KAMLOOPS – The Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's soccer team held off a hard-charging Alberta Golden Bears squad to take a 2-1 victory inside Hillside Stadium Saturday night.
 
Mikkel Rosenlund and Dylan Hooper both scored their first goals of the season in the victory, with Patrick Izett picking up a pair of assists.
 
David Chung answered from the penalty spot for the Golden Bears, scoring his fourth goal of the season in the process.
 
In the 50th start of his U SPORTS career Jackson Gardner made three saves for the win, while Chris Ezoua also making a pair of saves in a losing effort.
 
The win was an important one for the 'Pack as the three points allowed them to temporarily move into sole possession of first place in the Pacific Division with a record of 6-2-1.
 
"To battle a tough team like Alberta and get three points for us was the bottom line," said WolfPack head coach John Antulov. "It was key to grind out a result and get back on the winning end of things."
 
For Alberta, the loss brought an end to their undefeated start to the season. Now holding a mark of 3-1-5 they trail only the Mount Royal Cougars in the Prairie Division standings.
 
Starting out the stronger of the two teams, TRU took the lead in the 36th minute of play. Izett whipped in a set piece and Rosenlund rose above all the Golden Bears defender to nod the ball into the back of the net.
 
Holding a 1-0 lead after the halftime break, TRU was put on the back foot after the intermission.
 
Alberta held the run of play for the opening 15 minutes of the second half and only a diving effort from Gardner to stop a Rilind Idrizi strike kept TRU in the lead.
 
The WolfPack worked their way back into the game however, and Hooper got the all important second goal in the 67th minute. A well-worked TRU build up ended with Izett springing a wide open Hooper down the wing and the fourth-year midfielder slotted the ball past Ezoua and into the net.
 
"Dylan, the first two games of the season was really good for us and then missed the last three weeks with injury," said Antulov. "To get him back in yesterday and then score a big goal for us today was huge and hopefully that does a lot for his confidence."
 
The Golden Bears answered that marker immediately.
 
Garry Onyejelem intercepted a ball deep in the WolfPack half and went on a powerful run into the 18-yard box where a WolfPack defender was forced to pull him down for the penalty kick.
 
Chung stepped up to the spot and calmly buried the ball into the back of the net to make the score 2-1 and bring the game back to life.
 
Alberta pressed for an equalizer but a sturdy 'Pack defence and a smart save from Gardner on Idrizi allowed TRU to snag all three points.
 
"I thought today, especially in the first half, we were very focused and sharp," said Antulov. "The first 15 minutes of the second half Alberta was really taking charge of the game. We changed shape a little bit and got things back going again and then the last 10-15 minutes was just a battle and a grind."
 
Next up for Alberta is a pair of games at home against the Lethbridge Pronghorns and Saskatchewan Huskies on Saturday and Sunday.
 
TRU will also play at home next weekend, as they wrap up their regular season home slate with games against the Trinity Western Spartans and Fraser Valley Cascades.