VICTORIA – The University of Victoria Vikes men's soccer fell short, 3-0, on Mar. 16, to Major League Soccer visitors the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in their annual friendly at Centennial Stadium. The victory brings the 'Caps and Vikes overall record to 6-1-1 in favour of Whitecaps FC.
 
BOX SCORE   /   VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
 
It took 35 minutes of play before Camilo Sanvezzo broke the scoring deadlock, after the third-year 'Caps forward put away a loose ball to give the visitors their first of three goals. First-year Whitecaps FC players Erik Hurtado and Tom Heinemann also notched one each for Vancouver.
 
“It was a pleasure to play the Whitecaps and they are a very good team,” said Vikes head coach Bruce Wilson, whose squad entertained a crowd of nearly 2,600. “We played very well in the first half, in particular. We had maybe more chances than them but they scored two just before the half, which killed the game off a little bit.”
 
Coming off a 3-0 loss on Thursday to the 2013 CIS national champions, the UBC Thunderbirds, Whitecaps FC were definitely focused for the second of their three-game collegiate series. The 'Caps will also face Simon Fraser University on Mar. 19.
 
Vikes keeper Elliot Mitrou (Victoria, B.C.) was tested early, as a free kick from just 30 yards out forced the first save of the game, while the Vikes were successful in the other end only minutes later. Finding second-year Cam Hundal (Terrace, B.C. ) appeared crucial for the home side, as the former CIS championship MVP, created havoc and the top of box on his first two touches on the ball.
 
The 'Caps had their first real go at net in the 14^th minute when a turn over allowed striker Omar Salgado to gain control in front of the Vikes' net. His quick footwork allowed him to roll a ball across the top of the box for Sanvezzo. The Brazil native didn't get as much behind it as he may have liked, allowing Mitrou to easily clean up.
 
Less than 60 seconds later, a ball was flicked on for a lone Craig Gorman (Victoria, B.C.), who had only 'Caps keeper Brad Knighton to beat from the top of the box. Gorman, like Sanvezzo, didn't get enough behind the ball, to keep the game entertaining, yet scoreless.
 
Despite good weather throughout the match, morning rainfall made it difficult for all the players to maintain their footing and in the 26^th minute, a slip in the 'Caps' backline, allowed a streaking Hundal to gain territory down the left side of the field. Hundal put a dangerous left-footed cross through the box but it continued through to the other side. Vikes striker Thomas Mallette (Trail, B.C.) was first to it and his return cross was again dangerous but untouched.
 
Whitecaps FC duo Sanvezzo and Salgado continued to threaten the Vikes but a series of slide tackles and composed defensive work by the Victoria backline of Bobby Eng (Richmond, B.C.), Andrew Ravenhill (Victoria, B.C.), Alex Redpath (Terrace, B.C.) and Gavin Barrett (Richmond, B.C.) proved both effective and impressive.
 
In the 36^th minute, Sanvezzo tallied the first goal of the game after he cleaned up an unclaimed ball in the box. Only two minutes later, Sanvezzo fed a long-range pass through the Vikes midfield to find Hurtado in full stride towards goal. Hurtado took on both Eng and Redpath and with some very impressive footwork, was able to slide the ball with his right foot between Mitrou and Redpath to the far post and seal the game's second goal.
 
Despite the 2-0 score line entering the break, the Vikes displayed very solid defense work, led by keeper Mitrou, while the offensive duo of Gorman and Hundal continued to test the Vancouver Whitecaps backline.
 
In the second half, frustration started to set in the for the Vikes as both Andrew Ravenhill and Gavin Barrett were issued cautions, while Vancouver started to control most of the possession throughout the final 45 minutes.
 
In the 73^rd minute, Mallette gave the Vikes a promising chance of the half, as he pressured a long back pass to 'Caps keeper Simon Thomas. Thomas' one-time clear went straight to the feet of Vike Kurt Macaulay (Victoria, B.C.), who immediately fed Mallette inside the box but Knighton challenged well to keep the Vikes off the board.
 
In the 77^th minute, midfielder Russell Teibert sent a ball from just inside half on goal. Mitrou mishandled the bouncing ball, allowing a tap-in rebound for second-half substitute Heinemann to clean up to give the 'Caps a 3-0 edge.
 
The Vikes had a late surge of energy in the final minute of play as Andrew Ravenhill served a dangerous cross in from the left side but Thomas was solid to finish the game with the shutout.
 
The game closed out at 3-0 in favour of Vancouver Whitecaps FC; however, the game was also an opportunity for both 'Caps trialists and the young Vikes to be seen by Whitecaps FC head coach Martin Rennie. 
 
“I think we did well at the back," added Wilson, who played with Whitecaps FC during their formative years in the North American Soccer League from1974 to 1977. "We made a few mistakes in the middle, which is normal when you are playing a professional team. We certainly would have liked to have scored a goal but at the end of the day we are pleased we played the game in front of a good crowd on a sunny day.”
 
Since 2005, the Vikes and 'Caps have now faced each other eight times in friendly matches, with the visitors taking the edge in the overall record (6-1-1). In 2012, the Vikes hosted Whitecaps FC, in their inaugural year in the MLS, and were close, losing only 2-1 after the Victoria team hosted and won the 2011 CIS national championship only three months before.  
 
The Vikes men will now prepare for the annual Keg Spring Cup, hosted at Centennial Stadium Mar. 23-24, which will feature Fraser Valley, Trinity Western and UBC. For Whitecaps FC, they will prepare to travel and face Houston in their next MLS regular season game Mar. 23 at 5:30 p.m.  
 
Vikes Starters:
GK Elliot Mitrou, D Gavin Barrett, D Andrew Ravenhill, D Alex Redpath, D Bobby Eng, M Cam Hundal, M Cameron Stokes, M Wesley Barrett, M Gareth Langdon, F Craig Gorman, F Thomas Mallette
 
Whitecaps FC Starters:
GK Brad Knighton, D Greg Klazura, D Adam Clement, D Jordan Harvey,  D Ethan Sampson, M Erik Hurtado, M Russell Teibert, M Aminu Abdallah, M Matt Watson, M  F Camilo Sanvezzo, F Omar Salgado

SCORING SUMMARY:
VIKES: 0 - 0 : 0
WCAPS: 2 - 1 : 3
 
GOAL SCORERS:
VIKES: N/A
WCAPS: Camilo Sanvezzo (36'), Erik Hurtado (39'), Tom Heinemann (77')

SHOTS: Victoria (5), Whitecaps FC (16)
SHOTS ON GOAL: Victoria (3) Whitecaps FC (8)