The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack will hit the road for the first time in the young Canada West men's soccer season this weekend.
The Pack will head West for matches against the Trinity Western University Spartans on Friday (Sept 6) and the University of Fraser Valley Cascades on Saturday (Sept 7).

Thompson Rivers have a win and a tie after their opening weekend of regular season play and sit in a tie for fourth place in the Pacific Division with Fraser Valley (1-2-1).  Trinity Western is in the basement of the division after having the bye last week. They are winless in two starts.

DETAILS:

Trinity Western:  Were ranked third in the Canada West men's soccer coaches pre season poll.  Their losses so far this year came at the hands of UBC and UVIC.2-0 so far this season

UFV: The Cascades began the season with back to back losses to UVIC and UBC. They split last weekend with the UNBC Timberwolves.  UFV was rated seventh in the pre-season poll.

 TRU: were ranked fourth in the Canada West Men's Soccer preseason coaches poll.  Were fourth in the Pacific Division last year at 6-6-3. They went on a run to make the playoffs and wound up with a Canada West bronze medal. John Antulov enters his sixth season directing the Pack.
 
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES:

Vs Trinity Western:   The WolfPack lost 3-2 to the Spartans in Langley on September 28 th but beat them 2-1 at Hillside on October 17^th as part of their six match winning streak to clinch a playoff spot at the end of the season.
 
Vs UFV:  The Cascades won both meetings in 2018.  After being smoked out in their first match of the year last August, The Pack opened their schedule last season (Aug 27)  with the Cascades in Kamloops and were on the short end of a 1-0  decision. The Cascades beat the WolfPack 3-1 on their home pitch on September 29^th.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

TRU:  James Fraser (4^th year, forward, Penticton, BC): enters the weekend leading the Canada West in goals with four and is tied for second place in overall scoring with Ian Wibley of Victoria and Dane Domic of Mount Royal with four points.  He was named not only the Canada West first star of the week but also the U SPORTS Male Athlete of the week.
Jackson Gardner (2^nd year, keeper, Chilliwack, BC): leads the Canada West in saves percentage (.857), tied for the lead in goals against (1) and is tied for second in goals against average (0.50)

TRINITY WESTERN: Cody Franson (5^th year forward, Lyndon, WA)  was third in team scoring last season with six goals (two of them match winners).
Sebastian Colyn (3^rd year Langley, BC) is back as the starting keeper for the Spartans. He has a goals against average of 3.00.

UFV: Gurmaan Jah (5^th year forward, Aldergrove, BC).  He broke the Cascades single season record for goals last year with 13 and was a Canada West first team all-star. He has two goals in four starts this year
 Ethan Duggan (1^st year, North Vancouver, BC)  has started all four matches in the nets for Fraser Valley and is second in the Canada West in saves with 21.
 
COMMENTS OF WolfPack Coach John Antulov:
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1169362266589761536
 
COMMENTS OF WolfPack keeper Jackson Gardner (2^nd year, Chilliwack, BC):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1169365468764762113

 
COMMENTS OF  WolfPack forward James Fraser (4^th year Penticton, BC):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1169367184516112385
 
Both matches can be seen on a pay-per-view basis on Canada West TV.  Highlights and post game interviews can be seen on the WolfPack website (www.gowolfpack.ca) , their Facebook and twitter accounts.

The WolfPack return home after the weekend to entertain the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday, September 13^th and the MacEwan Griffins on Saturday, September 14^{th .} The matches will be played on the Warner Rentals field at Hillside Stadium..  It's 'Alumni Weekend'. As well, Friday's match features 'Puppies and Pints', presented by Petland.  Dog owners can bring their four legged friends into Hillside and sit in a special section.  There will be a presentation involving dogs at half time.  Dog owners and others can take advantage of beer being served that night by Iron Road Brewing.  The first 300 TRU Students at the gate will get a special t shirt courtesy of Mr. Mikes Steakhouse Casual.