Vancouver Whitecaps News Release - www.whitecapsfc.com
Saturday, July 26, 2008
VANCOUVER, BC -- The Vancouver Whitecaps saw their season come to a disappointing end on Saturday, as they lost 1-0 to Seattle Sounders in the USL W-League Western Conference playoff at Swangard Stadium.
A spectacular bicycle kick from Sounders top scorer Chalise Baysa on minute 67 was the difference, as Seattle now advance to the W-League semifinals in Virginia Beach, Virginia, next week.
Whitecaps leading scorer Tiffeny Milbrett started the game on the substitutes’ bench, as she was suffering from back pains. Midfielder Chelsea Stewart was also a scratch, which meant that Paige Adams and veteran Rosalyn Hicks both came in to get the start in midfield.
The visitors started brightly, as Vancouver goalkeeper Erin McNulty had to make a couple of good early saves. On 10 minutes, she did well to hold a 25-yard shot from Annie Schefter. Three minutes later, Lisa Sari hit a 30-yard blast that was heading to the top right corner of the goal, but McNulty was able to get her gloves to it.
The Whitecaps came more into the play as the half progressed, and twice tested Seattle goalkeeper Jessica Salvi on minute 21. First, a header from Julie Armstrong was gathered comfortably, then a few ticks later, midfielder Paige Adams tried her luck with a powerful shot from 25 yards that was right at the Sounders shot-stopper.
There was a moment of controversy on minute 28, as Vancouver had a goal called back by referee Darci Kruse. Defender Chelsea Stang was apparently called for a foul on a defender, as she challenged for a high ball in the area from an Adams' free kick. Salvi came out and missed the ball, which Armstrong fired at goal and Lexi Marton tapped over the goal line, but by that point, the whistle had already been blown.
It was scoreless at halftime.
Both teams had chances just after the break. On minute 46 following a Seattle corner kick, the ball bounced around dangerously in front, before it was finally scrambled away. Back up the field the other way, Katrin Schmidt turned and hit a 25-yard effort just over the bar. Five minutes later from a free kick in a similar position, Kaylyn Kyle landed a dipping shot on to the roof of the net.
Schmidt's attacking play up the left was a problem for Seattle for most of the game, and on minute 59, the German fullback surged forward again and hit a bending shot that Salvi dove to save.
A minute later, Karla Schacher gained possession to the left of goal and centered it for Monica Lam-Feist in front, but her first touch let her down, allowing Salvi to pounce on the loose ball.
A minute after that, Schmidt made another great run into the box, and when her centering pass rebounded back to her, she snatched a shot just wide, with the Seattle keeper beaten.
After this flurry of Vancouver chances, it was Seattle who got on the scoresheet on 67 minutes. From a Sounders corner on the left, Kate Deines stabbed a bouncing ball high towards goal, which McNulty clawed off the line. Shannon Lovejoy headed it back in front to Baysa on the doorstep and she acrobatically scored off a bicycle kick from two yards out.
Vancouver pressed for the equalizer. On minute 78, Schmidt on the left sent across a good ball to Karla Schacher, who did well to get a head to it, but only to see it come back off the left post. It ran to Milbrett, who had just been subbed into the game, and her shot from 12 yards was superbly saved by Salvi on the Seattle goal line.
The Whitecaps last chance came in minute 82, as Lam-Feist sent a ball ahead to Schacher breaking on the left. When the keeper came out to challenge, the Vancouver striker did well to fire the ball past her from a sharp angle, but it rolled inches wide of the far post.
It is only the third time in the Whitecaps eight-year history they have failed to reach the league semifinals. Seattle has kept them out all three times, eliminating the Whitecaps in Vancouver in 2003 via penalties 3-1 after a 2-2 draw and finishing one point ahead of them for the second playoff berth in the conference standings last season.
The Sounders advanced to the W-League Championship tournament starting July 31 at the Virginia Beach SportsPlex. Hosted by the Hampton Roads Piranhas, the Semifinals will be July 31 with the the Championship match August 2, which will be aired on Fox Soccer Channel.
As the lowest seed not from the Western Conference, the defending champion Washington Freedom (seeded fifth overall) will face the regular season champion Pali Blues in the Semifinals with Seattle (seeded 13th) facing the winner of Sunday’s Central Conference Championship between FC Indiana (seeded second) and Ottawa (seeded fourth).
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The Whitecaps would like to thank their many fans for their fantastic support throughout a challenging season, in which Vancouver fielded a record 39 different players. Vancouver will be back in 2009 to again challenge for the W-League title.
