Brian White's hat trick rallies Whitecaps from two goals down to 4-3 victory over St. Louis City

Vancouver Whitecaps' Levonte Johnson, right, and St. Louis City's Jake Nerwinski vie for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Brian White scored twice in the second half to polish off a hat trick and rally the Vancouver Whitecaps from a two-goal deficit to a 4-3 victory over St. Louis City on Saturday night.

St. Louis City celebrates after jabulo Blom, obscured, scored against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

It was the second career hat trick for White, who accounted for all three goals in the Whitecaps’ 3-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Oct. 2, 2021. He is the first player to have multiple hat tricks in franchise history. It was the fifth three-goal effort turned in by a Whitecap since Vancouver (8-7-4) joined the league in 2011.

St. Louis City's Eduard Loewen, left, and Vancouver Whitecaps' Sebastian Berhalter, right, vie for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Njabulo Blom opened the scoring in the 7th minute for St. Louis City (3-7-10), using an assist from Chris Durkin to net his first goal of the season and the second of his career. Blom had one goal in 21 starts and 26 appearances last season as a rookie. The assist was the third this season for Durkin.

St. Louis City's Eduard Loewen (10) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Vancouver Whitecaps during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

St. Louis City took a two-goal lead when Eduard Löwen scored for a second time this season, unassisted in the 12th minute.

Vancouver Whitecaps goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka tries to stop a goal from St. Louis City's Njabulo Blom during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver pulled within 2-1 by halftime after an unassisted score by White in the 37th minute.

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White scored again early in the second half, using an assist from defender Mathias Laborda in the 54th minute to knot the score. It was the first career assist for Laborda, who was making his 30th start and 37th appearance in his two seasons in the league.

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White gave the Whitecaps a 3-2 lead in the 61st minute with his eighth goal of the campaign, using Ryan Raposo's fourth assist to score. White had not scored since a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls on April 27. It was his first multi-goal match since scoring twice in a 3-2 victory over Minnesota United on May 6 of last season.

Vancouver Whitecaps' Levonte Johnson, left, and St. Louis City's John Klein (41) and Tomas Totland, right, vie for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Fafà Picault finished the scoring for Vancouver in the 90th minute with his fourth goal of the season. Luís Martins notched his first assist.

MLS St Louis Whitecaps Soccer

The goal turned out to be necessary when Nökkvi Thórisson took a pass from Indiana Vassilev and scored in the third minute of stoppage time for St. Louis City. It was the first goal this season and the second of Thórisson's career. Vassilev's assist was his second.

Vancouver Whitecaps' Luis Martins, back, and St. Louis City's John Klein vie for the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Benjamin Lundt finished with four saves in his first appearance of the season and the second of his career for St. Louis City. Lundt made his only other start last season, surrendering three goals in a loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

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Yohei Takaoka saved two shots for the Whitecaps.

Vancouver Whitecaps' Levonte Johnson (28) is stopped by St. Louis City goalkeeper Ben Lundt, center, as Tomas Totland (14) watches during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

St. Louis City entered play 12th in the standings after winning the Western Conference regular season as an expansion team last season.

St. Louis City's Chris Durkin, right, trips during a collision with Vancouver Whitecaps' Levonte Johnson during the first half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Both teams posted victories at home in a pair of previous matchups.

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Vancouver won for the first time since beating the Colorado Rapids on the first day of the month.

Vancouver Whitecaps' Sebastian Berhalter and St. Louis City's Indiana Vassilev, right, vie for the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

St. Louis City returns home to host the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday. The Whitecaps travel to play Minnesota United on Wednesday.

St. Louis City goalkeeper Ben Lundt gives up a goal to Vancouver Whitecaps Fafa Picault during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Whitecaps' Brian White (24), second from right, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against St. Louis City during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

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Vancouver Whitecaps' Giuseppe Bovalina, left, kicks the ball in front of St. Louis City's Akil Watts during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Sebastian Berhalter (16) and St. Louis City's Indiana Vassilev (19) vie for the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Brian White celebrates after scoring against St. Louis City during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

MLS St Louis Whitecaps Soccer

Vancouver Whitecaps' Brian White (24), second from right, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against St. Louis City during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)