By ADAM SERRANO

The Tommy Soehn era in Vancouver started in the same way that the Teitur Thordarson ended — with a 1-1 draw for the Whitecaps. 

In his match, Soehn dealt with a number of the same challenges that plagued Thordarson, including an Eric Hassli red card and ineffective finishing. Vancouver has still not won an MLS league match since the season opener against Toronto FC. 

As the Whitecaps look to try string together results under a new coach, Whitecaps captain Jay DeMerit stated that it was time for Vancouver to rally behind Soehn. 

"You need to use these types of regime changes as a lift, I suppose," DeMerit said after Wednesday's draw. "You can't look at the past, because it's called the past for a reason. What's in front of us is what's important, and now we need to rally around our new manager."

More news from around the Western Conference is after the jump:

CHIVAS USA

Chivas USA gave up another lead and failed to capitalize on a 23-minute man advantage against the Whitecaps, which has led to fear that the Rojiblancos may be regressing. The Rojiblancos have not picked up a victory since May 15th against the New York Red Bulls. 

Defender Heath Pearce provided a damning assessment of the Rojiblancos performance over the last two weeks, which has seen Chivas USA give up four consecutive leads. 

"We've been kind of scattered in the last couple of games, and there has been a lack of unity," Pearce said. "To win, you need to have a majority of your guys having good days, and today we didn't have enough guys playing well."

COLORADO RAPIDS

The Rapids believe that they are closing in on a jersey sponsor and hope to have one by the end of July. The club's Chief Marketing Officer, Tim Hinchey, told MLSsoccer.com that the Rapids were looking at a number of local and national companies to sponsor the defending MLS Cup champions. Hinchey said that Rapids fans can be assured that the team's kit will no longer be blank by seasons end.

"Our objective has always been this year, and I know it will be a 2011 result," he said. "I don't see this taking us past the regular season, and I would like to think it will be before the end of July."

FC DALLAS

Reinforcements may be on the way for FC Dallas after head coach Schellas Hyndman stated that the club is looking to bring in new players during the summer transfer window. With a series of injuries to key players in the backline like Zach Loyd and George John, Hyndman told ESPN Dallas that FCD would be active in the summer months.

"[Our lack of depth is] definitely a concern, something we've been talking about for the summer window as well."

L.A. GALAXY

The Galaxy will be dealing with a pair of major absences in the month of June with Donovan Ricketts (Jamaica) and Landon Donovan (USA) with their respective nations on Gold Cup duty. With Donovan and Ricketts out, the Galaxy will rely on the play of midfielder Mike Stephens — among others — and goalkeeper Josh Saunders to lift a Galaxy side that is at the top of MLS right now. While the absence will be difficult to deal with, Donovan is confident in his team's ability to maintain.

"We’re not a team that plays the same 11 or 12 or 13 guys the whole year," Donovan told LAGalaxy.com. "Some teams do that, but that's not been the way we've operated over the last three years."

PORTLAND TIMBERS

The Timbers suffered their first loss at home last Saturday in a wild defeat to D.C. United. The Timbers struggles were highlighted by a bizarre argument between forward Kenny Cooper and head coach Jon Spencer.

Spencer instructed Cooper to step aside and allow captain Jack Jewsbury to take a penalty after Cooper had two straight penalties called back for infractions by D.C. United keeper Bill Hamid. Cooper fired back at his coach, but Spencer admitted to The Oregonian that he understood his forward's reaction.

"When it becomes so personal, you don't think straight," Spencer said. "I've been in that kind of situation. You get fired up and you say something to the coach that you wouldn't normally say."

REAL SALT LAKE

Just two months ago, Real Salt Lake was the most feared team in MLS, but after a string of bad results including last Saturday's loss at home to Seattle — which ended a 29 game home unbeaten streak — Salt Lake is looking to regroup ahead of a difficult stretch. This weekend's match against the Whitecaps is the first in a six-game, 22-day span during the month of June. 

RSL will also need to deal with six absences that leave Salt Lake with just 16 available field players for Saturday's match. Alvaro Saborio (Costa Rica), Will Johnson (Canada) and Arturo Alvarez (El Salvador) are away for the Gold Cup; Jamison Olave is suspended after picking up a red card in the loss to Seattle; Paulo Jr. is dealing with a hamstring injury and playmaker Javier Morales is out for the long haul.  

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

Absences are also causing havoc for the San Jose Earthquakes, who are without starters Ryan Johnson (Jamaica) and Chris Wondolowski (USA) while they go on international duty during the Gold Cup.

These absences will lead to chances for players like veteran Scott Sealy and rookie Ellis McCloughlin to contribute to the Earthquakes attack. McCloughlin told MLSsoccer.com that he was encouraged with the opportunity to have a larger impact on the field for San Jose. 

SEATTLE SOUNDERS

Where is Fredy Montero? 

Not in the Seattle Sounders starting lineup, apparently. Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid has benched his Colombian DP forward after he has struggled to score this season. Schmid told the Seattle Times that Montero would be benched indefinitely and did not say if Montero would return to the lineup for Saturday's match against the Chicago Fire. Montero admitted that starting last Saturday's match at Real Salt Lake provided him with some perspective. 

"It's just a chance to sort of see the game from the outside," he said through a translator to the Seattle Times. "Being on the bench you have a chance to observe and analyze what's happening."

This is not a new tactic for Schmid, who benched Montero last season after a loss to the Galaxy. Montero responded by scoring a goal off the bench before going on a midseason scoring run.