Juli La Rotta
1
Winner Thompson Rivers TRU (, 3-5-2)
0
Trinity Western TWU (, 5-2-2)
Winner
Thompson Rivers TRU
(, 3-5-2)
1
Final
0
Trinity Western TWU
(, 5-2-2)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Thompson Rivers TRU 0 1 1
Trinity Western TWU 0 0 0

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | TRU WolfPack

WolfPack defeat No. 7 ranked Spartans for first time in program history

QUICK FIRE
  • The Thompson Rivers WolfPack women's soccer team set a new benchmark Saturday night, defeating the perennial powerhouse Trinity Western Spartans for the first time in program history in a 1-0 contest.
     
DIFFERENCE MAKERS HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The game remained 0-0 at the half despite both teams putting together strong scoring chances.
  • TRU's best offensive effort came in the 22nd minute when sustained pressure from the WolfPack resulted in Jocelyn Orr letting go a powerful long-range shot that was stopped by Pahal.
  • De Amaral came up big for TRU ten minutes before the halftime break. The fourth-year goalkeeper bravely come out of her net to stop Sidney Giesbrecht who was in all alone, before also making save on Charity Field on the rebound and finally stopping a Payton Izsak effort just seconds later.
  • The WolfPack dominated the early proceedings in the second half and only strong play from Yasmine Pahal denied La Rotta from writing her name on the scoresheet just five minutes into the frame.
  • La Rotta, a rookie from Calgary, AB, refused to leave the pitch without a goal however and she provided the TRU breakthrough in the 70th minute of action.
  • Jessye Large forced a turnover in TWU territory, Woldeyes and Kat Stewart played a give-and-go before a cutting pass from Woldeyes sprung La Rotta in on goal. The shifty midfielder cut the ball back onto her left foot and fired it top corner for the lone goal of the game.
  • With the Spartans pressing for the equalizer, De Amaral made some key saves down the stretch helped by tidy defending from Alexis Virgo, Raiya Rumo, Bella Geremia and Paige Dwane.

NOTABLE
  • The win was crucial for a TRU team that is momentarily in the fourth and final playoff spot in the Pacific Division of CW soccer. TRU is now 4-5-2 on the season and one point ahead of the 4-5-1 UBC Okangan Heat who hold a game in hand.
  • Prior to tonight the WolfPack were 0-12-1 against TWU – who won the CW conference and finished second in the nation last year.
  • La Rotta's goal was the third of her WolfPack career.
  • TWU entered the weekend ranked as the seventh best team in the nation
 
QUOTABLE (TRU head coach, Mark Pennington)
  • We asked for a response from our players today and the response doesn't get much better than that. From minute 1 to minute 95 I thought every single player put their bodies on the line, competed hard and controlled a team that finished second in the country last year.
  • Credit to everybody, I thought the goal was good. Jocelyn Orr got an opportunity to play and worked extremely hard, we gave Juli our MVP but I also thought Paige Dwane worked really hard, Jessye Large worked really hard and everyone just stepped up.
  • One of our challenges was to not concede off set pieces which has been a problem for us the last while and they stood tall and controlled the spaces.
  • The young players have been really stepping up, we are really excited to see them progress and develop and it's nights like tonight they'll gain experience from and learn from.
 
UP NEXT
  • TRU will return to the friendly confines of Hillside Stadium next Friday for a massive matchup with the aforementioned Heat. The game that gets underway at 7 p.m. on Friday night will also feature a graduating athlete ceremony for the 'Pack as they play the final home match of their season.
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