Game Information
 
Date: Friday, August 25
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: TWU Field, Langley B.C.

Date: Saturday, August 26
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Ken Woods Field, Vancouver B.C.

Season Story
 
KAMLOOPS – In 2022 the Thompson Rivers WolfPack women's soccer team compiled the best season in the program's Canada West history. After earning a record 6-6-2 in the regular season, the 'Pack went on to claim a pair of victories in the playoffs and advanced all the way to the CW Final Four.
 
With plenty of familiar faces remaining from that squad and some intriguing new additions, TRU will be looking to cement their place among the top in the conference in 2023 and that journey begins this weekend.
 
Facing the Mount Royal Cougars on Friday and the UVic Vikes on Saturday, the WolfPack have already been dealt their first adversity of the new season. Originally scheduled to be played in Kamloops, the games will instead happen in Langley and Vancouver respectively due to wildfires and travel bans in the Interior. Neither game will be livestreamed.
 
The games for TRU both offer an intriguing matchup as they face the two squads that they bested in the postseason last year.
 
TRU took down the Vikes inside Hillside Stadium to earn the first CW playoff victory in program history last season. Ainsley Grether tallied an 86th minute penalty to send the game into a shootout where the recently graduated Marissa Young made a pair of penalty stops to play hero in the net.
 
The following week against MRU proved to be an ever more dramatic finish for TRU. Three second half goals including a last minute equalizer off the foot of Alexis Virgo sent the 'Pack to yet another shootout where Allie Shiyuk tucked home the game-winning penalty.
 
Key Perfomer
 
Ainsley Grether / midfield / 4th year / Kamloops B.C.
 
A Kamloops local, Ainsley Grether is the engine at the heart of midfield for TRU. A relentless defender, the fourth-year science major showed off some offensive upside last season, tallying three goals in the regular season while also adding the tying goal in the 86th minute of the WolfPack's eventual playoff victory over the Victoria Vikes. After a magnificent run that saw them pick up the first two CW postseason victories in program history en route to the Final Four last season, Grether and the 'Pack will be back and looking to continue to build in the 2023-24 season.

Key Additions
 
Esi Lufo / forward / 1st year / Tirane, Albania / KFF Vllaznia
Berea Woldeyes / forward / 1st year / Ottawa, ON / West Ottawa FC
Aneesa O'Brien / goalkeeper / 2nd year / Etobicoke, ON / Jacksonville State

By The Numbers
 
9: TRU was slotted in ninth in the annual Coaches Pre-Season Poll
 
4: Emily Clark's four game-winning-goals last season were the most in a single season in the program's Canada West history.
 
294: Despite the graduation of some key players, the 'Pack return 294 Canada West games played to their roster this season.
 
Coach's Take
 Mark Pennington, Head Coach
 
On the games being moved to the Lower Mainland
"These things come up, I actually think it's not necessarily a bad thing to throw a little adversity in front of the team and watch them rise and deal with it. The group has been great, they've been super flexible and have just rolled with it. We are disappointed not to be playing in front of our home fans on our home field but this is just one of those things you have to deal with at this level and we will give our best no matter where we are playing."
 
On what can be expected from the team on opening weekend
"We made some big steps in Portland in terms of gelling together as a team and really got to see some of the first years more comfortable and integrated with the older players. From my perspective - especially with the first years - it's not so much about trying to get them up for the challenge, it's trying to keep them level and relaxed."
 
On playing the two teams they defeated in the playoffs last season
"If I'm sitting with their team over there I am probably using that as a motivator and we'll just hopefully take the confidence from our positive results against them last year and continue with that. All three teams are very different and it's always a bit of an unknown early on until you get more game footage and a better idea of how teams play. It will be interesting and we are exciting to see what all the teams can do and just happy to get some games played."