Kamloops, BC—The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack broke open a scoreless tie with three goals in the second half as they downed the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves 3-0 on Saturday (Aug 30).  The exhibition Canada West women’s soccer match was played at Hillside Stadium.

“We came out and dominated the possession game in the first half,” said WolfPack head coach Tom Mcmanus. “We didn’t get shots.  We talked about it at half time and we corrected.”

McManus felt that his team was making too many passes in the attacking third of the field.  “We need to pick up the pace and go forward a little more rather than knocking it back.”

“The positive thing in this one is we got a good game against a solid team and we got everyone of our players into it,” stated UNBC head coach Andy Cameron. “We are OK with the result.  It was about standard today and getting people in.”

The WolfPack opened the scoring in the 63 rd minute.  Kelsey Martin (3rd year, forward, Kamloops, BC) took a corner kick on the left side of the field and put it in the centre of the box. The ball bounced around before Sarah Seebach (3rd year, defender, Kamloops, BC) put it past UNBC keeper Katia Hartwig (4th year, Quesnel, BC).

The Timberwolves had their best opportunity to score in the 70 th minute when Tianna Puis (2ndyear, midfield, Prince George, BC) broke in on the right side and fired the ball cross goal.  ‘Pack keeper Emily Edmundson (5th year, Kamloops, BC) had to sprawl across and just got her hand on it.

Two minutes later, Thompson Rivers got a free kick.  Marlie Rittinger (3rd year, defender, Ashcroft, BC) bent the ball over the UNBC wall and it curved into the right side of the net to give the home side a 2-0 advantage.

That rattled the Timberwolves and in the 80 th minute,  miscommunication between the keeper and the back line of UNBC resulted in Taylor Miller (3rd year, forward, Kamloops, BC) stripping the ball away and easily scoring into the lower right hand side of the goal for TRU’s third and final marker of the afternoon.

“We gave up two goals on set pieces today,” Cameron explained when asked about his team’s mental mistakes. “ This is the time to make mistakes.”

He felt that his team’s second year players are starting to get the idea of what he is trying to preach.

McManus had praise for third year player Emily Oliver (Kamloops, BC) who has moved from outside to inside midfielder. “ She was excellent.  I told her that position is made for her. The way she moves and her quickness. Overall, I think it’s a great position for her and that is where I see her starting.”

The WolfPack coach also acknowledged the play of Miller, Rittinger, Seebach  Jaydene Radu (4th year, forward, Calgary, AB) and Katie Sparrow (4th year, forward, Kamloops, BC).

The two teams play their final pre season match on Sunday (Aug 31) at Hillside Stadium.  Kick off is 11 am.

Thompson Rivers will open their inaugural season in the Canada West on Friday, September 12 th at Hillside Stadium against the defending CIS champion Trinity Western University Spartans.  Kick off is 5 pm.

UNBC will open up their season Saturday, September 6 th at home against the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat.  Kick off is noon.