Box Score A hard working effort but the result wasn't there as the youthful Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women's soccer team dropped their second home match in Canada West play.
After losing 4-0 to MacEwan on Friday night (Sept 13) on the Warner Rentals field in their home opener, the Pack were on the short end of a 1-0 decision to the University of Alberta Pandas on Saturday (Sept 14).

The Pack and their new head coach Mark Pennington are still searching for their first victory of the season.  They fall to 0-3-1.  Alberta is 3-0-1.

 SYNOPSIS

After the WolfPack opened up with some early chances including two corner kicks, the more veteran Pandas dominated the first half.   The got the only goal of the opening 45 minutes off a set piece. At the 27 minute mark,  a corner kick resulted in a loose ball coming out to Ally Parth (5^th year midfield, St. Albert, AB) who flicked the ball high in the air. It was headed in by Nicole McKay (3^rd year, defender, Edmonton, AB) who notched her first of the young season.

The Pandas had 10 shots in the first half, five of them were saved by TRU keeper Danielle Robertson (3^rd year, Courtenay, BC). 

Alberta had a chance to go up by two in the 72^nd minute when Brenna Mattiello (5^th year, forward, Edmonton, AB)  broke down the right side and drilled the ball to the right side of the net. Robertson stretched across to make the save. It was one of six she had on afternoon.

TRU did mount more offensive pressure in the second half.  In the 79 th minute, rookie Solaine Sasaskamoose (midfield, Burnaby, BC) took a free kick from about 25 yards out which Alberta keeper Ashley Turner (3^rd year, Edmonton, AB)  had trouble containing.

Alberta outshot Thompson Rivers 18-6 in the match including 10 in the opening 45 minutes. Robertson had six saves while Turner had no official saves. There were 25 fouls dished out (13 to the Pandas).  Alberta had 10 corner kicks including six in the first half. Thompso Rivers had four: two in each half.

 The WolfPack invited the students, teachers, support staff and their families of the burnt out Parkcrest Elementary school to the match for free as well.  Parkcrest Elementary, in the Kamloops neighborhood of Brocklehurst burned down earlier this month.  The WolfPack have an affiliation with the school as student/athletes have attended that school in past years to help with a number of events including their Terry Fox Runs.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

https://youtu.be/iEr52kjms8E

COMMENTS BY COACH  MARK PENNINGTON  (1^ST YEAR):
 
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1173122852586868736 

COMMENTS BY WOLFPACK CO CAPTAIN NATALIE VERDIEL (5^TH YEAR, DEFENDER, POWELL RIVER, BC):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1173122308925321216 
 
COMMENTS BY ALBERTA HEAD COACH LIZ JEPSON (15^TH YEAR)MACEWAN HEAD COACH:
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1173122632771719168  
 
UP NEXT:

Thompson Rivers will hit the road for the easternmost portion of the Canada West next weekend. They have matches Friday (September 20) and Saturday (September 21) in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  They do battle with the Bisons on the Friday before taking on the Wesmen on the Saturday.  Thompson Rivers beat Winnipeg  4-1.

The Pandas host the Trinity Western University Spartans on Friday  (September 20)  and the University of Fraser Valley Cascades on Saturday (September 21).

The next home match for the WolfPack is Saturday, September 28^th when they entertain the University of Calgary Dinos. Kick off is at noon.
All of the above games can been seen on a pay per view basis on www.CanadaWesttv presented by Co-OP.