KAMLOOPS – A second half goal from Michael Ojo sent the Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's soccer team into jubilation Friday night as they took down the No. 1 nationally ranked, and previously undefeated, UBC Thunderbirds 1-0 in Vancouver.
 
"When you play the top team in the country you need everyone working together, fighting and battling and that's what it was tonight - a complete battle," said WolfPack head coach John Antulov.
 
The goal was the first in his WolfPack career for Ojo who entered the game as a substitute in the first half of play. Alesandro Comita recorded the assist for his first point of the season.
 
"It starts with the defensive side of the game, it's something that he had to adjust to being such an offensive player," said Antulov on Ojo's recent play. "He really has done that and now when he gets the ball it's going and utilizing his speed to attack with pace and he's done a great job."
 
Svyatik Artemenko was stalwart in net for TRU with five saves including four that came in the first half of play.
 
"We were a little wobbly in the first 20 minutes and Svyatik had to come up with some big saves for us," said Antulov. "Then we started to believe a little and held tight defensively and that was key today, our defensive game really showed."
 
The rematch of last year's U SPORTS National Championship game was a closely contested affair with the Thunderbirds starting the game on the front foot before the 'Pack took over late.
 
A combination of Artemenko and some goal line clearances from the WolfPack defence kept the score knotted up at 0-0 heading into the halftime break.
 
With TRU starting to gain control of the game in the second half it was Ojo that found the game winner in the 76th minute of play.
 
Ryan Lewis forced a UBC turnover before playing the ball over to Comita who slid a pass in front of an onrushing Ojo and the midfielder made no mistake with a blistering effort that flew into the back of the net.
 
From there the 'Pack were able to hold down the fort with Artemenko recording his fifth shutout of the season.
 
The victory was massive for the WolfPack. A team that started winless through their first five matches is now 6-6-1 and has a firm grasp on fourth place in the division.
 
For UBC, the loss is their first of the season as they remain in first place with a record of 10-1-2.
 
The 'Pack will be back in action tomorrow evening when they head to Victoria for a battle with the UVic Vikes.
  
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