And, the Impact scored early and often as it overwhelmed the reigning NASL champion Tampa Bay Rowdies 4-1 at the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic in Orlando, while Toronto FC overcame a terrible start in a torrential first-hald downpour to overcome USL-Pro’s Orlando City 2-0.

Philippe Davies will be reunited with former Whitecaps’ teammate Long Tan — in Division 3, with the Richmond Kickers of the USL.

As the MLS transfer window is now open, we see more and more fringe players on the move. And, of course, when a fringe player is cut, there is excitement amongst fans — who hope the roster spot might be opened for a new signing.

The RailHawks won the game on penalties after the Whitecaps’ Davide Chiumiento scored a last-gasp equalizer. It was 2-2 after 90 minutes, but the RailHawks were perfect in the penalty shootout, while the Whitecaps were just two for four.

But the game came to life in the second half — and the Whitecaps got goals from Sebastien Le Toux, Canadian youngster Russell Teibert and defender Carlyle Mitchell, as they went on to swamp SKC 3-0 thanks to a 17-minute spell of inspired play.

With Tuesday’s signing of reigning NASL MVP Etienne Barbara, Rennie has a wealth of attacking players at his disposal. The Maltese striker — who has been injured and hasn’t been able to see any preseason action so far in 2012 — joins Sebastien Le Toux, Eric Hassli, Camilo, 2011 No. 1 draft pick Omar Salgado, Atiba Harris, Davide Chiumiento, Long Tan and 2012 No. 2 overall pick Darren Mattocks in what is the most top-heavy roster in MLS.

Tan drew two penalty kicks, the first one which was converted by Sebastien Le Toux, as the Whitecaps beat the Houston Dynamo 1-0 Sunday.

Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Colorado guaranteed the Whitecaps would finish tied for the worst record in MLS with the New England Revolution. But, if you want to be picky, the tiebreaker in MLS is head-to-head record, and New England drew and beat the Whitecaps this season. So, by the MLS book, you can say that the Whitecaps finished with the worst record in the league.

For the second week in a row, the Vancouver Whitecaps took advantage of a team in a tailspin.

The Whitecaps could not have had a worse opponent scheduled for the MLS opening of B.C. Place than the Portland Timbers. The Timbers not only, ahem. blessed the new Bell Pitch at B.C. Place with a 1-0 win in front of sold-out throng of 21,000, the Whitecaps’ Cascadia rivals had the chance to display just how wide the competitive gap is between the two teams that jumped from second division to MLS in 2011.