Victoria (CP) - Charmaine Hooper scored two goals to lead Canada's women's national team to a 3-1 win over Netherlands on a brisk, wintry afternoon in the B.C. capital.
The Canadians came out strong in the opening half with their three-pronged attack of Christine Sinclair, Charmaine Hooper and Rhian Wilkinson testing Marleen Wissink in the Dutch goal right from the opening whistle.
Canada struck just three minutes in when a failed clearance was pounced on by Hooper inside the Dutch penalty area. The Chicago-based striker easily converted the opportunity, side-footing her shot past a helpless Wissink for her 66th goal for Canada.
Sophie Schmidt had the other goal for Canada.
Shirley Smith scored Netherlands' lone goal.
Smith's goal came after Canada was caught on the break. Gilanne Louwars streaked down the right flank and delivered the ball across the face of the Canadian goal that eluded every Canadian defender and found an unmarked Smith at the back post. Smith took the pass on her first touch and slammed it past goalkeeper Erin McLeod who had no chance on the goal.
Canada regained the lead for good just two minutes later when Hooper notched her second of the match.
A Rhian Wilkinson corner found Andrea Neil at the top of the penalty area. Neil nodded her effort toward goal, but Hooper flicked the header past Wissink.
Canada was the more dangerous of the two sides, threatening to get behind the Dutch defence at any time.
The Dutch on the other hand were typical in their buildup, but were often forced backwards by wind and tenacious Canadian pressure. They kept possession at times, but had difficulty opening up and threatening the Canadian defence.
"We played another solid game; maybe more solid than spectacular," said head coach Even Pellerud.
"It was a very similar game to the match on Wednesday (in Vancouver), when we managed once again to put a lot of pressure on the Dutch team and could have scored more than we did. Perhaps we were more lively this afternoon and a bit more skillful but the game was also hindered somewhat by a very strong wind."
Canada completed its scoring with just under twenty minutes to play on a well-timed header by Schmidt.
Brittany Timko aimed a long free-kick over the top of the Dutch defence towards the run of Schmidt who had ghosted in behind her defender near the right corner of the six yard box.
The Abbotsford, B.C. native angled a header past Wissink and into the side netting, stretching Canada's lead to two and removing any hope of a Dutch comeback.
"Overall the goal chances were exactly the same as our last game (10-1), which is quite remarkable, but in the end we won two matches against a Dutch team that perhaps was expecting to perform a bit better than it did."