BURNABY, BC – Whitecaps FC Girls Elite cemented their dynasty with a League1 BC three-peat.
The young 'Caps added to their 2024 trophy haul with a third playoff title in a row – an emphatic 2-1 victory over first-year club Burnaby FC.
The ’Caps turned to a predominantly younger lineup on the Swangard Stadium pitch, as the team's graduating seniors left for NCAA and Canadian university clubs before the playoffs. The squad was reinforced by three of their recent additions with Brianne Reed captaining the side from the back, Josie Longhurst playing in midfield, and Jessica De Filippo playing up top.
16-year-old Bianca Patik is one of many players who has stepped up since the changing of the guard. The energetic Calgarian collected an assist on the opening goal, along with strong play throughout the match.
Early on, speedster Jamie Perrault sprinted into open space, and looped a cross ahead for the unmarked Patik. She tried to dance around Burnaby FC goalkeeper Sarah Loewen – but Loewen cooly held her nerve to stop the first shot on target.
At the other end, Kienna Chescoe collected a loose ball outside the box. Her long smash tested Whitecaps FC ’keeper Kylie Sandulak, who slid to deny the opener.
Sandulak collected four clean sheets in eight appearances before the provincial final. She also distinguished herself when she bravely stared down Dariella Lopez’s 15-yard crack on target.
In the 30th minute, Patik pulled down a long cross from Longhurst on the left wing. She then laid it off for an onrushing Kaylee Hunter – her right-footed strike streaked low into the net for a 1-0 lead.
The ’Caps put their heads down and kept pushing. With Loewen caught far off her line, and frantically scrambling back to the woodwork, Whitecaps FC standout Jeneva Hernandez Gray came incredibly close to marking the scoresheet.
Hernandez Gray recently picked up a trio of League1 BC honours – Top Midfielder, Young Player of the Year, and Player of the Year.
After play resumed for the second half, the 17-year-old made no mistake. She confidently sprinted forward to successfully convert a Perrault cross whipped across goal.
But that 2-0 lead only lasted three minutes. Off a defensive miscue, Burnaby FC's Kaiden Sherwood put her head down for a screamer that put her team on the board, 2-1.
On another Whitecaps FC rush, substitute Abby Anderson – who scored the game-winner against the TSS Rovers last weekend in the semifinal – clearly beat Loewen; however, her cracker clanged off the crossbar.
The ’Caps withstood some nervy moments at their back line in the last half an hour, but Sandulak stood tall to see off Burnaby FC.
Two more missions for glory
Whitecaps FC Girls Elite now embark to defend their League1 Canada Inter-Provincial Championship in Hamilton, Ontario.
Up first: a semifinal clash with League1 Alberta champions Calgary Blizzard on Friday, August 9; the winner will advance to the national final on Sunday, August 11.
Then, the ’Caps turn to international duty down south in El Salvador to kick off the Preliminary Round of the inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup. They will lace up against Alianza Women FC on Thursday, August 15.
Head coach Katie Collar clinically summed up the upcoming tournaments with a nod and a smile: “Looking forward, onto the next!”
MATCH DETAILS
Referee: O-lin Metz
Scoring Summary
30’ – VAN – Kaylee Hunter (Bianca Patik)
49’ – VAN – Jeneva Hernandez Gray (Jamie Perrault)
52’ – BBY – Kaiden Sherwood
Cautions
15’ – VAN – Jessica De Flippo
90’+4 – VAN – Jeneva Hernandez Gray
Whitecaps FC Girls Elite
30.Kylie Sandulak; 14.Téa Mayson (27.Quinn Johnson 83’), 28.Brianne Reed ©, 16.Bridget Mutipula (12.Keira Martin HT); 24.Bianca Patik (13.Sammy Reimer 73’), 20.Chloe Taylor, 7.Jeneva Hernandez Gray, 18.Josie Longhurst (18.Zahra Bains 80’), 8.Jaime Perrault; 22. Jessica De Filippo (26.Abigail Anderson HT, 4.Emily Wong 62’), 11.Kaylee Hunter
Substitute not used
1.Sidney Venier
