Whitecaps Ready For New Season
April 9, 2010 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Vancouver Whitecaps News Release
VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC (11W-10L-9D in the 2009 USL-1 season) begin their 24th and final season at Swangard Stadium when they host NSC Minnesota Stars in their USSF D-2 Pro League season opener on Sunday afternoon.
With four months of off-season training under their belts, Teitur Thordarson's side are ready to embark on their final season at the North American second division level by appearing in a newly-formed league and against a new club. The 2010 season will also be a kind of dress rehearsal for the Blue and White, as the players and coaching staff look to make a positive impression ahead of Vancouver's move to Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2011. They will not only be looking to win the USSF D-2 Pro League title, but claim their first Nutrilite Canadian Championship crown, and with it, a spot in the 2010-11 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League.
Sunday's season opener between the Whitecaps and NSC Minnesota Stars at Swangard kicks off at 4 p.m. PT. Whitecaps individual match tickets start at $20, plus applicable service charges, and are available at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centres, online at ticketmaster.ca, and by phone at 604.280.4400 or 1.800.663.9311. Visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets for more information on individual match tickets. Fans unable to make the match can enjoy it live online at whitecapsfc.com/live.
WHITECAPS
Thordarson's squad began their 2010 preparations just a couple of weeks after falling to Canadian rivals Montreal Impact in last October's United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) Championship Series. The extensive off-season training program included a February trip to Arizona and four friendly matches versus MLS opposition, with two of those contests coming against Interstate 5 rivals Seattle Sounders FC. Registering a 3W-3L-1D record in the pre-season, the Blue and White hope that facing quality opposition during the past two months will have them ready for the battles to come.
Fans will see several new faces in the 'Caps squad this season. Thordarson has added some goalkeeping cover and strengthened considerably in his defensive backline and midfield. The men's team's attack will also see the emergence of some talented youngsters during the season, with each player fully aware they are in a type of audition to try and be part of Vancouver MLS 2011.
The 'Caps will also be looking to extend their unbeaten run in home openers to nine straight matches on Sunday. Since 2001, the 'Caps have not lost a home opener, nor conceded a goal in one, with the club's all-time record in home openers standing at 17W-13L-4D since 1974. The club will be without two players for Sunday's season opener due to injury. Left fullback Takashi Hirano and new signing Jonny Steele will miss the Minnesota clash, as the pair continue to recover from their respective knee injuries. The 'Caps latest signing, centre back Mouloud Akloul, is still pending international clearance and will not be available on Sunday.
STARS
One of three USSF D-2 Pro League clubs that are entering their inaugural season of existence, NSC Minnesota Stars were formed following the demise of former USL-1 outfit Minnesota Thunder (7W-13L-10D in the 2009 USL-1 season). Led by former Thunder and MLS midfielder Manny Lagos, the Stars' squad includes nine former Thunder players. Goalkeeper Joe Warren; defenders Kyle Altman, Andres Arango, Chris Clements, Kevin Friedland, and Brian Kallman; midfielder Andrei Gotsmanov; and strikers Brian Cvilikas and Melvin Tarley have all appeared for Minnesota's previous professional club.
The Stars also have players with USL-1 experience. Strikers Johnny Menyongar and Warren Ukah will be familiar faces to Whitecaps fans, with the pair having spent last season with Rochester Rhinos. Chinese midfielder Leilei Gao comes to Minnesota after a spell in Finland with FC KooTeePee, while goalkeeper Louis Crayton has MLS experience following one year with D.C. United. In midfielder/striker Ely Allen, the Stars have a player that faced Whitecaps opposition in the form of their Residency team. As a member of Seattle Wolves, the Kent, Washington, native scored one goal in two regular season appearances versus the Residency team during the 2009 USL Premier Development League Western Conference, Northwest Division, campaign.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Sunday's match may be the first-ever meeting between the Whitecaps and Stars, but not the first time that Vancouver have played opposition from Minnesota. Between 1997 and 2009, the 'Caps met former USL-1 club Minnesota Thunder 38 times and registered a successful all-time record of 21 wins, 10 defeats, and seven draws. This included a home record of 15W-2L-3D and an away total of 6W-8L-4D. In 2010, the Whitecaps will play Minnesota three more times in the regular season. They will host the Stars again on Sunday, July 25, before visiting Minnesota for two away matches on Saturday, August 14, and Saturday, September 18.
SWANSONG AT SWANGARD
2010 marks the 24th and final season at Swangard Stadium for the Whitecaps, with Vancouver set to move out of their current home in Burnaby, BC, when they join MLS next year. First opened in 1969, Swangard has been the home of the Whitecaps since 1987 and seen many great moments in the club's history. As Vancouver 86ers, the club won four straight Canadian Soccer League championship titles between 1988 and 1991, with all those victories coming on the Swangard pitch. Vancouver's last league title was also won in the stadium, as the Whitecaps defeated Puerto Rico Islanders to win their second USL-1 championship title in 2008. With a first-rate natural grass pitch, Swangard has also played host to many other top-level soccer matches over the years. It has served as a match venue for both the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship and the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
USSF D-2 PRO LEAGUE
On January 7, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) reached an agreement with the North American Soccer League (NASL) and United Soccer Leagues (USL) to form a new Division 2 professional soccer league for the 2010 season. Formally called United States Soccer Federation Division-2 Professional League (USSF D-2 Pro League), the new league consists of 12 clubs in two six-team conferences - NASL Conference and USL Conference. The Whitecaps will be members of the NASL Conference, along with Carolina RailHawks, Crystal Palace Baltimore, Miami FC, Athletic Club of St. Louis, and Montreal Impact. The USL Conference will consist of Austin Aztex, NSC Minnesota Stars, Portland Timbers, Puerto Rico Islanders, Rochester Rhinos, and FC Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Each club will play a 30-match regular season schedule, with 15 home matches and a further 15 games on the road. For the 'Caps, they will play all 11 USSF D-2 Pro League clubs home and away, plus four regional rivals (Minnesota, Montreal, Portland, and St. Louis) in additional home and away contests. The regular season begins this Saturday, April 10, and will conclude on Sunday, October 3. The first-place clubs - based on total points at the end of the regular season - in both the NASL Conference and USL Conference will become the top two seeds in the playoffs. The next six best teams - based on total points - will round out the playoff field. Playoffs will begin the week starting Monday, October 4. All three playoff rounds will be a two-match, home-and-away series determined by total aggregate goals. Exact dates for playoff matches will be determined at a later date.
Whitecaps 2010 season tickets are also on sale, starting at $270. Season tickets include all men's and women's team regular season and playoff home matches at Swangard Stadium, Nutrilite Canadian Championship home matches against Toronto FC and Montreal Impact, as well as priority purchase rights for Vancouver MLS 2011 in BC Place. For more information on the 2010 season ticket packages, visit whitecapsfc.com or call 604.669.WAVE (9283).
Sunday's match between the Whitecaps and Minnesota will also be available live online at whitecapsfc.com/live.
North American Soccer League Stories from April 9, 2010
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- Miami FC Inks Two More Players - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
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