VANCOUVER – Ainsley Grether tallied late, but the Thompson Rivers WolfPack women's soccer team was unable to defeat the No. 1 ranked UBC Thunderbirds in a 3-1 loss Saturday night.
 
Despite the score line it was a very close overall matchup and good road performance from TRU who created several chances especially during a determined second half. The T-Birds were able to capitalize early with Danielle Steer and Josie Claypool hitting the scoreboard in the eighth and 17^th minute respectively ahead of Sophie Damien adding more insurance in minute 84. Meanwhile Wolfpack midfielder Grether converted on a 90^th minute penalty kick to cap a spirited second half from TRU. 
 
With the win the T-Birds improve to 10-1 on the Canada West season and maintain top spot in the Pacific Division and overall standings with 30 points through 11 games while the WolfPack fall to 4-4-2 where they continue to hold onto the sixth and final playoff spot.
  
It was the visitors who had the best early chance to open the scoring in minute number five as midfielder Bridget Baird was sent in on a partial breakaway from a ball over the top and in a great position to score but T-Birds goalkeeper Sarah Johns did well to rush out and block the shot from close range.
 
Four minutes later the T-Birds would strike first from a corner kick that found its way to the TRU nine-yard line where Sophia Ferreira drove a hard low shot on net which dribbled through several WolfPack defenders before Steer tapped home her team leading 10^th goal of the season for the 1-0 advantage. 
 
TRU would respond five minutes later with another dangerous chance as Camryn Curts poked a ball past the UBC backline for a breakaway down the right flank but her shot drifted just wide of the far side left post.
 
UBC would increase their lead in the 17^th minute and it started at the right foot of Steer in the left-wing corner sending a skyward cross into the TRU danger area where it fell to Josie Claypool who with a one touch directed a trickling ball just inside the far-right post and a 2-0 score line. The second-year midfielder's first goal as a T-Bird.
 
Following the break TRU came out with even more determined play that led to excellent scoring chances in the 48^th and 57^th minute, the latter in the form of a well struck shot rattling off the post. 
 
Furthermore, the WolfPack were forced to swap goalkeepers at halftime after starter Marissa Young was involved in a heavy late first half collision. In Young's place was first-year Makayla Kusch who was more than up for the task in making numerous impressive saves, stopping 11 of 12 shots the rest of the way.
 
The T-Birds would go up 3-0 in the 84^th minute after Damien corralled a ball that was pinballing around the TRU box and placed a left footed shot into the left corner from 10-yards out to register her first goal of the season. 
 
TRU's lone marker came in the 90^th minute when Grether didn't hesitate to send her penalty kick right down the middle and just under the crossbar past Johns in the UBC net to finish the night with a 3-1 final.
 
Next up for TRU is a game back at Hillside Stadium when they host the UBC Okanagan Heat in a 5:30 p.m. start.