Scheduled Game: VANCOUVER WHITECAPS

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 T Vancouver Whitecaps 1 2 3 « FINAL Trinity Western 0 0 0

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Game Recap

Men's Soccer (Exhibition)
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
TWU Spartans (0) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (3)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHITECAPS FC WINS FRIENDLY OVER SPARTANS IN FRONT OF OVER 2275 FANS

LANGLEY, British Columbia - The Vancouver Whitecaps FC looked to be in regular season form as they won their final exhibition match before they begin regular season play by defeating the Trinity Western University Spartans 3-0 in front of more than 2275 fans at Spartan Field on TWU's Langley, B.C. campus. Whitecaps FC midfielder Alfredo Valente (Vancouver) was around the Spartans goal all night, finishing with a goal and an assist in the victory.

There was a good pace to the first half, but it didn't yield many chances early. Third year forward David Rowse (St. Albert, Alta.) had an opportunity in the seventh minute off a cross from Adrian Kekec (Burnaby, B.C.), but Vancouver keeper Jay Nolly (Littleton, CO) was there for the save. In the 20th the Whitecaps had their first chance as a Jeff Clarke (Coquitlam, B.C.) cross found Lyle Martin (Bakersfield, CA) but his header glanced off the right post and out. Spartan keeper Andrew Fink (Burnaby, B.C.), a Canada West First team all-star in 2007, made his first save in the 28th minute off a Eduardo Sebrango (Sancti Spiritus, Cuba) header. TWU had a golden opportunity in the 33rd minute as a Kekec corner kick from the right corner found Brendan Campbell (Surrey, B.C.) on the far side, but his shot was kept out by defender Adrian Cann (Thornhill, Ont.).

Whitecaps FC opened the scoring in the 38th minute on another long cross by Clarke. This one from the right side got all the way across the box where it was headed into the back of the net by midfielder Alfredo Valente (Vancouver, B.C.). Valente almost netted his second goal just before halftime but his shot just missed the far post, and the score remained 1-0 Whitecaps FC at the half.

Vancouver struck again early in the second half, as in the 50th minute Nicholas Adderly's shot off a Lyle Martin corner kick was saved by Fink, but the rebound went off Spartan defender Paul Hamilton (Calgary) then off the post, and back out. The ball came right to Sebrango who knocked it home to give Vancouver a 2-0 lead. Rowse had another great chance for moments later to get the Spartans on the board, but his shot just missed the net wide right.

A foul in the 64th minute on TWU midfielder Nathan Square-Briggs (Richmond, B.C.) gave Vancouver a free kick from 25 yards out. Valente rifled a shot to the high right corner that a diving Fink just got a fingertip on, deflecting it off the crossbar and out. Minutes later Valente threatened again, setting up a goal with a pass down the left side of the box to Steve Kindel (Burnaby, B.C.) who fired one in to make it 3-0 Whitecaps FC.

Vancouver continued to pressure as in the 74th minute Whitecaps FC midfielder Nick Webb (Bellingham, Wash.) won a battle for the ball at the top of the box, crossed to his right and let loose with a shot that just missed the near post. The Spartans had one last chance for a goal in the 90th minute as a handball by Vancouver defender Takashi Hirano (Shimizu, Japan) just outside the box gave TWU a free kick straight on from 20 yards out. Kekec fired a rocket on goal over the Whitecaps FC defenders but Nolly was there for the save, and Vancouver held on for the 3-0 win.

Vancouver outshot Trinity Western 15-6, and had seven shots on goal to the Spartans two. This was the Whitecaps final exhibition match before they open the USL First Division season at home against the Montreal Impact on Saturday, April 12th at 7 p.m. at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, B.C. Next up for the Spartans is an exhibition match just across the border against Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 7 p.m.

-TW-

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