May 14, 2012
W-LEAGUE ROUNDUP
Week in Review: Highlanders top Whitecaps

VICTORIA, B.C. – Lindsey Hoetzel scored a pair of second-half goals to lead the Victoria Highlanders to a 3-2 victory against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Sunday night at Royal Athletic Park. The Whitecaps took the lead in the first half, but finished the game with 10 players after Brittany Galindo was sent off in the 38th minute.

The Highlanders started the game brightly, but it was the Whitecaps who took the lead as Chelsea Buckland opened the scoring. The game turned when Galindo was sent off, however, giving the Highlanders the chance to tie the game from the penalty spot. Liz Hansen, pictured right, scored, leaving the game tied at the break.

Hoetzel then scored twice in quick succession to give her side the lead, finishing in the 58th minute after the Whitecaps had initially cleared a corner only for the Highlanders’ Janelle Smith to send the ball back into the penalty area. Five minutes later Hoetzel made it 3-1, rifling home a shot into the top-left corner of the net.

The Whitecaps pulled a goal back in the 69th minute as Buckland set up Janine Franzao, who broke into the penalty area and finished, but that was as close as they would come as the Highlanders took victory

FRIDAY
CHARLOTTE EAGLES 3, VSI TAMPA FALMES 0: The Charlotte Eagles got off to a flying start in the Southeast Division as they took victory against W-League newcomer the VSI Tampa Flames at Charlotte Christian Stadium. Leah Fortune had a goal and assist as the Brazilian U20 international made her debut for the club.

Fortune’s assist led to the opening goal of the W-League season as she set up Ashley Braam in the 16th minute to give the Eagles the lead. Fortune then doubled her side’s advantage 10 minutes before halftime, dribbling into the penalty area before finishing into the corner of the net.

Charlotte added a third after the break as Amanda Naeher headed home from Hannah Gmerek’s cross, completing the victory for one of last season’s playoff teams.

SUNDAY
PALI BLUES 2, LA STRIKERS 0: Sarah Huffman had a goal and assist as the Pali Blues got their W-League season off to a winning start at Occidental College with a victory against the LA Strikers in the Western Conference.

After a scoreless first half, Lindsey Bullock opened the scoring for the Blues in the 69th minute as she was able to tuck home Huffman’s free kick. Huffman then added an insurance goal with six minutes to play to seal the victory for Charlie Naimo’s side.

VSI TAMPA FLAMES 2, CENTRAL SC COBRAS 2: Cassie Barbaresi scored in the 89th minute to earn the VSI Tampa Flames their first point of the season in the Southeast Division as they drew with fellow W-League newcomer the Central SC Cobras at JC Handly Park.

Markysha Boyce had given the Flames the lead in the 17th minute, scoring the first goal in the club’s W-League history, but the Cobras hit back before halftime as Debbie Smith made the same piece of history for her club in their opening game of the season.

The Cobras then took the lead in the 67th minute as Cally Morrill made an impact four minutes after coming on as a substitute. The goal appeared to set up Central SC for victory in the club’s inaugural contest, but second-half substitute Barbaresi earned her side a draw with a minute to go, leaving honors even.