perfect 3W-0L-0D start with wins over Cal Odyssey and San Jose Earthquakes this past weekend. They too currently sit atop the West Conference, Northwest Division with nine points.
Vancouver’s most recent result was a dominant 4-0 win against San Jose with goals from Terran Campbell, Dario Zanatta (2) and Aymar Sigue, who has five goals in the first three matches. Midfielder Thomas Gardner also has a pair of goals this season.
Rich Fagan’s side has now scored 12 goals in just three matches – just as impressive is the fact that they have yet to concede a goal. Canadian U-15 goalkeeper Aidan Aylward, formerly of Ottawa Fury, posted a clean sheet in each of the three games.
He will hope to continue his fine form on Saturday against a Pateadores side with whom Vancouver drew 0-0 in last season’s opener.
Pateadores will be opening their season against the Blue and White after last season’s sixth-place finish in the West Conference, Southwest Division. The Southern California outfit will also need to play much better in hostile territory this weekend, as they amassed a 4W-8L-1D record on the road last season.
Strikers FC, meanwhile, kick off their season on Saturday against Crossfire Premier before meeting Vancouver Sunday at Whatcom Community College. They will definitely be looking for better results this season after finishing eighth in the West Conference, Southwest Division last season with a 6W-16L-6D record.
Last season, Strikers FC beat the ‘Caps 4-1 at home in the lone meeting between the two teams.
“We are really looking forward to the challenge this weekend,” U-16 head coach Rich Fagan told whitecapsfc.com. “The players are very excited to kick off at home in front of their families and friends against two quality Southern California sides.”
Kickoff for Saturday’s match vs. Pateadores is set for 12 p.m. PT at UBC’s Dhillon Field, while Sunday’s meeting with Strikers FC is scheduled for 11 a.m. PT at Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, Washington. All Whitecaps FC Residency home matches are free of charge to the public.
