With the program on the verge of entering Canada West play in the fall, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s soccer team is gearing up for a short spring season. The WolfPack are the three time defending PACWEST champions, but know that the move to CIS will be a big one.  Head coach Tom McManus has set up three exhibition games in the month of March starting this Saturday (Mar 22) when the team travels to Abbotsford to play the University of Fraser Valley Cascades.  The other matches will come later in the month at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops when the ‘Pack entertain the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] WolfPack head coach Tom McManus (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] “UNBC contacted me and asked if they could come down for a couple of matches,’ McManus says. “ I wanted to take advantage of getting the players some games.  Fraser Valley contacted me quite a while ago to set up a match.  The three matches will give our players a few games. On top of that, it would be a nice way to finish up our season after Nationals.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] WolfPack coaches: Natasha Little, Tom McManus and Danilo Caron (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] The WolfPack closed out their Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association tenure with a bronze medal finish at the 2013 Nationals in Surrey, BC in November. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="333"] CCAA All-Canadians and PACWEST All-stars Alanna Bekkering and Bronwyn Crawford (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] McManus says matches in the spring will become a regular occurrence when the team goes CIS.  “Its all part of CIS preparation. This is something a number of CIS teams do. “ [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] McManus looks as the WolfPack warm up (Allen Douglas photo)[/caption] The WolfPack players—many of whom will be returning for CIS play in the fall have been working diligently in the gym.  “ They are all doing very well with the off season program,” the coach explains. “ This is the time of year that they should be maintaining their fitness level. Training also gets to the point that you want to play and this is the carrot for them as they fully deserve it. They are fully committed to the WolfPack and want to prepare themselves for the step up to CIS.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] McManus at a recent match (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] Those playing this weekend and later against UNBC will be returning veterans and none of McManus’ recruits will get a chance to show their stuff yet. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Bekkering with hands up after match at 2013 CCAA Nationals (CCAA photo)[/caption] McManus has a number of holes to fill as he looks towards the fall.  Two time PACWEST player of the year Alanna Bekkering (Kamloops, BC) has graduated. As well, sweeper and two time PACWEST all-star Laura Smylie (150 Mile House, BC) does not plan to return for her fifth year of eligibility as does regular defender Vanessa Zilkie (Kelowna, BC).   One other starter: Megan Baird (Cloverdale, BC) will also not be returning. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Megan Baird at PACWEST championships[/caption] THROW INS:  Many of the WolfPack players who will spend the summer in Kamloops are planning to play for the Pacific Coast Soccer League Kamloops Heat.  The TRU Athletic program has a sponsorship in both the Heat men’s and women’s programs.