It’s been a great week for Vancouver Whitecaps’ U18 side at the USSDA Finals Week in Houston.
Seven points, nine goals scored and topping their group sees the young Caps advance to Sunday’s Championship game at the Dynamo’s new BBVA Compass Stadium, where they will take on FC Dallas in an all MLS academy final.
It caps off a fantastic first season in United States Soccer Development Academy action for the Whitecaps, who are the first Canadian side to take part in the League.
It’s also been a great week personally for Ben Fisk, who has hit two hat-tricks in the three games and must surely grab himself a spot on the Whitecaps MLS squad soon.
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Vancouver kicked off their Finals Week group games with a 4-1 win against North Carolina Fusion on Monday.
Fisk hit his first hat-trick of the week and Ben McKendry continued his fine run of playoff goalscoring form by adding a fourth, and making it four consecutive playoff games for him with a goal.
With De Anza Force and Colorado Rapids drawing their opener 2-2, the Caps had a great chance to all but book their place in Sunday’s Championship game against their Western Conference rivals on Wednesday evening.
Vancouver quickly went in to a four goal lead against the Force by the 58th minute, and although they let the Californian side back into it a little with two late goals, the comfortably held on for a 4-2 victory through another Fisk hat-trick and a first half strike from Bryce Alderson.
With North Carolina Fusion beating, and eliminating, Colorado Rapids 4-2 in the group's other match, it basically meant that barring a catastrophic collapse, the Caps were in the Championship game.
They made their place official with a strong fightback draw against Colorado this evening, with Spencer DeBoice grabbing the vital equalising goal in the 1-1 game.
North Carolina beat De Anza 2-1 in the other match, as Vancouver won Group A by a point and advanced to Sunday's final.
It's been a long season, but a rewarding one for the team.
Having watched so many of the games and getting to know some of the players and their families, this is a special moment for everyone involved in the Whitecaps Residency program.
The Caps future looks to be very strong and it won't be too long before we see some more Canadian talent on the Caps MLS squad, and hopefully getting minutes too.
No matter what happens now, they have done themselves, the Club and the fans proud.
Now go on and bring home the Cup.
The Championship game will be streamed on the <a href="http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Development-Academy/2012/07/Development-Academy-Finals-Week-Championship-Matches-to-be-Streamed-Live.aspx" target="_blank">USSoccer.com</a> website and kicks off at 6PM PT.
Make sure you tune in after the Caps beat San Jose earlier on in the day.
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