KAMLOOPS – Akwasi Agyekum scored early and the Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's soccer team put together their best defensive effort of the season in a 1-0 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies Saturday.
 
"The guys showed their resiliency today, that was probably our best 90 minute performance as a group," said WolfPack head coach John Antulov. "Defensively from front to back we were absolutely fantastic and that's our DNA - that's our trademark. We created some really good scoring opportunities on top of that but the guys held resilient and it was a complete team performance."
 
Agyekum, who was named MVP of last year's U SPORTS National Championship, provided the goal for TRU with Mikkel Rosenlund earning an assist.
 
Jaron Slopinski turned in a great performance in the Huskies net with six saves to his name while Svyatik Artemenko recorded the first shutout of his WolfPack career for TRU.
 
TRU came out of the gates stronger and were rewarded with a goal just nine minutes in. Patrick Izett sent a ball into the box from a set piece that Rosenlund headed back across the face of goal to Akyegum who powered it into the back of the net.
 
Saskatchewan had their best chance of the game come right before halftime. Diego Reveco went on a great run and played a perfect pass to the foot of a charging Robert Woodroffe-Brown but his effort sailed high.
 
Slopinski was the story early in the second frame making great saves on both Ryan Lewis and Alesandro Comita to keep his team in the game.

The Huskies rallied late and substitute Rajesh Rodney brought some attacking energy late but the WolfPack defence was able to hold tight and limit any scoring chances.

"We were really smart with the ball, after the first 10-15 minutes we held onto it and played smart, didn't give it away," said Antulov. "Our transition on the defensive side of the ball was excellent."
 
The win was the second on the year for TRU who now hold a record of 2-5-1 after starting the year 0-5-0. Saskatchewan meanwhile falls to 1-4-3 and are just barely outside the playoff picture in the Prairie Division.
 
After the game Antulov pointed midfielders Agyekum and Jonathan Rinaldi as two players that starred in the victory.
 
"Junior and Jonny Rinaldi those two specifically are unbelievable, when you have two guys that rack up the mileage that those guys do both offensively and defensively it's incredibly."

TRU will remain in Kamloops for their games next weekend when they host the UFV Cascades and TWU Spartans at Hillside Stadium.
 
Saskatchewan will stay on the road for games against the Mount Royal Cougars and Calgary Dinos.