They might have been on the short end of the score but Friday’s (Oct 4) match for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack will be looked upon as a ‘turning point’ in the development of their women’s soccer program.
The Pack fell 2-1 to the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in Canada West play on the Warner Rentals Field at Hillside Stadium.
Alhtough TRU saw their three match unbeaten streak come to an end, the youthful WolfPack proved they can play with the ‘big teams’ in Canada West. The T-Birds got goals from Sophie Damian and Natasha Klasios as they move to 5-1-3 on the season. Thompson Rivers falls to 1-5-3.
Camryn Curts set TRU history by scoring the first ever goal against UBC when she drilled home her second of the season in the second half.
It was the first match for WolfPack head coach Mark Pennington against his old squad he was an assistant coach under Jesse Symons for three years.
SYNOPSIS
The Thunderbirds were looking to extend their winning streak against the Pack but it was the youthful TRU squad who got most of the chances early in the first half. One of the best came in the 22nd minute minute when Curts sent the ball ahead to Taylor Miller (5th year, midfield, Kamloops, BC) who spotted Chantal Gammie (2nd year forward, Smithers, BC) who got a piece of it but couldn’t beat UBC keeper Emily Moore (4th year, Victoria, BC).
The T-Birds experience and skills resulted in the team scoring twice in the first half. They had 11 shots in the first 45 minutes (seven of them on goal) with most of those shots coming after the 39 minute mark. The Pack had seven shots in the first stanza with only three reaching the net.
The WolfPack made three substitutions to start the second half which included the debut of former T-Bird Alex Varchol (2nd year, defender, Summerland, BC) which helped to spur them on. After Curts’ goal, TRU had two other great chances for the equalizer including one in the 87th minute when Miller broke in and pulled Thunderbird keeper Moore out of position. She fired the ball towards the empty cage where a UBC defender just barely kicked it out.
UBC had its fair of chances on TRU keeper Danielle Robertson (3rd year, Courtenay, BC) including a point blank stop off Vanessa Tome (1st year, forward, Surrey, BC).
This ‘run and gun’ match had 35 shots (21 by UBC). The T-Birds had 11 shots on goal compared to the WolfPack’s seven.
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Scoring Summary
- UBC: 29:11 Natasha Klasios (5th year midfield, Markham, ON) got the ball fed to her as she drove to the net off the left side of the pitch from Alyssa Hunt (4th year, forward, Surrey, BC). Klasios 1st goal of the year. UBC 1 TRU 0
- UBC: 36:34: Sophie Damian (2nd year, midfield, North Vancouver, BC) got the ball squared to her by Amiela Crawford (5th year forward, Richmond, BC) through traffic. Damian shoots lower right side for her third goal of the campaign. UBC 2 TRU 0
- TRU:5518-Camryn Curts (3rd year, midfield, Courtenay, BC) took the throw in from Taylor Miller on the right side and was able to maneuver around two UBC defenders and use her left foot to put it into the net. Her second goal of the year. UBC 2 TRU 1 The first ever TRU goal against UBC in Canada West play.
