Late Goal Lifts Vancouver to 1-1 Tie with Blues

The Pali Blues women's soccer team played the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps to a 1-1 draw Wednesday night at Stadium by the Sea on the campus of Palisades High.

Anisa Guajardo scored the Blues' only goal and Tina Romagnuolo provided the equalizer for the visitors. The Blues took 11 shots to Vancouver's nine and had a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.

“It was a bit discouraging because the decision was made over a penalty kick,” Blues head coach Jacob Tudela said of the outcome. “That being said, I thought our girls played well for 70 minutes, then we kind of let loose and got into some bad habits. But I’m very proud of the girls. I thought they showed that they can compete with anybody and at times showed that they are the best team in probably the league.”

The Blues (2-0-2) had the first chance of the game in the sixth minute, as Jessica Price took one of her signature throw-ins from the sideline and placed the ball to the far post. Defender Sasha Andrews was waiting and headed the ball just high and over the crossbar.

The Whitecaps (3-0-1) had a golden opportunity to go ahead in the 14th minute when a long ball was played to Sidney Leroux. Blues goalkeeper Adelaide Gay, filling in for Anna Picarelli (who was with the Italian National Team), came out to try and win the ball, but Leroux beat her to it. Leroux had an open net, but her shot was left of the goal.

In the 21st minute, Vancouver's Jen Stoltenberg took a shot that was headed for the top right corner, but Gay was able to push it out of harm’s way. Two minutes later, the Blues' Molly Kruger took a shot from 20 yards out that went over the bar.

In the 27th minute, the Blues took advantage of a ball that went out of bounds. Price took a throw-in that found Elizabeth Eddy, whose half-volley grazed the crossbar. The following opportunity for the Blues in the 30th minute was off a similar tactic. A throw-in by Price got to Ashley Bowyer, whose header went just over the bar.

The Whitecaps had their next chance in the 32nd minute when Tiffany Weimer ran for a long ball up the field. She unleashed a shot from the left side of the box that was high and wide of the goal. A minute later, Amber Brooks took a free kick that went just over the bar.

In the 44th minute. Guajardo received a through ball from Tiffany McCarty inside the penalty area and shot it from six yards out to the far inside netting to send the Blues into intermission with a 1-0 lead.

“Tiffany got the ball, she turned, and I just made a run wide," Guajardo said. "She read it perfectly, and slipped me through. I beat the defender and just shot it as far as I could, far post.”

After the halftime break, the Blues came out hungry for more. Just seconds into the second half, captain Christie Shaner headed a corner kick, but it went right into the hands of Whitecaps goalkeeper Kristen Funk.

In the 48th minute, Guajardo almost doubled the Blues’ lead with a shot from the corner of the six-yard box that went just wide. Then, Alysha Bonnick took a shot in the 52nd minute that rolled along the mouth of the goal to give the Blues a scare.

A minute later, the Blues had another corner kick which Sasha Andrews headed, but again went into Funk’s hands. McCarty took a shot on frame a moment later, but Funk dove to save it.

There were fewer scoring chances in the second half, with no major chances for either side. However, in the 75th minute, fans were aroused when Bowyer and a Whitecaps player were involved in a battle for the ball. Bowyer was whistled for a foul and the referee pointed to the spot for a penalty kick.

Romagnuolo stepped up to take the penalty kick and rattled it off the post and in. Gay dove to the correct side and got a hand on the ball, but it slipped just past her.

“I was actually defending the girl, and she turned and stepped on my foot and then fell,” Bowyer said. “It happens. (There are) calls like that all the time.”

The Whitecaps nearly took the lead in the 79th minute when Bonnick released a shot from 25 yards out that went just over the crossbar. Five minutes later, Stoltenberg hooked a rising shot just wide into the outside netting.

The 1-1 tie kept both teams undefeated this season.

The Pali Blues are back on the pitch Sunday, June 5, when they host the Seattle Sounders in the first game of a doubleheader at 3 p.m. at Stadium by the Sea. The LA Blues 23 PDL men's team will host the Ventura County Fusion at 6 p.m.

For tickets, visit www.bluessoccerclub.com or call 310-264-4649.

-- Alondra Hernandez