Whitecaps Women Battle Colorado In 2010 Home Opener
VANCOUVER, BC — Vancouver Whitecaps FC, in conjunction with the United Soccer Leagues (USL), announced today the 2010 USL W-League regular season schedule. The Whitecaps 2010 regular season home schedule will be played at five different venues throughout the province of British Columbia, as part of the Whitecaps Women’s Soccer Series – in partnership with the Girls Metro Soccer League (GMSL).
“We’re looking forward to what we feel will be a highly competitive W-League Western Conference,” said Whitecaps women’s team head coach Hubert Busby Jr. “As part of our Women’s Soccer Series, I know the staff and players are excited to take our women’s team into the community and help grow the female game by connecting our team with the community, fans, and partners.”
As a continuation of last year’s inaugural series, the ‘Caps will further their community outreach by partnering with some major local youth clubs to host women’s team home games. Those clubs include Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club (CMFSC), Langley FC, Richmond Girls Soccer Association, and the Lower Island Soccer Association (Vancouver Island).
The Whitecaps will kickoff the 2010 season on Sunday, May 30, at 2 pm PT, when they battle Colorado Force FC at Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam, BC – hosted by Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club.
“Coquitlam Metro-Ford is pleased to welcome back the Whitecaps to our community,” said CMFSC president Gayle Statton. “As a club, we take an active interest and role in the female side of the game, and once again, we’re looking forward to partnering with the Whitecaps in bringing the highest level of women’s soccer in Canada to our community.”
The Whitecaps will then hit the road for five consecutive matches, starting with games in Colorado against the Force and Colorado Rush. This is followed by a trip to Southern California to face Santa Clarita Blue Heat and two-time W-League champions Pali Blues. The ‘Caps will complete their travels in Washington State against Interstate 5 rivals Seattle Sounders women.
The ‘Caps will then return home to face Pali Blues on Sunday, June 27, at 5 p.m. PT at McLeod Athletic Park in Langley, BC – hosted by Langley FC.
“Langley FC is very excited to have the opportunity to host the Whitecaps women’s team,” said Langley FC president Toni Burgess. “McLeod Athletic Park is a great facility with many recent upgrades that will make this game an enjoyable experience for the players and spectators. We are really looking forward to the opportunity of cheering on high-level women’s soccer in our city. It’s a great chance for the girls in our club to see what they can strive for, right in their own backyard.”
The Whitecaps will also host two new W-League franchises for the first time when Santa Clarita Blue Heat and Colorado Rush visit the Lower Mainland in early July. The women’s team will return to Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC, to face the Rush on Saturday, July 3, at 2:30 p.m. PT.
The ‘Caps will then take part in a special ‘Showcase’ match at Minoru Stadium in Richmond, BC, against Santa Clarita on Thursday, July 8, at 6:30 p.m. PT. The match will be a feature game as part of the opening night of the 2010 BC Girls Provincial ‘B’ Cup tournament. The Richmond Girls Soccer Association will host both the Whitecaps match and Girls Provincial ‘B’ Cup.
“The Girls Provincial ‘B’ Cup will bring over 700 players from around the province to Richmond,” said Richmond Girls Soccer Association director of operations Stewart MacPherson. “In conjunction with this, we are pleased to be able to join with the Whitecaps to showcase their women’s team on opening night of our tournament at Minoru Stadium. This will give all of our players a first-hand look at where they can strive to be, and will bring an extra level of exciting soccer to the Richmond community.”
The women’s team will finish their regular season campaign on Vancouver Island when they face Seattle Sounders at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, BC, on Saturday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m. PT – hosted by the Lower Island Soccer Association.
“Being able to expose our players and parents to the highest level of women’s soccer in Canada is a great opportunity for the Lower Island Soccer Association (LISA),” said LISA executive director Sharon Marejka. “Working with Vancouver Whitecaps FC will further enhance our overall partnership with the professional club, which is essential as part of our development philosophy.”
In addition to the action on the pitch, the Whitecaps will host free pre-match clinics and halftime mini games for local youth players. There will also be post-match autograph sessions with the Whitecaps women’s team players.
2010 Regular Season
Vancouver Schedule
W-League Schedule
