FUNK SHUTTING DOOR FOR WHITECAPS

WOMEN’S SOCCER
MONDAY, MAY 30, 2011
WHITECAPS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FUNK SHUTTING DOOR FOR WHITECAPS

LANGLEY, British Columbia – Trinity Western University women’s soccer goalkeeper Kristen Funk is literally perfect through three games with the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Spartans starting keeper has earned three consecutive shutouts to start the W-League season as she’s helped stake the Whitecaps to a 3-0-0 start via wins over Victoria (2-0), Seattle (1-0) and  most recently Colorado (3-0) Sunday.

Funk made four saves in her debut as a Whitecaps starter against Victoria and now, through 270 minutes, has made 14 saves and her three shutouts are tops in the league.

“It’s been going really well,” said Funk, who is in her second year with the Whitecaps. “I’ve had a great experience so far this season and it’s been really exciting. We’ve been training almost every day and I think we’ve become really consistent.”

Funk came into this season expecting to be the back-up keeper behind starter Erin McNulty, who is regarded as one of Canada’s top women’s goalkeepers, and who was most notably Canada’s goalie of record in all five games at the 2008 CONCACAF U20 Women’s Championship. But when McNulty went down with a pre-season injury, Funk was called upon and so far she’s been unbeatable.

“My role right now with the Whitecaps is fairly similar to my role with the Spartans but this summer I’ve really worked on refining my technique,” Funk said. “I’m not changing anything. I’m just trying to make everything a little bit better.”

The Whitecaps embark on a three-game road trip this week as they will play the Pali Blues Wednesday, the LA Strikers Friday and Santa Clarita Sunday. Their next home game is June 10 against the LA Strikers at 7:00 p.m. at Newton Athletic Park in Surrey.

Funk, who led Canada West this year with a 0.77 goals against average and was second in the conference with a .843 save percentage, was earlier named to Canada’s women’s soccer entry into the 2011 FISU Games in China Aug. 12-23. She will join five of her Spartans teammates and TWU coaches Graham Roxburgh and Neil Turner in representing the red and white.

-TW-

Last Updated: 2011-05-30
Author: Mark Janzen