Playing in their first of three consecutive road contests, Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23 (5W-4L-2D) claimed their season-high third straight victory with a dominant 4-0 performance over Fraser Valley Mariners FC (0W-11L-1D) in Abbotsford, BC, on Wednesday evening.
After scoring his first goal of the season in their last match against Washington Crossfire on Friday, defender James Farenhorst added two more on Wednesday to help the ‘Caps win their second and final meeting with Fraser Valley this season - with the previous encounter also ending in a a 4-0 ‘Caps win at Simon Fraser University Field #4 on May 23.
“We’ve continued the momentum we’ve built in the last couple weeks,” Whitecaps FC U-23 head coach Craig Dalrymple told whitecapsfc.com. “Even though we’re playing the side that’s at the bottom of the table, it’s still important to go out there and execute the game plan and be disciplined with the performance. I think we did that tonight.”
With the result, the U-23 'Caps move to within one point of fourth-place Seattle Sounders FC U-23 in the United Soccer Leagues (USL) Premier Development League (PDL) Western Conference, Northwest Division standings and jump into sole possession of the top spot in the supporters-driven Juan De Fuca Plate derby.
On a sunny evening at Abbotsford’s Bateman Park, the visiting ‘Caps dictated the play from the opening kickoff. Matters remained scoreless in the opening half hour, but Whitecaps FC snatched the lead in the 33rd minute thanks to a fine Farenhorst header set up by fellow defender Tyrin Hutchings.
Just after the break, Farenhorst made it 2-0 for the Blue and White in the 52nd minute with another well-placed header - this time off a corner kick delivered by midfielder Ben Fisk.
“We worked a little bit on set-pieces and [Farenhorst] has a job to do,” Dalrymple said. “He’s a big, strong aggressive player and now he’s starting to use that in the right ways in the attacking side, so that’s pleasing for him and the team.”
Just as he’s done in his first three appearances with Whitecaps FC U-23 this season, striker Coulton Jackson made his mark as a second-half substitute again on Wednesday.
Although he was unable to extend his goalscoring streak, he had a hand in the squad’s third goal. In the 75th minute, Jackson hit crossbar with a strike from inside the box before striker Cam Hundal headed in the rebound to give the ‘Caps a 3-0 lead.
Striker Carlos Marquez added an insurance marker in the 90th minute, his third goal of the season, as the ‘Caps cruised to their third straight win - outscoring their opponents 12-2 in the process.
Although he wasn’t busy, goalkeeper Lucas Menz was sharp when called upon, picking up his second consecutive clean sheet. The young shot-stopper has now won three of his four PDL starts this season.
After just a day of rest, the young ‘Caps are back at it this Friday night when they visit the first-place Kitsap Pumas for a 7:30 p.m. PT kickoff in Bremerton, Washington. Vancouver are on the road again next Wednesday, June 27, against Washington Crossfire before returning home for their final three PDL matches of the season.
Scoring Summary:
33' – VAN – James Farenhorst
52’ – VAN – James Farenhorst
75’ – VAN – Cam Hundal (Coulton Jackson)
90’ – VAN – Carlos Marquez
Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 8 – Fraser Valley 5
Saves: Vancouver 4 – Fraser Valley 3
Fouls: Vancouver 10 – Fraser Valley 9
Offsides: Vancouver 3 – Fraser Valley 3
Corners: Vancouver 4 – Fraser Valley 2
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23
30.Lucas Menz; 2.James Farenhorst, 4.Shawn Parkes, 11.Reynold Stewart, 20.Tyrin Hutchings (6.Carlos Marquez 45’); 5.Bobby Jhutty, 9.Alexander Marrello, 16.Gagandeep Dosanjh; 10.Ben Fisk (18.Cam Hundal ‘70), 19.Sangyoon Hwang (18.Coulton Jackson ‘45), 21.Michael Marousek (3.Kianz Froese 60’)
Substitutes not used: 1.Callum Irving
Fraser Valley Mariners FC
1.Mark Village; 3.Colton J O’Neill, 5.Koby Byrne, 18.Davin Haigh (7.Andy Phillips 77’); 10.Peter Bow, 17.Nolan Moore, 21.Justin Isidro, 21.Omar Adlani (14.Matt Rosenlund 58’); 8.Daniel Molendik, 21.Craig Robsinson (Alex Martinez-Gallardo 69’), 23.Adrian Kekec (11.Jevin Hillis 66’)
Substitutes not used: 1.Danny Smyth
