The first professional goal for 18-year-old striker Terran Campbell was not enough to spark a comeback for Whitecaps FC 2 as the United States Soccer League squad fell 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
The USL ’Caps team hosted the red-hot Real Monarchs SLC at McLeod Athletic Park for Mutts at McLeod, as fans were permitted to bring their dogs to the pitch for an afternoon of soccer.
Taylor Peay opened the scoring for the Salt Lake City visitors, out-muscling his man on a corner kick in the sixth minute past goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi.
Fourteen minutes later and SLC doubled their lead, again off a corner kick, with Nick Besler getting his head on a cross for the goal.
The team was fortunate to be down by just two as Tornaghi came up with several huge stops — he finished the game with five saves — to keep the score close.
Down two at the half, WFC2 dictated most of the offensive opportunities in the game’s final 45 minutes. But they were only able to score once, in the 78th minute. On the goal, Nicolas Apostol — called up from the WFC Residencey program for the game — set up Campbell for the home side’s only goal.
WFC2 had their chances over the final 10 minutes, but could not notch the equalizer.
The team hits the road for three straight matches before returning for a home game at UBC on June 24.
WFC2 next plays at McLeod Park — this will be the third of six games in Langley — on July 1.
