USSF D-II: Wagner’s hat trick powers Whitecaps

Posted Jul 15, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Jul 15, 2010 at 10:20 AM

Blake Wagner scores a hat trick for Vancouver, while Montreal ends Carolina’s undefeated run on the road in Wednesday’s USSF Division II action.

VANCOUVER 3, MIAMI 1: Wagner, who played for Hillsborough County United before joining the U.S. Under-17 residency program, was excellent as the Whitecaps earned victory to extend their undefeated streak to nine games and their lead atop the NASL Conference to eight points.

Along with forwards Cornelius Stewart and Nizer Khalfan, Wagner was able to find space repeatedly and gave his side the lead in the 18th minute as he worked a give-and-go with Khalfan before finishing from close range. He added a second in 56th minute with a first-time shot from 15 yards.

Former Clearwater High standout Brian Shriver pulled one back for Miami a minute later and came close to tying the game with just over 10 minutes to go when his shot flashed past the left post. But Wagner completed his hat trick in stoppage time, the first hat trick by a Whitecaps midfielder in a decade.

MONTREAL 1, CAROLINA 0: Peter Byers came off the bench to score the only goal of the game, ending the Impact’s five-game winless streak and putting an end to Carolina’s eight-game undefeated streak.

Byers took advantage of good work by Rocco Placentino, who forced a turnover to set up a 2-on-1, playing in Byers who fired home. Coming off a 3-0 defeat to St. Louis, the Impact also got a strong performance by goalkeeper Srdjan Djekanovic, who made five saves for the shutout.

MINNESOTA 2, ST. LOUIS 2: The Stars pulled off a furious rally in the last five minutes to earn a point after being two goals down with just under half-an-hour to play.

The Saints had taken a 2-0 lead with goals either side of halftime by Jeff Cosgriff in the 42nd minute and Chris Salvaggione in the 64th, Minnesota’s Johnny Menyongar missing a penalty just before halftime.

But Brian Cvilikas pulled one back for the Stars off the rebound of Kevin Friedland’s header in the 87th minute and Geison Moura then equalized in stoppage time, chipping Alex Dufty after controlling a corner.

ROCHESTER 0, BALTIMORE 0: The Rhinos were held to their second straight scoreless draw after an uninspired performance against the Eagles.

Rochester, in fact, didn’t force a save out of Crystal Palace Baltimore goalkeeper Evan Bush, taking only two shots on goal. Rhinos goalkeeper Neal Kitson was made to work for his shutout, making four saves including a close-range stop of Mathew Mbuta in the 63rd minute.  Tsuyoshi Yoshitake also hit the crossbar for Baltimore, which is now 1-4-1 at home.