KAMLOOPS – The Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's soccer team came out swinging but were just missing the final connection in a season-opening 1-0 loss the Trinity Western Spartans in Langley.
 
TRU controlled play for much of the game and outshot TWU by a tally of 5-3, but it was Xander Roxburgh's header in the 85th minute that proved to be the winner for the hosts.
 
"I thought in the first half we did a really good job and were controlling the play - we had our opportunities, but then in the second half they came out really strong," said WolfPack head coach John Antulov. "We started to come on again, hit the crossbar and missed another one. We had our opportunities to put the game away earlier but they got their chance and put it in the back of the net."
 
Alesandro Comita had TRU's first real scoring opportunity of the game with a curling effort on target in the 28th minute, but last season's U SPORTS National Championship hero saw his shot saved by Yeshua Silwamba in the TWU net.
 
Despite plenty of WolfPack pressure the halftime whistle blew with the teams knotted up at 0-0 while TRU held an advantage of three shots on net to the Spartan's zero.
 
After the 'Pack fended off some pressure early in the second half, newcomer to the team Harry Taylor nearly opened his WolfPack scoring account with an absolute rocket of a volley from 18 yards out that clanged off the crossbar.
 
Veteran Patrick Izett was threatening all night long for TRU and nearly gave the visitors the lead in the 67th minute but was just unable to get onto the end of a great ball into the box off the foot of Dylan Hooper.
 
From there the Spartans started to work their way back into the game and that pressure resulted in a great diving save from Olivier Jumeau, who was making his first Canada West start since the 2019-20 season for TRU, in the 85th minute.
 
On the ensuing cornerkick it was Roxburgh who rose highest to nod the ball into the back of the net and send TWU on to the win.
 
The game saw four members of the 'Pack getting their first start for TRU while the lineup also featured multiple players taking on different roles from the ones that they played during the squad's 2022 U SPORTS National title run.
 
"That was really our first game with most of our starters there and I thought it was really good," said Antulov. "I think there are some good things to take away for our team. At the end of the day we just have to put the loss out of our minds and be ready to go tomorrow."
 
TRU will look to get into the win column tomorrow evening when they head to Abbotsford to face the UFV Cascades at the MRC Sports Complex.