KAMLOOPS – They piled up the chances and fired 12 shots towards the net but a final finishing touch eluded the Thompson Rivers WolfPack women's soccer team in a 1-0 loss to the UNBC Timberwolves Sunday afternoon.
"We had a bunch of good chances but just lacked a little bit of quality in the attacking third of the field, but I can't fault the heart of our team for trying to get back into the game," said WolfPack head coach
Mark Pennington. "It's a disappointing one, but we'll dust ourselves off and get back onto the training field this week."
A stunning strike by Paige Payne was the difference on the day as the fifth year from Kitimat, B.C. scored her first goal of the season. Both goalies were outstanding in the contest with
Marissa Young making four saves for TRU and Brityn Hinsche stopping six shots for the first win and shutout of her Canada West career.
Payne's winner came just nine minutes into the contest.
After taking a feed from Claire Turner, Payne turned and fired a long-range rocket that sailed perfectly into the top corner.
The 'Pack cranked up the pressure after surrendering the early goal but it was Young in the TRU net who was responsible for the next big moment in the match.
Camryn Cline slipped in behind the TRU defence and was in on a breakaway. Young came charging out of the net and came up with a big diving stop before bounding back to her feet and tipping away the rebound opportunity as well.
While the WolfPack outshot the Timberwolves 5-3 in the first half, TRU struggled to generate any clear-cut chances and the visitors held their lead into the break.
The second half was all TRU, as the hosts dominated the frame and did everything but score as they just missed on chance after chance.
Hinsche made first big stop of the night in the 55th minute. A great ball from
Alexis Virgo sprung
Emily Clark in on net, but the UNBC goalkeeper rushed out to deny the scoring chance.
It was Hinsche playing the hero again in the 77th minute. A whipped in free-kick from
Caylah Lemon was met beautifully by a leaping
Katie Chun but her headed effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Hinsche.
Hinsche came up big again the 86th minute to deny Clark with a point-blank save before the WolfPack's final scoring opportunity in the 89th minute was blazed over the crossbar.
In the end Hinsche and the Timberwolves held on for the victory to move their record to 1-1-0 on the season while the WolfPack fall to 0-0-2.
For the 'Pack it was another chance to get a young lineup more playing time, with both
Alexis Virgo and
Kattia Bingham adding their names to the long list of WolfPack players that saw their first Canada West action this weekend.
"It was good to get them minutes and they'll grow and continue to learn how the league works and how to play at this level," said Pennington of his young players. "There was little more composure and quality needed at times but that's part of the process. We are a young team and we know that, and we'll continue to build and take the program in the direction we are trying to go
TRU will remain at home next weekend when they host the Regina Cougars and Saskatchewan Huskies inside Hillside Stadium. The Timberwolves meanwhile will welcome the Winnipeg Wesmen and Manitoba Bisons to Prince George for games on Friday and Sunday.
