Ben Fisk hat trick leads Vancouver Whitecaps U-18s to win over North Carolina Fusion in Development Academy Finals Week play

Vancouver Whitecaps FC kicked off the 2012 Development Academy Finals Week with an offensive avalanche as midfielder Ben Fisk registered a hat trick in a 4-1 win against the North Carolina Fusion in Group 1 play of the U-17/18 age group at Houston Amateur Sports Park.

Fisk, who has seen time with the Canada Under-20 Men’s National Team, put Whitecaps FC (1-0-0, 3 points) ahead in the 25th minute after finding a gap in the Fusion (0-1-0, 0 points) central defense and latching onto a pinpoint through ball from midfielder Bryce Alderson, a first-team Whitecaps FC Homegrown player. Fisk took a couple touches before calmly slotting the ball past Fusion goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell for the early advantage.

“It’s the best possible result,” Fisk said. “We had to get on the board quickly and get points in the first game. I think that’s a must to win the group. We did the right things and we’ve just got to keep it up.”

Vancouver doubled its lead in the 63rd minute when Yassin Essa sprung a counterattack up the right side, but saw his initial shot parried away by Caldwell. Fisk was there to tap in the rebound for a 2-0 lead.

In the 77th minute, Fisk completed his hat trick after receiving a through ball from Essa at the top of the penalty box and dribbling around Caldwell before scoring.

“He’s scored goals all season,” Vancouver head coach Craig Dalrymple said of Fisk. “He’s scored goals in the (MLS) Reserve League for the first team. He’s a confident kid. He can use both feet and defenders really don’t know how to handle him because when he’s on his game like he was today he’s always going to score goals.”

Midfielder Ben McKendry scored the final goal for Vancouver in the 80th minute on a smashing header from close range after Essa hit an out-swinging cross from the right flank. Essa, a speedy winger who was born in Ethiopia, finished with two assists on the night.

The Fusion pulled a goal back in the 79th minute when midfielder Hassan Kouyateh found space on the left side of the penalty box and curled a shot over the outstretched arms of Vancouver goalkeeper Callum Irving.

Whitecaps FC outshot North Carolina 16-14, including 7-1 on goal.

“I thought today the boys managed the game well,” Dalrymple said. “We didn’t take all of our chances, but we took the chances at the right time in the game.”

-U.S. Soccer Development Academy Match Report-

Match: North Carolina Fusion vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Date: July 16, 2012
Competition: 2012 Development Academy Finals Week – U-17/18
Venue: Houston Amateur Sports Park; Houston, Texas
Kickoff: 8 p.m. CT
Attendance: 100
Weather: 82 degrees, humid

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
NCF                         0 1 1
VAN                        1 3 4

VAN – Ben Fisk (Bryce Alderson) 25th minute
VAN – Ben Fisk (unassisted) 63
VAN – Ben Fisk (Yassin Essa) 77
NCF – Hassan Kouyateh (unassisted) 79
VAN – Ben McKendry (Yassin Essa) 80

Lineups:
NCF: 0-Jeff Caldwell; 32-Alex Rosenbower, 20-Cole Schwietering,7-Adam Storm, 6-Mason Billings (2-Erik Casterline, 69); 16-Sam McBride, 8-Warren Marshall, 13-Brandt Bronico, 36-Myles Mansfield (17-Taylor Adler, 69), 38-Hassan Kouyateh, 4-Alec Rotunda (10-Marco Sunol, 64)
Substitutions Not Used: 1-Cole Brooks, 26-Alex Requarth, 96-Matteo Busio, 14-Craver Stamey
Head coach: Marc Nicholls

VAN: 1-Callum Irving; 9-Adam Polakiewicz (17-Sam Adekugbe, 72), 14-Daniel Stanese, 5-Tim Hickson (15-Jason van Blerk, 87), 12-Declan Rodriguez; 8-Ben McKendry, 13-Alex Rowley, 10-Ben Fisk (11-Spencer DeBoice, 82), 2-Bryce Alderson (6-Carlos Marquez, 76), 7-Yassin Essa (3-Wesley Cain, 82); 4-Caleb Clarke
Substitutions Not Used: 30-Marco Carducci, 00-Said Jalali, 16-Carlos Patino
Head coach: Craig Dalrymple

Stats Summary: NCF / VAN
Shots: 14 / 16
Shots on Goal: 1 / 7
Saves: 3 / 1
Corner Kicks: 10 / 4
Fouls: 9 / 9
Offside: 2 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials:
Referee: Juliana Duncan
Assistant Referee 1: Brandon Rinkenberger
Assistant Referee 2: Kip Jackson
Fourth Official: Cedric Adams

ussoccer.com Man of the Match: Ben Fisk