WSOC WEB
2
UBCO UBCO (2-9-2, 2-9-2)
4
Winner Thompson Rivers TRU (7-2-4, 7-2-4)
UBCO UBCO
(2-9-2, 2-9-2)
2
Final
4
Thompson Rivers TRU
(7-2-4, 7-2-4)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UBCO UBCO 0 2 2
Thompson Rivers TRU 1 3 4

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | TRU WolfPack

Branby’s brace sends WolfPack to program-best seventh win of the season

QUICK FIRE
  • Two goals in a five-minute span in the second half from Sophia Branby sent the Thompson Rivers WolfPack women's soccer team to a program-best seventh win in a Canada West season Friday night. The 'Pack defeated the UBC Okanagan Heat by a score of 4-2 inside Hillside Stadium.
DIFFERENCE MAKERS
  • Branby, a Kelowna product, came off the bench in the second half and made an immediate impact with her goals. Rookie Allison Hill continued what has been an amazing start to her WolfPack career with a goal and an assist while Joss Olcen scored the other goal and both Bella Geremia and Miyuki Leopkey tallied assists.
  • Maria Georgacacos scored both goals for the Heat while Allyson Ford made eight saves.
     
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • Olcen opened the scoring just ten minutes into the game. TRU was able to defend a corner kick and force a turnover that saw Hill go on a great 30-yard run all while fighting off a defender before laying the ball over to Olcen who needed just one touch to settle the ball before firing it into the top corner of the net from just outside the 18-yard box.
  • The WolfPack controlled play throughout the rest of the first half but were unable to find another goal as the teams went into the halftime break.
  • TRU doubled their advantage through a wonder-strike from Hill in the 62nd minute. Jolly forced a turnover near the half line and played a ball to Hill who unleashed a rocket of a shot from 25-yards out that soared over Ford and into the back of the net.
  • UBCO refused to go down without a fight however, scoring two goals in quick succession to knot the game back up.
  • Georgacacos opened the scoring for the Heat after a nice passing play in the 67th minute and then tied the game after poking home a scramble corner kick in the 75th.
  • The WolfPack found an almost immediate response to retake control of the game.
  • Great work from the rookie Leopkey to get the ball to Branby in space in the 79th minute saw Branby calmly slot the ball into the back of the net to restore the 'Pack's lead.
  • Branby, a second-year midfielder, then doubled her output on the night just minutes later in the 84th minute when she was in the right spot at the right time to power a header home off a free-kick from Bella Geremia.
  • With a two goal advantage, TRU was able to see out the rest of the game and secure their seventh win of the season.

NOTABLE
  • The win keeps the WolfPack's hopes of hosting a home playoff game alive. Already securely in the postseason picture with a record of 7-2-4, a win over the TWU Spartans (8-3-2) in their final game of the season tomorrow night would assure the 'Pack of second place in the Pacific Division and the home playoff game that comes with it.
  • With seven wins this season the WolfPack improve upon their previous best mark of six victories that they claimed in the 2022 season.
  • The victory gives TRU a season sweep over UBCO and secures another point in the Presidents' Cup standings between the two schools. The WolfPack are vying to claim the women's Presidents' Cup for the first time since 2019-20.

QUOTABLE (WolfPack head coach Mark Pennington)
  • "UBCO are always a difficult team to play against and credit to them, they gave everything and didn't give up after going 2-0 down."
  • "Allison Hill was absolutely instrumental in both of our first two goals. She set up Olcen really well and then scored an unbelievable one for her second."
  • "UBCO changed some tactical stuff, got after us a little bit and pegged us back but I think the biggest thing for me is that we showed some real belief and character. That's the first time someone has come back on us like that this year so we showed some real character to respond. We didn't back down and we fought back. Sophia Branby pops up off the bench with two really clinical finishes."
  • ON CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MULTIPLE PLAYERS "That's why we have a squad and we say all the time is that one of the advantages of being a WolfPack player is that you are going to get opportunities here. Awesome for Miyuki and get her first U SPORTS point. For Soph to come off the bench and get two goals is great."
  • "For me it was the character tonight, we didn't fold when they pulled level and instead we actually stepped up instantly and got back at them."
  • "Hopefully we can rest and recover and get set to play for second place tomorrow."
  • "There's a ton to be proud of regardless of what happens tomorrow, we will be getting ready to go on a playoff run wherever we are playing."

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