Victoria and Surrey game reports. (Dual Report)

Portland Rain traveled to Victoria and Vancouver BC for a two day, two game trip to play the Victoria Stars and Surrey United.

Rain vs. Victoria Stars
Saturday had Portland playing in beautiful Victoria against the second place Victoria Stars. The match was evenly played with Portland playing their style of ball possession, moving the ball around the back and forward. Victoria played a more direct style, running onto balls played forward and capitalizing on back line mistakes. Portland had two early back line mistakes beacause of misscommunication. The newly organized back line and goalkeeper for the Portland had a rough start, giving up two wide open nets on defensive mistakes. Luckily the Victoria forwards were not able to capitalize on them, pushing one wide of the net and the other just over the cross bar. Portland moved outside defender and midfielder Katie Lim to central defense in place of the normal sweeper Jessica Miller who was moved to stopper for the absent and much missed Marriette Boyce. (Phew!) Portland also regained the services of goal keeper Ruth Montgomery for the remainder of the season.

Ferry to Victoria. Look at those sweet warm ups! Left to Right (Denise Rosenblad out of service due to pregnancy, Justin Rosenblad, Katie Lim, Janay Mountain, Stacy Merlitti, Maegan Lobo-Berg, Christa Thoeresz, Laurie Smith, Mary Cascio, Chad Smith, Jessica Miller)

All of a sudden Portland has become extremely dangerous on corner kicks and close restarts and it showed on a goal in the 68th minute by Christa Thoeresz. An organized run through the box left the ball at the foot of Christa Thoeresz who's first shot was cleared off the corner line by a Victoria defender. The rebound came right back to her and she half volleyed the ball past the charging keeper. Having somehow lived through the shaky start, Portland found itself on top 1-0 with 20 minutes left in the game.

Portland was able to hold on and nearly secured 3 points until the 84th minute when a Victoria forward nailed a long and high floating shot directly under the crossbar in the upper left V that was just over the outstretched fingers of Ruth Montgomery. An extremely lucky shot if you ask me, but regardless the goal stands and it's 1-1. The game ended in a draw and a hard fought 1 point for both teams.

Ferry to Victoria. Everyone relaxing and contemplating life as we know it.

Most Valuable (Christa Thoeresz) For her goal and patience in the central midfield.

Rain vs. Surrey United
The second game of the trip was played on Sunday against Surrey United. The United were marvelous hosts as the game had all the amenities including a working PA system complete with both countries National Anthems and an introduction of the players, as well as food after the game.

The match was dominated mostly by Portland, again with ball control and patience. Portland was much more sharp in the second game, obviously gaining experience together the day before in Victoria. The back line of Janay Mountain, Katie Lim, and Maegan Lobo-Berg played much more organized with newly added keeper Ruth Montgomery. Jessica Miller was able to get a better grip on her stopper position left vacant by Mariette Boyce, getting good chances on goal and stopping central runs. The forwards Laurie Smith and Noelle Miller constantly hounded the opposing defenders with seemingly endless energy and earned numberous balls off defender mistakes. The Portland central midfield of Stacy Merlitti and Christa Thoeresz controled the pace of the game while Mary Cascio constantly found herself open for crosses into the box. Portland's new found success off corner kicks and set plays also set up constant pressure on the opposing goal. Most crosses were first headed by Rain players, causing rebounds and havoc among the Surrey defense. Portland almost totaly dominated in the air and it paid off with three goals.

Shouffer of Van #2, Janay Mountain. "Keeping everyone in line with her intimidating rose glasses."

The first goal came midway through the first half. Noelle Miller's hustle play allowed her to get off a strong cross from the right side just above the outstretched fingers of the Surrey keeper to the head of a charging Tami Perkins who fought off her defender the entire way to the ball, placing the header into the open net. Rain up 1-0. Another goal was earned less than 1 minute later when nearly the same play had Mary Cascio crossing to the near post where Laurie Smith flicked a header over the keeper and into the far netting for her first goal of the season. Rain up 2-0 at halftime.

Laurie and Maegan thought it was cool that they were wearing the same color tops....seriously.

The second half had much of the same, with Portland having more chances on goal. In about the 60th minute, Tami Perkins earned her second goal of the game, again with her head. A corner kick, a new Rain specialty, found the head of Christa Thoeresz who headed it straight up into the box. Tami outjumped her defender and put pace on the ball as it sailed over the keeper and just under the bar for a 3-0 Rain lead.

Waiting at the Border. Christa, Jess, Maegan, and Laurie acting like surfer chicks

Surrey was able to score in the 81st minute as good pressure on the Rain defense allowed an opposing forward to touch the ball just past a charging Ruth Montgomery and into the net to make the score 3-1 in favor of the Rain.

Dancing across the US / Canadian Border

Most Valuable (Tami Perkins vs Megan Blaker)
The most watched matchup of the game (for me anyway) was league leading goal scorer Megan Blaker of Surrey at right outside mid vs. Tami Perkins of Portland at left outside mid. Tami was determined to play well against the very talented Blaker who scored the tying goal against Portland at Strasser field in early June. Tami won the matchup, bar none. Blaker constantly found herself out of position to defend Perkins after making offensive runs which Tami was able to get back for. Blaker could not find the energy to defend against Perkins' counter runs with the ball up the wing. Tami's endless supply of cardiovascular endurance earned her domination over Blaker who just couldn't keep up. Blaker is very talented and obviously dangerous, but just can't match up with Tami Perkins experience, energy, and discipline. Tami always found her way back to cover Blaker at the far post and always was able to get into the offensive attack after a long defensive run, outrunning and fighting off the tugging defender for her first goal. The second goal Tami simply outjumped her defender and put pace on the header into the net. Tami had two goals and Blaker was shut down.