Pali Blues News Release - www.bluessoccerclub.com
Thursday, June 2, 2011
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – The Pali Blues played the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night at Stadium by the Sea on the campus of Palisades High School. Anisa Guajardo scored the goal for Pali, while Tina Romagnuolo provided the equalizer for the visitors.
“It was a bit discouraging because the decision was made over a penalty kick,” said head coach Jacob Tudela on the match. “With that being said, I thought our girls played well for 70 minutes, and then we kind of let loose and got into some bad habits. But I’m very proud of the girls. I thought they showed that they can compete with anybody and at times showed that they are the best team in probably the league.”
The Pali Blues had the first chance of the game in the 6th minute as Jessica Price took one of her signature throw-ins and placed the ball to the far post from the sideline. Defender Sasha Andrews headed the ball just high and over the crossbar.
The Whitecaps had a golden opportunity to go up in the 14th minute when a long ball was played to Sidney Leroux. Pali goalkeeper Adelaide Gay, filling in for Anna Picarelli who was with the Italian National Team, came out to try and win the ball, but Leroux beat her to it. Leroux had an open net, but her shot went just wide left of the goal.
In the 21st minute Whitecap Jen Stoltenberg took a shot that was headed for the top right corner, but Gay was able to push it out of harm’s way. Two minutes later, Blues’ Molly Kruger took a shot that went over the bar from 20 yards out.
In the 27th minute, the Blues took advantage of a ball that went out of bounds. Price took another impressive throw-in that found Elizabeth Eddy, who kicked a half-volley that brushed the crossbar.
The following opportunity for the Blues in the 30th minute was off a similar tactic. A throw-in by Price got to Ashley Bowyer, whose header went just over the bar.
The Whitecaps had their next chance in the 32nd minute when Tiffany Weimer ran for a long ball up the field. She unleashed a shot from the left side of the box that went over and wide of the goal. A minute later, Amber Brooks took a free kick that went just over the bar.
The first goal of the match finally came in the 44th minute. Guajardo received a through ball from Tiffany McCarty inside the penalty area, and shot it from 6 yards out to the far inside netting to send the Blues up 1-0 at halftime.
“Tiffany got the ball, she turned, and I just made a run wide. She read it perfectly, and slipped me through. I beat the defender and just shot it as far as I could, far post.” Guajardo described the goal.
After the break, the Blues came out hungry for more. Just seconds into the second half, captain Christie Shaner headed a corner kick, but it went right into the hands of Whitecaps goalkeeper, Kristen Funk.
In the 48th minute, Guajardo almost doubled the Blues’ lead with a shot from the corner of the 6 yard box that went just wide.
Alysha Bonnick took a shot in the 52nd minute that rolled along the mouth of the goal to give the Blues a scare.
A minute later, the Blues had another corner kick which Sasha Andrews headed, but again went into Funk’s hands. McCarty took a shot on frame a moment later, but Funk dove to save it.
The match seemed to quiet down towards the middle of the second half, with no major chances for either side, but in the 75th minute fans were aroused when Bowyer and a Whitecaps player were involved in a battle for the ball. Bowyer was whistled for a foul, and the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty kick.
Romagnuolo stepped up to take the penalty kick. Gay dove to the correct side and got a hand on the ball, but it slipped just past her and the Whitecaps had tied the game.
The Whitecaps nearly took the lead in the 79th minute when Bonnick released a shot from 25 yards out that went just over the bar. Five minutes later, Stoltenberg took a shot that hit the outside of the top right corner.
The game ended 1-1 with both the Blues and the Whitecaps remaining undefeated on the season.