The reigning Canada West champion UVic Vikes men’s soccer team will get a chance to see how they stack up against the elite when they renew their annual spring friendly with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
GAME INFORMATION
Sat. March 20 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps at 2pm (Centennial Stadium)
SCOUTING THE VIKES
The pros will have to be at their best when they venture to Centennial Stadium to battle against the reigning Canada West champs on their home turf. Anchored by All-Star ‘keeper
Dan Kilpatrick who posted a league-best five shutouts and rounded out the season with an .863 saves percentage, the Vikes conceded just eight goals at home during their 2009 campaign.
Boasting Canada West’s second and third-highest scorers in
Cole McFarlane and
Jordie Oberg, the Vikes will look to be equally as threatening up front. McFarlane, a five-time conference All-Star wrapped up his senior year netting seven goals and earned his third straight CIS all-Canadian honours.
SCOUTING THE WHITECAPS
The two-time USL Division 1 champs venture to Centennial Stadium nearing the end of a rigorous off-season training program which has seen them battle against three MLS sides, notching a 2-1 victory over reigning champs Real Salt Lake. With MLS recognition of their own on the horizon, the squad’s stars have been in top form with Captain Martin Nash and Canadian international Randy Edwini-Bonsu headlining the squad’s preseason matchups. Facing the Canada West champs is one of three scheduled friendly matches before their NASL opener against NSC Minnesota Stars set for April 11th.
HEAD TO HEAD
Kilpatrick blanked the Whitecaps twice in their previous three meetings with a 1-0 win in 2007 before tying the ‘Caps 0-0 in 2008. Last year the Whitecaps moved to an all time series advantage of 3-1-1 after leaving Centennial Stadium with a 3-0 victory.