BURNABY - Goals by Cornelius Stewart and Greg Janicki gave the Vancouver Whitecaps FC a 2-0 victory over the Rochester Rhinos in USSF Division-2 play on Saturday evening.
The win puts the Whitecaps atop the NASL Conference standings - one point ahead of Canadian rivals the Montreal Impact. The clean sheet was also Vancouver's fourth straight shutout.
Stewart registered his first-ever goal for Vancouver 17 minutes in when partner Marcus Haber's initial shot fell at his feet in the Rhinos box. The young forward turned and beat Rhinos goalkeeper Neal Kitson for a 1-0 Whitecaps lead.
In the 51st it was another Vancouver player registering his first-ever goal for the club. Martin Nash's fine corner from the right found Janicki at the far post, with the former D.C. United man heading it into the corner of Kitson's goal to make it 2-0.
The Whitecaps now embark on a three-match eastern road swing, starting with their Nutrilite Canadian Championship encounter versus the already-eliminated Impact in Montreal on Wednesday night. They meet the Rhinos at Rochester next Saturday and conclude the trip by visiting Toronto FC at BMO Field in the final match of this year's Nutrilite Canadian Championship on June 2.
