All the high-fives and hugs made it look like a young prospect had just scored her first career goal.

But it just felt like that for Tiffeny Milbrett.

The 35-year-old world champion and Olympic gold medalist hadn't scored for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the opening six games of the W-League season.

Until Friday night, when a relieved Milbrett scored twice and assisted on another goal in the opening 45 minutes as the unbeaten Whitecaps raced past the Ventura County Fusion, 3-1, at Buena High.

"Obviously, I've been through a few droughts in a long career," said Milbrett.

"But it doesn't make it any easier. As a goal scorer, you take not scoring to heart. It's been weighing on me."

The second-place Whitecaps (5-0-2), the 2004 and 2006 W-League champions, can take over the top spot in the Western Conference with a win at the Pali Blues (5-0-0) on Sunday afternoon.

The Fusion (1-4-1) felt fortunate last month when it escaped British Columbia without the veteran U.S. international finding her way on the scoresheet.

"She showed, once again, that she's a very good player, whether she's scoring a goal or setting one up," said Fusion coach Michelle Myers.

Tenley Garcia scored the first two goals in club history May 17 as Ventura County became the first of two teams to take a point off Vancouver with a 2-2 tie.

Entering Friday night, Milbrett hadn't figured in a goal this season, despite playing all 540 minutes of Vancouver's first six matches.

She needed barely four more minutes end that goalless streak.

Katrin Schmidt was put through down the left side in the fifth minute and pulled the ball back for Milbrett to lace into the Fusion net from 18 yards.

"She got one look and " said Myers, making the sound of a ball zipping into a net.

Milbrett became the provider 11 minutes later by playing the ball forward for striker Sanna Talonen, who beat the offsides trap and finished past Fusion goalkeeper Tammy Lenham.

Milbrett made it 3-0 three minutes before halftime, taking a pass from forward Kirsteen Buchan and lobbing Lenham from 15 yards.

"They came out and played very direct," said Myers. "It caught us off guard.

"We let them outphysical us. We weren't able to deal with it until we talked about it at halftime."

The Fusion, which will travel to play two road matches in Colorado next week, pulled a goal back when University of Texas defender Kasey Moore headed home Catherine Calvert's corner kick in the 68th minute.

Lenham had to leave the match at halftime after suffering a concussion. Reserve goalkeeper Katie Maxwell was a bright spot for the Fusion, holding her own in a relief appearance.