Welcome back, Christine Sinclair!
The 22-year-old Canadian national team striker scored twice Saturday night when the Vancouver Whitecaps beat the Seattle Sounders Saints 4-1 in their W-League season opener at Swangard Stadium.
Burnaby-born Sinclair played for Vancouver in 2002 when the club was known as the Breakers.
She missed the last three seasons while she carried the University of Portland Pilots to a pair of National Collegiate Athletic Association championship victories.
A Whitecaps women's record 4,437 fans witnessed Sinclair's hometown comeback.
Sinclair beat Seattle goalkeeper Kelsey Rasmussen in the second minute when she took a ball passed through two defenders by Amber Allen. She also converted Tiffeny Milbrett's corner kick with a header in the seventh minute.
"It was hard not to come out on fire," Sinclair said. "I love playing here, the fans are awesome."
Captain Andrea Neil's 47th minute marker from Lindsay Rohla was followed two minutes later by Milbrett's unassisted goal. The Whitecap newcomer has 100 goals in 203 matches for the United States national team.
Seattle's Shuree Hyatt ended goalkeeper Sian Bagshawe's shutout attempt in the 68th minute on a pass from Tafara Pulse.
WHITECAPS MEN 3 - THUNDER 0
In USL First Division play, Alfredo Valente, Joey Gjertsen and David Testo scored in a 3-0 win for the Whitecaps men over the visiting Minnesota Thunder last night. New goalkeeper Tony Caig got the shutout before 4,556 fans.
