It seemed somehow serendipitous that on a day when we turned the calendar to June, the Vancouver Whitecaps were establishing a litany of new “firsts” as they overturned the Portland Timbers in a pulsating, enthralling encounter in the Rose City. White Marcedes Lewis Elite Youth Jersey . Vancouvers first ever win over their expansion cousins (and, obviously, a first at Providence Park) came after nine attempts. That seems hard to believe given the Whitecaps run of results leading up to the two Cascadian rivals joining MLS from North Americas second tier. Equally amazing, the 4-3 loss at home was Portlands first in 23 games, a remarkable record stretching all the way back to March 9, 2013 when the Montreal Impact took all three points at the then Jeld-Wen Field. The win extended Vancouvers unbeaten run to six games, another first for the young MLS franchise. That may not pop off the page like a 22-game unbeaten run at home, but when you also include a road game at the Columbus Crew and home games with the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders in that period, the achievement seems a bit more noteworthy. Two converted penalties was a Whitecaps first on the road. (They did score twice from the spot against Real Salt Lake at home, late in the 2011 season). While referee Kevin Stott put himself in terrific position to see both first-half incidents in Portland, its hard not think about the penalty gods who somehow erased a dubious decision from a week ago with the Whitecaps leading Seattle. Erik Hurtado scored his first ugly goal of the season. The Beaverton, Oregon boy came home to bury a psychologically punishing chance that completely changed the complexion at half-time. The predatory instinct of Vancouvers fifth-overall pick from 2013 was clearly on display after he forced a great save from Donovan Ricketts before bundling the ball home by anticipating a rebound. Its a difficult feat to score four goals in four-straight games, but Hurtado has done it four different ways and, for good measure, showed a different quality by beautifully setting up Kekuta Manneh leading to the second penalty. Goals at Philadelphia on Saturday and Montreal after the World Cup break would tie and then break the five-goals-in-five-MLS-games record held by Camilo over June and July of last year. But perhaps the most exciting “first” of all was the two goals and two assists from Whitecaps midfield maestro Pedro Morales, who, with each passing game, looks like an odds-on early season choice for MLS Newcomer of the Year. The Chilean conductor out “number 10d” last years recipient of that award, Diego Valeri, by quite some margin. His vision to pick out Hurtado on the first-half stoppage time 3-1 goal was incisive and impossible to defend. But his delay, recognition, and then exquisite ball to Jordan Harvey early in the second was even better and it proved to be the game winner. Morales is a bona fide superstar and one who seems to be relishing his role with the club. It looks likely that hell provide some more milestones before this season is done. The Whitecaps will now get a chance to cross another couple of “firsts” off their list - a first goal and victory at PPL Park in Philadelphia, where the Caps visit the Union this Saturday. Judging by their current form, and their ability to “feast on the East” that seems like a pretty safe bet. Black John Cyprien Limited Youth Jersey . Jarome Iginla and Zdeno Chara each had two goals, Tuukka Rask made 25 saves and the Bruins beat the Philadelphia Flyers 6-1 Saturday. Black Alan Ball Limited Mens Jersey . Brooks and Harrison, along with tackle Walter Jones and coach Tony Dungy, were the first-year eligible candidates to make the cut from 126 to 25. Brooks won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay, while Harrison and Dungy were champions with Indianapolis.NEW YORK, N.Y. - Jack Sock waited and waited for the ball to come down. When it finally landed out, he dropped his racket and ran arms outstretched toward Melanie Oudin. The American teenagers captured the U.S. Open mixed doubles championship Friday, beating eighth-seeded Gisela Dulko and Eduardo Schwank of Argentina in a tiebreak to chants of "U-S-A." Oudin and Sock won 7-6 (4), 4-6, 10-8 (tiebreak) in front of a sparse crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium after the mens singles quarter-finals. "Worked really well because he jokes a lot when were playing and he keeps me relaxed, and sometimes thats what I have been having trouble with, is staying relaxed playing," Oudin said. "Then Im very positive, so that helps him." They had never played together before and needed a wild card to even get in the tournament. In the first round, they faced match point. In the second round, they faced top-seeded defending champs Bob Bryan and Liezel Huber. Now theyll split US$150,000. "Theyre so young," Dulko said. "Its unbelievable what they did." Despite their youth, the two arent exactly strangers to the spotlight at Flushing Meadows. The 18-year-old Sock won a junior title in boys singles at last years Open, then earned his first Grand Slam singles victory in the first round this year before being eliminated by Andy Roddick. The 19-year-old Oudin was the darling of the 2009 U.S. Open, reaching the womens quarter-finals. But shes struggled to find consistency since. Black Ziggy Hood Limited Youth Jersey. "I feel like I have been playing pretty well playing mixed doubles. A lot of those things, like my serve and returning, is very important in singles," Oudin said. "I will have a lot more confidence, I think, going into my next singles matches coming up." The two Argentines had never played mixed doubles together, either. The 26-year-old Dulko won her first Grand Slam womens doubles title with Flavia Pennetta at this years Australian Open. Schwank, 25, was a finalist in mens doubles at the French Open with Juan Sebastian Cabal. The Americans took a 8-5 lead in the tiebreak thanks to back-to-back mistakes by their opponents. Schwank hit a volley wide, then Dulko double-faulted. Things got wild after Oudin and Sock earned triple match point. Schwanks first serve was ruled out; he challenged and the call stood. His second serve glanced off the tape and was also ruled out, which would have been a match-ending double-fault. He challenged again, and this time the call was overturned. Schwank was awarded a first serve, then easily won the next two points on his serve to pull within 9-8, leaving Sock to try to serve out the match. "I feel like I have been serving pretty well all week actually in mixed and even in singles, so I was very comfortable serving," Sock said. He landed a big first serve, and Schwanks popped-up return carried just long. A final review confirmed that it was indeed out. cheap jerseys ' ' '
