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

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | TRU WolfPack

Victory on senior night secures WolfPack their best finish in program history and home playoff game

QUICK FIRE
  • The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women's soccer team wasn't ready to say goodbye to Hillside Stadium for the 2026 season just yet. Facing the TWU Spartans in a battle for second place in the Pacific Division, the WolfPack came out on top by a score of 3-2 to clinch their best finish to a Canada West regular season in program history.
  • Finishing in second place, the 'Pack have earned the right to host a playoff game for just the second time in the program's Canada West history. They will face the third place team from the Prairie Division Saturday, Oct. 31 in a game that will get underway at noon.
DIFFERENCE MAKERS
  • Makenna Ford was outstanding on the night. The second-year midfielder from Calgary was in on all three of TRU's goals, finishing the night with one goal and two assists. Graduating student-athletes Esi Lufo and Berea Woldeyes both scored on what was senior night inside Hillside Stadium. Lufo tallied the other assist on the night while Floor Ursem made four saves for the win.
  • Mansha Sidhu and Luciana Andrews responded with goals for Trinity Western and Yasmine Pahal made five saves in net for the visitors.
     
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • The WolfPack came out of the gates on fire and scored two goals before the game was 20 minutes old.
  • First it was Lufo playing supplier to Ford 15 in the 15th minute. A give-and-go between the two results in Lufo finding Ford in a pocket of space on the edge of the 18-yard box where Ford made no mistake in sending the ball past Pahal and into the roof of the net.
  • Just two minutes later the roles were reversed. Ford went on a great run down the wing before placing a pass perfectly to Lufo who was able to chip it past a defender and into the back of the net to make the score 2-0.
  • With a home playoff game on the line, the Spartans fought back, forcing Ursem into a couple strong saves before finally finding their first of the night. Clara Chudley provided the assist as Luciana Andrews found the back of the net to send the two teams into the halftime break with TRU up 2-1.
  • A little senior night magic from Woldeyes just five minutes into the second gave the WolfPack an all-important insurance marker. Ford sent a corner kick into a dangerous area of the 18-yard box where Woldeyes met it with a powerful header to increase the WolfPack's lead.
  • That insurance goal would be a necessary one after Sidhu pulled a goal back for the Spartans in the 62nd minute.
  • From there on out it was a case of courageous defending from the entire WolfPack team as they were able to see out the remainder of the clock and make a little program history in the process.

NOTABLE
  • TRU finishes the season with a program best record of 8-2-4 and 28 points.
  • This is only the second time in program history that the WolfPack have hosted a CW playoff game. Their first home playoff game came back in 2022 when they defeated the UVic Vikes in a penalty shootout.
  • Prior to the game, the WolfPack celebrated graduating student-athletes: Bridget Baird, Bella Geremia, Macyn Jolly, Makayla Kusch, Esi Lufo, Alexis Virgo and Berea Woldeyes.

QUOTABLE (WolfPack head coach Mark Pennington)
  • "What can I say, they just found a way. Credit to Trinity Western, they threw everything at us but the girls stood strong."
  • "We scored three really good goals and when you're playing a team like TWU that has the quality that they do in the attacking part of the field, you just have to stand strong and I couldn't be more proud of the girls for digging in and seeing out the game."
  • "The resilience that everybody showed was remarkable really. We know they have it in them and these are really good lessons."
  • "We finished second in what we believe is the toughest division in the toughest conference in the country. So much credit to all of them, everyone has given everything they have."
  • "It was a great night, a great end to the regular season and let's hope we can replicate that same energy, quality and resilience as we go through the playoffs."
  • ON HOSTING A PLAYOFF GAME "It means everything, our fans – even in the rain here – they're an extra player for us, so we hope we can pack the stands for next week and they can give us all of their energy."

UP NEXT
  • The WolfPack will await results around the league on Sunday to determine whether their Canada West quarter-final opponent are the MacEwan Griffins or the Saskatchewan Huskies. One thing the WolfPack know for sure is that they will be at home right here at Hillside Stadium on Oct. 31 for a noon kick-off.
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