Vancouver Whitecaps FC (women)

The Vancouver Whitecaps FC women are a Canadian women's soccer team founded in 2001 and a part of the greater Vancouver Whitecaps FC club. Originally called the Vancouver Breakers in 2001–02, the team was a member of the USL W-League, the second tier of women's soccer in the United States and Canada, from 2003 to 2012. The team won the 2004 and 2006 championships, and was runner-up in 2001 and 2010.

Vancouver Whitecaps
Full nameVancouver Whitecaps FC
Nickname(s)Whitecaps
Founded2001
StadiumSwangard Stadium
Capacity5,288
ChairmanBob Lenarduzzi
ManagerHubert Busby Jr.
LeagueUSL W-League
20112nd, Western Conference
Playoff W-League 4th Place

The club was formed as a merger of the Vancouver Angels of the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and Vancouver Lady 86ers teams. In 2002 with the change to one of the current owners, Greg Kerfoot, the Breakers were brought under the name Whitecaps Football Club.[1] Vancouver played in the Western Conference against the Colorado Force, Colorado Rush, LA Strikers, Pali Blues, Santa Clarita Blue Heat, Seattle Sounders Women and Victoria Highlanders Women.

The club announced that it will not field a team for the 2013 USL W-League season. They stated it was because many of the best players in Canada are going to play in the National Women's Soccer League, involving the US Soccer Federation, Canadian Soccer Association, and Mexican Football Federation.[2] The Whitecaps are still fielding an under-18 team, their girls elite program, in the 2013 Pacific Coast Soccer League.

In 2010 the Whitecaps played their home games at Swangard Stadium in the city of Burnaby, British Columbia, 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) east of Downtown Vancouver. In 2011, the women played each home game in a different city in British Columbia.[3] The team's colours are blue and white.

Coaching staff
  • Head coach: Hubert Busby Jr.[4]
  • Assistant coach: Sipho Sibiya
  • Assistant coach: Rich Fagan
  • Assistant coach (Goalkeepers): Raegyn Hall
  • Team manager: Diane Voice
  • Team physician: Dr. Jan Peace
  • Athletic therapist: Tanya Rank
  • Conditioning coach: Ceilidh Beck
  • Equipment manager: Nour Fathy

[2]

Former head coaches
  • Thomas McManus 2000 (as Vancouver Angels in WPSL)[5]
  • David Dew (2001–2003)[6]
  • Chris Bennett (2004–2005)
  • Patrick Rohla (2005, various capacities 2001-7)
  • Bob Birarda (2006–2008)
  • Alan Koch (2009) [7]
  • Hubert Busby, Jr. (2010–2011)[8]
  • Jesse Symons (2012)[9]
  • Mark Rizzardo Assistant Coach

Year-by-year

2000

In 2000 the Vancouver Lady 86ers played an exhibition season over the summer along with three other new Pacific Northwest teams: Portland Rain, Spokane Chill and Seattle Sounders Select Women.[10][11] The Portland Rain also played in the PCSL in 2000. The four teams planned to play in the USL W-League in 2001. The Vancouver Angels of the WPSL was merged with the Vancouver Lady 86ers to form the W-League team, the Vancouver Breakers in 2001.[12] As the Vancouver Angels played a full schedule and an exhibition versus Seattle, a 0–0 draw, the main Breakers progenitor was the Vancouver Angels; the two teams were afterward represented as a continuation.[13] The Vancouver Angels wore either red (with white sides beneath the arms) or baby blue Umbro kits with black sleeves with their primary sponsor The Keg Steakhouse & Grill on the front.[14]

2001

The first year for the Vancouver Breakers, 2001, was a transition year for the W-League with the advent of the Women's United Soccer Association. A large number of players moved to WUSA, and the Breakers were part of the new group of ladies entering the league with the excitement of WUSA’s formation. Of the four teams with 10+ wins, the 13–0–1 regular season champion Maryland Pride, 12–1–1 Western Conference champion Vancouver Breakers and 10–2–2 Hampton Roads Piranhas reached the playoff semi-finals.

The first day of the W-1 championship series saw some spectacular action from the 9–2–3 Boston Renegades and Vancouver in the semi-finals. The Breakers needed a 104th minute overtime golden goal from Andrea Neil to advance on a 1–0 win over the host Piranhas.

After a two-and-a-half hour thunderstorm delay resulting in the cancellation of the 3rd place game, the final was played at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex. When the skies cleared, Boston was revelled in the wet conditions with a goal and an assist from Minna Mustonen in the first 19 minutes resulting in a 2–0 halftime lead. Vancouver’s Tammy Crawford scored just after the restart, but Mustonen proved too much on the night, tallying another goal and assist less than a minute apart. By the 55th minute the score was 5–1.[15]

2002

The second year Vancouver Breakers were again among the contenders for the regular season title of the combined W-1 and W-2 leagues. The championship series was hosted by Vancouver. The Breakers only lost only one regular season match to rival Seattle Sounders Select 4–3 in overtime in the season’s penultimate game. The Breakers lost in the semi-finals to the Charlotte Lady Eagles 1–1 via 4–5 penalty kicks. Charlotte’s Esther Thompson saved Vancouver’s fifth shot. After the 2002 season, with the Boston Breakers’ creation in the WUSA, the Whitecaps held a contest to determine a new club name.[16]

2003

Vancouver changed their name to match their brother team, the Whitecaps, as team ownership adopted a European club format by including all teams including existing youth sides under a Whitecaps name. However, after another year of absolute dominance in the Western Conference, the Vancouver Whitecaps were stunned in their home opener by rival Seattle and were then surprised at home again in the playoffs by the Sounders, falling 3–1 in penalty kicks after a 2–2 draw.

Season Regular Season Playoffs Top goalscorer
League GP W D L GF GA Pts Att Pos Name Goals
2000 WPSL 14554272320? 4th (of 8);
Single Table[17][18]		 N / A
2001 W-League 141211399202,873 1st (of 8); West [19] Runners-Up
Boston def Vancouver 1 – 5		 Diana Artuso[20]10
2002 W-League 1211013511491,128 1st (of 9); West [19] 3rd Place
Vancouver 2 – 0 Denver		 Christine Sinclair[21]7
2003 W-League 1210115110311,526 1st (of 6); West [19] Quarterfinal
Seattle def Vancouver 2–2 (3–1 PK)		 Phebe Trotman[22]13
2004 W-League 1413105711402,834 1st (of 8); West [19] Champion
Vancouver def New Jersey 0 – 0 (4 – 2 PK)		 Martina Franko[23]19
2005 W-League 141301474393,698 1st (of 7); West [19] 3rd Place
Vancouver 3 – 1 Central Florida		 Amber Allen[24]16
2006 W-League 121110387343,941 1st (of 6); West [19] Champion
Vancouver 3 – 0 Ottawa		 Christine Sinclair[25]12
2007 W-League 126332417212,801 3rd (of 6); West [19] DNQ Tiffany Milbrett[26]11
2008 W-League 127322118243,481 2nd (of 7); West [19] Quarterfinals
Seattle 1 – 0 Vancouver		 Tiffany Milbrett[27]5
2009 W-League 122461519141,420 5th (of 9); West [19] DNQ Jodi Ann Robinson[28]7
2010 W-League 10640209221,513 1st (of 6); West [19] Runner-Up
Buffalo 3 – 1Vancouver		 Melissa Tancredi[29]6
2011 W-League 148422714281,258 2nd (of 8); West [30] 3rd Place
Vancouver 2–1 Seattle		 Sydney Leroux[31]12
2012 W-League 14365151615949 6th (of 8); West [32] DNQ Mele French [33]5

  • Goals are for regular season and playoffs except for 2000 WPSL season.
  • Attendances are averaged from the USL Archive of schedules.[34]
  • 2000 result as Vancouver Angels in WPSL,[35] and 2001–2002 as Vancouver Breakers in W-League.

W-League Point Systems

Outdoor scoring system (2000–2002): 4 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss + 1 bonus point when scoring three or more goals in a game.

Outdoor scoring system (2003–present): 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss.[19]

Awards and honours
  • USL W-League Western Conference Champions 2010
  • USL W-League Champions 2006
  • USL W-League Western Conference Champions 2006
  • USL W-League Western Conference Champions 2005
  • USL W-League Champions 2004
  • USL W-League Western Conference Champions 2004
  • USL W-League Western Conference Champions 2003

Notable players

Famous Players

References
  1. Timko, Brandon (June 7, 2010). "Chapter 3: Rebirth of the 'Caps". Whitecaps FC. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  2. "Vancouver Whitecaps FC announce W-League team status for 2013 season". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  3. "2011 Women's Schedule". WhitecapsFC.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  4. Getting a kick out of communication, Whitecaps women's coach on the tricks of his trade and his influences, https://theprovince.com/sports/Getting+kick+communication/4762393/story.html?cid=megadrop_story Archived August 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, May 12, 2011.
  5. https://www.tru.ca/athletics/teams/wsoc/wsoccoaches.html
  6. Douglas, Alan (June 30, 2011). "Whitecaps FC women play Canada Day match against provincial rivals Victoria Highlanders FC". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  7. "http://club.whitecapsfc.com/archive/feature04200901.aspx Archived August 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine"
  8. http://www.cp24.com/whitecaps-women-s-team-appoints-hubert-busby-jr-as-new-head-coach-1.464551
  9. Weber, Marc (January 19, 2012). "Symons to lead Caps' women". The Province. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  10. Stickney, Ron. "2000 News Archive". Seattle Pitch. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  11. Stickney, Ron (April 21, 2000). "SEATTLE SOUNDERS SELECT WOMEN'S TEAM LAUNCHED". Seattle Pitch. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  12. http://www.womensoccer.com/refs/usisl-refs/usisl-align_29nov00.html
  13. Douglas, Alan (February 14, 2001). "VANCOUVER BREAKERS TO BE FEATURED IN THREE SOCCER DOUBLE-HEADERS AT BURNABY'S SWANGARD STADIUM". breakerssoccer.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2001. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
  14. Unger, Chris (May 7, 2014). "Professional Club Uniforms". thehistoryof womensfootball.com. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  15. Timko, Brandon (July 29, 2011). "A Recap of Past W-League Final Four Appearances for Whitecaps FC". whitecapsfc.com. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  16. "Vancouver Breakers Announce Contest For Re-Naming Team". whitecapssoccer.com. November 13, 2002. Archived from the original on December 11, 2002. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  17. Litterer, David (June 16, 2011). "USA – Women's Premier Soccer League". Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  18. http://www.wpsl.info/standings/2000.html
  19. Litterer, David (June 16, 2011). "USA – United States Women's Interregional Soccer League (W-League)". Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  20. https://web.archive.org/web/20020810111819/http://www.vancouverbreakers.com/2001stats.html
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20021004035054/http://www.vancouverbreakers.com/stats.html
  22. https://web.archive.org/web/20040202020038/http://www.whitecapssoccer.com/Teamwomenfiles/wstats.html
  23. "Vancouver Whitecaps FC". uslsoccer.com. Demosphere International Inc. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  24. "Vancouver Whitecaps FC". uslsoccer.com. Demosphere International Inc. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  25. "Vancouver Whitecaps FC". uslsoccer.com. Demosphere International Inc. Archived from the original on December 21, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  26. "Vancouver Whitecaps FC". uslsoccer.com. Demosphere International Inc. Archived from the original on December 21, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  27. "Vancouver Whitecaps FC". uslsoccer.com. Demosphere International Inc. Archived from the original on December 21, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  28. "Vancouver Whitecaps FC". uslsoccer.com. Demosphere International Inc. Archived from the original on December 21, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  29. "Vancouver Whitecaps FC". uslsoccer.com. Demosphere International Inc. Archived from the original on December 21, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  30. "W-League 2011". uslsoccer.com. Demosphere International Inc. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  31. "Vancouver Whitecaps FC". uslsoccer.com. Demosphere International Inc. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  32. "W-League 2012". uslsoccer.com. Demosphere International Inc. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  33. "Vancouver Whitecaps FC". uslsoccer.com. Demosphere International Inc. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  34. "Previous Season Stat Archives". uslsoccer.com. Demosphere International Inc. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  35. http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/wpsl.html
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