MSOC Web
Archie Golding - LeftRight Media
0
Victoria VIC (0-1-0, 0-1-0)
1
Winner Thompson Rivers TRU (1-0-0, 1-0-0)
Victoria VIC
(0-1-0, 0-1-0)
0
Final
1
Thompson Rivers TRU
(1-0-0, 1-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Victoria VIC 0 0 0
Thompson Rivers TRU 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | TRU WolfPack

Nguyen’s debut tally, impressive defensive effort leads WolfPack to win over No. 10 Vikes

QUICK FIRE
  • The Thompson Rivers WolfPack men's soccer team started their 2026 campaign with a bang Thursday night at Hillside Stadium, defeating the U SPORTS preseason No. 10 ranked UVic Vikes by a tally of 1-0.

DIFFERENCE MAKERS
  • Playing his first ever game for TRU, Wellington, NZ product Kaelin Nguyen supplied the WolfPack goal. Third-year forward Lachlan Will recorded an assist on Nguyen's marker while Matteo Lamon made four saves in the WolfPack net to earn the shutout in his first game with the 'Pack.

HOW IT HAPPENED
  • After an opening 20 minute stretch that saw Lamon and the WolfPack defence called into action multiple times, the 'Pack came to life at the 30 minute mark. Twice in quick succession Nguyen played a ball into Will who unleashed a strike on net only for UVic goalkeeper Callum Weir to make a diving stop.
  • While neither team tallied prior to the halftime whistle, the momentum shifted in the WolfPack's favour heading into the second frame.
  • Freathy, Crompton and Rainbird combined for multiple timely interventions at the backend for TRU before Nguyen finally opened the scoring in the 66th minute of play.
  • WolfPack newcomer Noel Poole forced a turnover deep in the UVic end, Will gathered the ball and curled a cross into the box that Nguyen met with a thunderous header to send the ball off the crossbar and into the back of the net.
  • Lamon was called into action twice throughout the remainder of the game but he calmly dealt with those shots on net and the WolfPack defence infront of him snuffed out all other threats.

NOTABLE
  • Nine players, six in the starting lineup, made their WolfPack debuts in the game.
  • TRU was ranked ninth in the Canada West preseason coaches' poll with the Vikes placing third.

QUOTABLE (WolfPack head coach John Antulov)
  • "It was obviously a tough first game, UVic is one of the top teams in Canada. One of the things that we said to the guys is that they are just going to have to match the battle and physicality of UVic. We knew it didn't matter how pretty it was, we just had to match them physically and I think we were able to do that."
  • "I thought our backline and goalkeeper were outstanding. Matteo had a great game back there, he was calm and composed. Lewis Crompton was a real leader and really set the tone. Liam Freathy, James Rainbird and Sam Barazandeh all had good games. In the midfield Rory Clements was outstanding today and so was Lucas Kirnon."
  • "It was a complete team effort but that group in the middle of the park was key in being able to limit what UVic was able to do."
  • "It was great for Kaelin. There were two or three times in the game where him and Lachlan almost connected. On the goal, I thought it was a great ball in from Lachlan and Kaelin had a great finish so for him to open his scoring account in his first game with us was huge.

UP NEXT
  • The WolfPack will be back in action at Hillside Stadium this Saturday, Aug. 29 when they host the UFV Cascades in a game that gets underway at 9:00 a.m.
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