View From The Pali, Volume Eight: Pali Singing The Blues Again

Just what exactly is going on with Charlie Naimo's Pali Blues Soccer Club? It looks as if the W-League has caught up with the Blues, who are singing them on their way back to their side of the world's longest undefended border.

Pali's losing streak has gone up to three games in what is set to become an uncharacteristic down year for the club.

Sunday proved to exhibit more of the same lack of form for the Pali, as they dropped a 3-2 decision to Hubert Busby's Vancouver Whitecaps at the Macleod Athletic Park in Langley, B.C.

Led by Melissa Tancredi, Amy Vermuelen, and Jodi-Ann Robinson, the Caps made life miserable defensively for Pali.

Cathrine Paaske-Sorensen opened the proceeding in the 13th minute off the delivery by Christen Press. However, the lead was short-lived, and Jodi-Ann Robinson scored a goal off a deflection in the 17th minute to level the scoreline.

Near the end of halftime, Melissa Tancredi's 45th minute strike off a Kara Lang cross gave Vancouver the lead for good. In the 72nd minute, an insurance goal by Desiree Scott made it 3-1 Vancouver.

Pali's Mariah Nogueira, the younger sister of Chicago Red Stars' Casey Nogueira, scored a consolation goal off a Julie Bukh set piece in the 87th minute.

With the defeat, Pali slumps to 2-3-2. And while they are in a tie for second place in the W-League Western Conference, the Blues can no longer afford to drop any more games, and must win the rest of their matches to stay in the postseason hunt.

They can say goodbye to winning the Conference crown, but not just yet to the playoffs. Now every game matters. Just three matches remain in the regular season, and Pali needs to win every one of them. Can they do it?

Scoring Summary:
13' - PAL - Cathrine Paaske-Sorensen (Christen Press)
17' - VAN - own goal
45' - VAN - Melissa Tancredi (Kara Lang)
72' - VAN - Desiree Scott
87' - PAL - Mariah Nogueira (Julie Bukh)

Match Stats:
Shots: Vancouver 10 - Pali 8
Saves: Vancouver 2 - Pali 3
Fouls: Vancouver 14 - Pali 9
Corners: Vancouver 2 - Pali 4
Offsides: Vancouver 3 - Pali 3

Cautions:
22' - VAN - Kara Lang
90' - VAN - Chelsea Stewart

Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Siobhan Chamberlain; 16.Robyn Gayle, 2.Emily Zurrer, 19.Martina Franko (3.Shannon Woeller 76'), 21.Danielle Sweeney; 13.Sophie Schmidt, 17.Chelsea Stewart, 15.Kara Lang (18.Monica Lam-Feist 79'); 10.Jodi-Ann Robinson, 6.Amy Vermeulen (11.Desiree Scott 45'), 14.Melissa Tancredi (23.Nikki Wright 90')

Subs not used:
27.Stephanie Panozzo, 25.Rachael Pelat, Ranee Premji

Pali Blues
33.Katie Frane; 10.Charney Burk (5.Hikari Nakade 77'), 9.Lauren Fowlkes, 18.Christie Shaner (28.Dani Toney 79'), 2.Midori Isokane; 8.Julie Bukh, 7.Cathrine Paaske-Sorensen, 15.Mariah Nogueira, 20.Janice Cayman (11.Chelsea Cline 62'); 13.Alex Morgan, 23.Christine Press

Subs not used:
1.Adelaide Gay, 4.Tuija Hyyrnen, 27.Shelby Payne, 19.Tiana Brockway

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	17	7	5	0	2	15	6	2	0	0	5	3	3	0	2	10	3
02. Pali Blues	8	7	2	3	2	11	12	1	1	1	3	3	1	2	1	8	9
03. Seattle Sounders	8	7	1	1	5	9	9	1	1	1	5	5	0	0	4	4	4
04. Colorado Rush	6	4	1	0	3	5	3	1	0	3	5	3	0	0	0	0	0
05. Colorado Force	6	6	1	2	3	7	8	1	1	2	5	5	0	1	1	2	3
06. Santa Clarita Blue Heat	1	5	0	4	1	1	10	0	1	1	1	5	0	3	0	0	5

The Blues return home to Palisades Charter High School's Stadium by the Sea with a July 1 contest against the Colorado Force. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PT.

Pali will then have their last road match of the season against the Santa Clarita Blue Heat on Monday, July 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. PT.

Next Issue: Volume Nine, July 5, 2010