McLaughlin Debuts For Vancouver Whitecaps

* Photo courtesy of Nick Procaylo, PNG 

AMES, Iowa - Former three-time Iowa State soccer defensive MVP Mary Kate McLaughlin is already earning rave reviews since joining the Vancouver Whitecaps of the W-League on May 3. The West Des Moines, Iowa, native played the full 90 minutes in the Whitecaps' season opener on Sunday. The Vancouver Whitecaps' men's team is in its second season as a member of Major League Soccer (MLS).

In addition to starting to the match, McLaughlin played a key role in the Whitecaps' first goal of the campaign.  McLaughlin made the initial touch on a corner kick that fell to teammate Chelsea Buckland who found the back of the net to give Vancouver a 1-0 lead. The Whitecaps' lead would be short lived after the team was forced to play with only 10 on the field after Vancouver's Brittany Gallindo was shown a red card.  Vancouver eventually fell 3-2 in the match against Victoria Highlandanders FC.

"First of all, I am really appreciative of this opportunity the Whitecaps and coach Jesse Symons gave me," McLaughlin said. "I got a great recommendation from the Iowa State coaches and one of my former teammates. The team and staff are great. It's a great training and soccer environment. I am getting pushed every day and I feel I am developing, which is what I want and need. I am happy to be here and hoping to have success. It is gorgeous here, and it is a great experience to be living and playing in Canada. I see water and mountains every day, and it is absolutely amazing. It has been a phenomenal experience so far."

Vancouver Whitecaps' coach Jesse Symons was complimentary of McLaughlin in a recent article in The Providence, a newspaper in Vancouver.

"She'll be a huge part of the team in dead ball situations," said Symons. "She's very willing to go forward, very athletic in terms of her leaping ability and she's got great technique."

Continue to check back on cyclones.com throughout the summer to stay updated on McLaughlin, as the former three-time Cyclone co-captain has agreed to provide blogs on her experience in Vancouver.

To read a feature story on Mclaughlin from The Providence click here.