The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack are into the win column for the first time in the 2016-17 Canada West women’s soccer league season. The ‘Pack edged out the visiting University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves 2-1 at Hillside Stadium on Sunday (Sept 18).   SYNOPSIS The WolfPack closed out their opening home weekend of the season with the victory. They showed more aggressiveness than any match this season and took the play to UNBC. They welcomed third year defender Christine Fergin (Waterloo, ON) back into the line up and she was a steady force, being named the player of the match. Sasha Sirianni (1^st year, midfield, Kamloops, BC) and Katie Harding (3^rd year, midfield, Salmon Arm, BC) were also solid for TRU. Kelly Shantz picks up first career CIS head coaching victory. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJV5PSZkzko

KEY STATS: Goal scoring: TRU:( 7:23 ) Kenzie Lacon (1^st year, forward, Victoria, BC) scored on a header off a corner kick by Sasha Sirianni (1^st year, midfield, Kamloops, BC). Her first of the year.     TRU 1 UNBC   0 After the first half   UNBC (51:09) Tianna Pius (4^th year, mdfield, Prince George, BC) scored high left side at the top of the box. Her first of the year. UNBC 1 TRU 1   TRU (65:04) Ava Simpson(1^st year, midfield, Delta, BC) capitalized on a free kick from Kindra Maricle (4^th year, midfield, Kamloops, BC). Simpson’s low shot on the left side found the mark for her first of the year. TRU 2 UNBC 1   Corner Kicks:    TRU 3 (all in first half)   UNBC 3 (all in second half)   Saves:    UNBC   6 (4 in the first half)   TRU 3 (2 in the second half) Shots by Period: TRU 15 (10 in the first half) UNBC 6 (five in the second half) Saves by Period: UNBC Lianna Toopitsin (2^nd year, Prince George, BC)   6 (4 in the first half) TRU   Alyssa Smith (1^st year, Langley, BC) 3 ( 2 in the second half) RECORDS: TRU 1-3     UNBC 0-4 QUOTES: TRU head coach Kelly Shantz On aggressive start: “ The first 25 or 30 minutes was the best of my career here thus far. The girls really want it. We had a real let down in the last 15 minutes of the first half. We sorted it out at half and got the job done. It would have been really easy for us to let down after they tied it up on a defensive miscommunication. To have the girls rebound, get the winner and hang on till the end was a character builder for us.” ON UNBC: “UNBC deserves full marks for making it a war for us. They are another team struggling to get wins. They had to travel. They had a tough game yesterday against UBCO in the rain. Full marks to Neil and his crew who didn’t give up and made it a battle. They should be proud of their effort today.”   UNBC head coach Neil Sedgewick On Contest:   “When these two teams match up it is a well-balanced game. It is two competitive teams. I think they both grew throughout the game. When you look at TRU and UNBC you see two teams that are looking to grow. It was a positive 90 minutes for both groups.” On his team’s strong second half: “It is about what the girls believing in what they can do. Certainly matching the competitive level of the teams they play against. They were much better in the second half in both categories. They were good in what we were trying to do and picked up and took a stand for each other.”   TRU Defender Christine Fergin On her first match of the year: “Honestly I thought the girls did a great job today. It was super fun to be out there. We connected as a team. We talked about coming out hard. This was a game that we needed to take advantage of. “ UP NEXT: The WolfPack continue their four match home stand when they welcome the Trinity Western University Spartans to Hillside Stadium next Saturday (Sept 24). Kick off will be 1pm. UNBC will entertain the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds on Friday (Sept 23). Kick off is 7:15 pm.   OF NOTE: Christine Fergin, playing in her first match of the year was named the “TRU Bookstore/McDonalds Leader of the Pack Player of the Match.”