WSOC: Timberwolves Home Opener Weekend Preview

Women's Soccer
September 6, 2017

September 8th, 2017

Canada West Women’s Soccer Preview

Thompson Rivers @ UNBC

UNBC Timberwolves (0-0)
2016 Regular Season Stats
16th in Canada West standings (0-12-1)
3 Goals For
40 Goals Against
Goals Leader : Paige Payne, Tianna Pius, Maddy Doucette : 1 Goal
Assists Leader:  Paige Payne, Tianna Pius : 1 Assist
Points Leader : Paige Payne, Tianna Pius : 2 Points
Player to Watch:
Sidney Roy, F
After two years away from the program, Sidney Roy returns for her fourth season of eligibility with the Timberwolves. The program’s all-time leading scorer, Roy will look to ripple the mesh for UNBC, while providing leadership to the 11 freshmen on the TWolves roster.  

Thompson Rivers Wolfpack (0-0)
2016 Regular Season Stats
15th in Canada West Standings (1-12)
4 Goals For
54 Goals Against
Goals Leader : Lacon, Medonca, Simpson, Sirianni : 1 Goal
Assists Leader: Sirianni, Maricle, Simpson : 1 Assist
Points Leader : Sasha Sirianni : 2 Points
Player to Watch:
Sasha Sirianni, F
A second-year midfielder, Sirianni paced the Wolfpack in points in her fresman campaign. The Kamloops native will be leaned on to provide offense for the TRU attack. 

September 10th, 2017

Canada West Women’s Soccer Preview

UBC Okanagan @ UNBC

UNBC Timberwolves (0-0)
2016 Regular Season Stats
16th in Canada West standings (0-12-1)
3 Goals For
40 Goals Against
Goals Leader : Paige Payne, Tianna Pius, Maddy Doucette : 1 Goal
Assists Leader:  Paige Payne, Tianna Pius : 1 Assist
Points Leader : Paige Payne, Tianna Pius : 2 Points
Player to Watch:
Mara McCleary, D
McCleary may have been the most impactful rookie in the Canada West in the 2016-2017 season. The Victoria product played every minute of every game, and provided a stability to the Timberwolves backend. UNBC coach Neil Sedgwick will look for more of the same from McCleary in her second season.

UBCO Heat (0-0)
2016 Regular Season Stats
13th in Canada West Standings (4-9-1)
15 Goals For
30 Goals Against
Goals Leader : Courtney Hemmerling : 4 Goals
Assists Leader: Ferguson, Ferronato, Hemmerling, Stinson, Wheeler : 1 Assist
Points Leader : Courtney Hemmerling : 5 Points
Player to Watch:
Maya Bandy, M
Despite starting just seven games in her freshman year, Bandy was able to score a pair of goals. That total is the highest of any returner to the Heat roster, so the Vernon native is sure to be a focal point of the UBCO gameplan.

Quotes:
UNBC’s Rhianne Ferdinandi
On the Timberwolves’ readiness for opening weekend…
“We are really ready for this weekend. TRU and UBCO will be evenly matched opponents for us. We have been working really hard this preseason, and I think everyone looks really good.”
On preparing for two different opponents on the same weekend…
“Right now we are just focused on Thompson Rivers, and once that game is over, we will turn our focus to UBCO. We try to just take it one game at a time.”
On what it would mean to start the season earning points in the standings…
“I have been here for five years, so I have seen a lot of ups and downs. It would be awesome to start the weekend off with six points. That would be a good into to our season.”
On looking to play in the opposition’s end of the pitch…
“We have been working a lot on our offense these last few weeks. Hopefully we will create a lot more chances, we will get a lot more shots, and score some more goals.”