Pacific Palisades, Calif. (Thursday, June 19, 2008) – The Western Conference leading Pali Blues Soccer Club (6-0-0) set out to play a pair of difficult conference match-ups in the upcoming days. The Blues travel north of the border for a game with the Vancouver Whitecaps (5-1-2) on Sunday before traveling to Washington for a Tuesday evening contest against the Seattle Sounders (1-1-3). The Blues-Whitecap game can be seen live on USLLive.com this Sunday at 4:00 PM (PST).
“We have all been looking forward to the Pacific Northwest trip,” Blues head coach Charlie Naimo said. “As a team, we are excited to the challenge of playing great teams back-to-back and getting a full six points on the weekend.”
While they may have defeated Vancouver at the Stadium by the Sea by a score 4-0 last Sunday, Naimo insists that the Blues remain focused on the second-place Whitecaps.
“There is no doubt that Vancouver will come out hard and press us so we have been preparing for that,” he continued. “There is also excitement on our team because of the addition of three more top quality attacking options.”
One of those additions is U.S. National Team player India Trotter, who joins the inaugural W-League campaign for the Blues this weekend.
“Adding India is great timing,” Naimo stated. “After losing (Sarah) Walsh and (Caitlyn) Munoz to injury, we needed to find a quality attacking player to replace them. India can play at a high level in any position, but we intend to find a role for her that will make us even more dangerous in our attack."
Vancouver currently sits a point behind the Blues as the holder of second place in the Western Conference. The most recognizable name on the Whitecap roster is that of former U.S. National Team forward Tiffeny Milbrett. The two-time Olympic medalist (including Gold in the 1996 Atlanta Games) led the national team in goals en route to winning the 1999 FIFA World Cup, and she was also named the CONCACAF Offensive Player of the Year in 1999. Following the 2001 season, she was named the MVP of the WUSA while playing with the New York Power. Vancouver is led by head coach Bob Birarda.
Seattle has three players who have tallied goals and currently sit in fourth place in the Western Conference with six points. Goalkeeper Katie Hultin has recorded two shutouts in net for the Sounders, and the club is led by head coach Teddy Mitalas.
Naimo expressed the importance of maintaining focus heading into these match-ups.
“The bar is set the same way it always is for the trip, and that is to maximize points,” he commented. “We maintain the regular season championship goal and focus on it one game at a time. Personally, I am looking forward to visiting these two fantastic franchises for the first time.”
The Sunday game in Vancouver is slated for a 4:00 PM (PST) kickoff while the Tuesday contest in Seattle will start at 6:00 PM (PST).
The Pali Blues return to the Stadium by the Sea on Monday, June 30, when they host the Fort Collins Force. Tickets for all home match-ups for the Blues are only $10 for adults ($8 with student ID) and $5 for kids under the age of 12.
Stay tuned to the team website at www.bluessoccerclub.com for all updates regarding the Blues.
