Box Score A tie is better than a loss. That old adage seems to be the motto for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's soccer team.
The WolfPack racked up their third straight draw in Canada West action as they tied 1-1 with the visiting MacEwan University Griffins.  It was the Griffins first ever appearance on the Warner Rentals field at Hillside Stadium.

The result gives the WolfPack a record of 1-1-4  while the Griffins are 1-3-2.


SYNOPSIS

A quick pace to start this match, two minutes in,  TRU's lone fifth year player, Justin Donaldson (midfield, Kamloops, BC)  blasted a point blank shot which MacEwan keeper Seth Johnstone (3^rd year, Edmonton,AB) stopped.

The Griffins opened the scoring in the 11^th minute, Rakan Yassin ((1^st year, forward, Edmonton, AB) scooted down the left side. As the ground was evaporating him near the sideline, he crossed it where Micheal Enes (1^st year, midfield, Sturgeon County, AB) finished it off as he broke free through traffic. His 2^nd of the year
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The Pack got the equalizer in the 40 th minute. Josh Banton (3^rd year, defender, London, England) pounced on a loose ball and send it to the right for Dylan Hooper (2^nd year, midfield, Winnipeg, MB) who used his speed and footskill to take on three MacEwan defenders.  He slid it across the box where a streaking James Fraser (4^th year, forward, Penticton, BC)  was there to send it home. His Canada West leading sixth goal of the year.

TRU could have taken the lead before the first half was done. Again it was Donaldson.  Emmanuel Aniogbe (3^rd year defender, Mission,BC) put the ball high for Donaldson who's header just missed the net.

Thompson Rivers had 14 shots in the second half and a number of glorious chances to take the lead.  In the 63^rd minute, Yassin hauled down Hooper in the box resulting in a penalty shot.   TRU elected to have Fraser take it and he fired it right at Johnstone.

In the 67 th minute, Pack defender Emmanuel Aniogbe (3^rd year, Mission, BC) got a free kick.  He launched a high kick which Johnstone stretched out to deflect it wide.

The best chance for MacEwan came in the 86 th minute when Everett Orgnero  (2^nd year forward, Calgary, AB) got a through ball which Gardner came out to take the ball away.
Gardner made three saves in the contest compared to Johnstone's six.  TRU outshot the Griffins 18-6 in the contest. The Pack had three corner kicks (two in the first half) while MacEwan's lone corner came in the first half.  There were 36 fouls assessed: 24 of them to MacEwan including 17 in the second half.Adam Swanson (4^th year, defender, North Vancouver, BC)  was named the "Leader of the Pack" player of the match.


HIGHLIGHTS

https://youtu.be/wvCW9krTD3A
 
SAY WHAT??


COMMENTS BY WOLFPACK COACH  JOHN ANTULOV (13^TH YEAR) :
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1173123392892887041
 
COMMENTS BY MACEWAN HEAD COACH ADAM LOGA (4^TH YEAR):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1173123269676847104  
 
 
COMMENTS BY WOLFPACK  DEFENDER ADAM SWANSON :
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1173123120053403648 
 
UP NEXT:

Thompson Rivers hit Southern Alberta for their next two Canada West matches. They will visit the Mount Royal Cougars in Calgary on Saturday (Sept  21) and then head south for an encounter with the Pronghorns at the University of Lethbridge on Sunday (Sept 22).  Their next home match is Saturday, September 28 th on the Warner Rentals field at Hillside Stadium when they host the Trinity Western University Spartans. The WolfPack will look to avenge a 1-0 loss to the Spartans which occurred earlier this month in Langley, BC.

The Griffins head back home next weekend to host the UBC Thunderbirds Saturday (Sept 21) and then the UNBC Timberwolves on Sunday (Sept 22).All of the above games can been seen on a pay per view basis on www.CanadaWesttv presented by Co-OP.