View From The Pali, Volume Six: Pali Suffers Historic First Defeat

There should be no question that the 2010 W-League campaign will prove to be the most difficult season yet for Charlie Naimo's Pail Blues.

After over two seasons without conceding a single defeat, one of the longest unbeaten streaks by one team came to a cold and bitter end on Saturday evening with a 2-1 defeat to Hubert Busby, Jr.'s Vancouver Whitecaps.

Busby was a former assistant coach to the Abner Rogers of the now-defunct Los Angeles Sol of Women's Professional Soccer.

Goals by Monica Lam-Feist and Sophie Schmidt paced the Caps, who became the first-ever team to lay a chink in the Blues' armor.

Cammi Levin scored a consolation goal in the first half for Pali, but it wasn't enough, as Schmidt's second half goal in the 51st minute proved to be the difference.

Scoring Summary:
24' - VAN - Monica Lam-Feist (Melissa Tancredi)
25' - PAL - Alex Morgan (Cammi Levin)
50' - VAN - Sophie Schmidt (Jodi-Ann Robinson)

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 9 - Pali 15
Saves: Vancouver 6 - Pali 3
Fouls: N/A
Corners: Vancouver 1 - Pali 9
Offsides: Vancouver 2 - Pali 1

Cautions:
31' - PAL - Lauren Fowlkes

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
27.Stephanie Panozzo; 16.Robyn Gayle, 2.Emily Zurrer, 19.Martina Franko, 21.Danielle Sweeney; 3.Shannon Woeller (20.Ranee Premji 45'), 13.Sophie Schmidt, 17.Chelsea Stewart, 18.Monica Lam-Feist (11.Desiree Scott 45'); 10.Jodi-Ann Robinson (6.Amy Vermeulen 83'), 14.Melissa Tancredi (15.Kara Lang 68')

Subs not used: 29.Kristen Funk, 7.Kirsteen Buchan, 9.Julie Armstrong

Pali Blues (starting XI)
0.Chante Sandiford; 2.Midori Isokane, 18.Christie Shaner, 9.Lauren Fowlkes, 27.Shelby Payne; 10.Charney Burk, 15.Mariah Nogueira, 31.Cammi Levin, 11.Chelsea Cline; 5.Hikari Nakade, 13.Alex Morgan

Western Conference	Overall							Home					Away
	Pts	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	W	L	T	GF	GA	W	L	T	GF	GA
01. Vancouver Whitecaps	11	5	3	0	2	9	3	1	0	0	2	1	2	0	2	7	2
02. Pali Blues	8	5	2	1	2	8	6	1	1	1	3	3	1	0	1	5	3
03. Seattle Sounders	5	5	0	0	5	5	5	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	4	4	4
04. Colorado Rush	3	3	0	0	3	3	3	0	0	3	3	3	0	0	0	0	0
05. Colorado Force	3	5	0	2	3	5	8	0	1	2	3	5	0	1	1	2	3
06. Santa Clarita Blue Heat	1	3	0	2	1	1	6	0	1	1	1	5	0	1	0	0	1

With the defeat, Pali falls to 2-1-2 (eight points), three back of Vancouver. With only two points in three matches, the pressure is now on for the Blues to produce.

Pali will take on the Seattle Sounders on Friday, June 25. Kickoff at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT.

Next Issue: Volume Seven, June 26, 2010