Box Score With one match to go in the Canada West mens soccer regular season, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack are still hanging around in the hunt for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Pacific Division.
The WolfPack got a pair of goals from fifth year
Justin Donaldson (Kamloops, BC) in a 4-0 shutout of the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves on Saturday (Oct 19).
Both squads are looking to sneak into that final playoff spot.
In the early going, it was the Timberwolves who possessed the ball more and created some opportunities in the Pack third, including a dangerous attempt by Joel Watson that was swallowed up nicely on a diving save from keeper
Jackson Gardner.
TRU's best chance in the first half came off a
Dylan Hooper free kick that found the head of who sent it on target, but Rob Goodey elevated to knock it off the crossbar and eventually out of harm's way.
At the half, shots favoured the Pack 5-4 but the score remained 0-0, with each team knowing a draw wouldn't do them any good in their respective pursuit of the playoffs.
The WolfPack got on the board in the 57 th minute when Donaldson Goodey for the first of the afternoon.
Donaldson also scored in the 78 th minute. He was the 'man of the match' for TRU with five shots (four on goal and the two goals.
Other TRU markers came from Jan Pirrates Glasmacher (3
rd year, defender, Barcelona, Spain) in the 72 nd minute and
Dylan Hooper (2
nd year, Winnipeg, MB) off a penalty kick in the 86 th minute. Glasmacher had two shots -one on goal as well as the goal.
Stu Rowlands was the main offensive threat for UNBC with three shots including one on goal.
Jackson Gardner (2
nd year, Chilliwack, BC) notched the clean sheet making four saves. Goodey made three saves. Gardner has three shutouts this year.
Both teams had 11 shots. The WolfPack are now 5-5-5 on the year while UNBC falls to 4-7-3.
The two teams will close out the Canada West regular season on Sunday (Oct 20) in Prince George. The fourth place team will cross over to play the top team in the Prairie Division: likely the Mount Royal Cougars of Calgary, AB. next week .
THEY SAID IT
WolfPack head coach John Antulov:
"It was a solid team effort today. We knew it was going to be a battle. It was very even game. I don't think the score was indicative of the play. Jackson had to make some quality saves. I thought we were very, very good defensively. I thought our back line and goal keeper were very, very good today. When we had our opportunities, our key guys like Justin, Jan and Dylan took a opportunities when they came. Happy for the win but now we need to focus on tomorrow and be ready to go tomorrow. It will be another battle. We just have to play like we did today and take our opportunities when they come.'
Justin Donaldson (5th year, midfield, Kamloops, BC):
"I think today was a huge win. "It has been a tough year for me, scoring a couple goals," said Donaldson, who is in his fifth-year of eligibility. "For me, it's about getting our team through. This could be the last weekend, and I hope it's not." "I'm expecting a battle tomorrow. "Today was a grind, back and forth. They came out in the second half and could have easily been up 1-0. It's going to be a battle like it always is, so we need to come out with the same mindset and hopefully we come out in the end."
Calum Etches(3rd year defender, Romly, Stockport, England):
" It was a good game for us. We battled hard. All our goals came in the second half. We were just trying to grind them(UNBC) down. We aren't going to dwell too much on this game. We need to get tomorrow's game in the bag. We need to do well tomorrow. We have have been in this situation before (having to win out to make playoffs) before. The boys are ready. Everyone chipped in on this one. It was a real team effort. We just need to focus on our game and not worry about everyone else. UNBC played hard today. We need to play tough on them tomorrow."
(With help from UNBC Sports Information)
