Looking to move into the win column for the first time in four matches, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack will hit the road  this weekend in Canada West men's soccer.

The WolfPack are coming off three straight draws and will meet up with the Mount Royal Cougars on Saturday (Sept 21) in Calgary before heading south to take on the Pronghorns at the University of Lethbridge on Sunday (Sept 22).

Thompson Rivers is back in the USPORTS top ten rankings sitting in tenth spot. The only other Canada West team in the rankings this week is UBC who are sixth

DETAILS:

Mount Royal:  Are coming off back to back losses at UNBC and Fraser Valley last weekend. They have a record of 5-2 which is tops in the Prairie Division.

 Lethbridge: sit last in the Prairie Division with an 0-5-2 record.  They have lost their last two matches.

 TRU:  will be playing Saturday's match without their lone fifth year.  Justin Donaldson (midfield, Kamloops, BC) picked up his third yellow card of the year last Saturday against McEwan.  As a result, he will sit out a mandatory one match suspension. Donaldson enters the week fourth in Canada West in shots with 20.  Thompson Rivers  1-1-4 record has them fourth in the Pacific Division.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST BETWEEN TRU AND THE TWO SIDES:

The WolfPack have played Lethbridge twice in the past. Both of the matches were played at Hillside Stadium.  On September 16, 2016, the Pack beat the Pronghorns 2-1.  On September 17^th, 2017  TRU dumped Lethbridge 3-1 behind two goals off the foot of James Fraser (4^th year, forward, Penticton, BC).
 
TRU as only played Mount Royal once in Canada West regular season play. It was on September 23,2017.  The teams tied 2-2.  One of the WolfPack goals came from current co-captain Jan Pirrates (3^rd year, midfield/defender Barcelona, Spain).  The match was played in Calgary.


PLAYERS TO WATCH:

TRU:  James Fraser (4^th year, forward, Penticton, BC):  was the Canada West second star of the week.  He leads the league in goals with six and those six goals have him sitting fourth in overall points. Earlier this year, Fraser was the Canada West first star and U SPORTS Male athlete of the week.
 Jackson Gardner (2^nd year, keeper, Chilliwack, BC): is fourth in Canada West in saves percent (.778) and fourth in goals against average (1.00).

MOUNT ROYAL:  Dane Domic (1^st year,midfield, Calgary, AB) is tied for third in the league in scoring with four goals and is second in overall points with eight.
Kyran Valley (4^th year, keeper, Calgary, AB ) is second in Canada West in goals against average (0.86) and is tied for third in total goals against with six.

LETHBRIDGE:  Matthew Vandervoot (4^th year, keeper, Lethbridge, AB) has started all seven matches for the Pronghorns with 17 goals agains and an average of 2.43
 
COMMENTS OF WolfPack Coach John Antulov:

https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1174506617557012480
 
Both matches can be seen on a pay-per-view basis on Canada West TV. Sunday's match in Lethbridge will be video only.

The WolfPack return home after the weekend to entertain the Trinity Western Spartans and the University of Fraser Valley Cascades. The Spartans will be here Saturday September 28 th with the Cascades paying a visit to the Warner Rentals Field at Hillside Stadium on Sunday September 29^th.

This will be the second meeting of the season between Thompson Rivers and these teams.  Trinity beat TRU 1-0 on September 6^th and then Fraser Valley scored in injury time to tie the Pack 1-1 on September 7^th.