Image credit:TRU Athletics

By Earl Seitz

WolfPack women's soccer

WolfPack women’s soccer prepare for season, win “friendly” against Cap.

Aug 8, 2019 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Both WolfPack soccer teams opened their training camps this week in preparation for the upcoming Canada West season.

The women’s season doesn’t start until September 5 —— and when it does, they want to make sure they’re ready.

So three days into training camp the team played its first pre-season friendly today, against the PACWEST Capilano Blues.

“An opportunity to see everybody.” says WolfPack head coach Mark Pennington. “And gave prettty much everybody minutes today.”

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Hired in February, it was head coach Mark Pennington’s first game as the WolfPack’s head coach.

It’s been a busy five month’s for the new coach —- recruiting, getting to know the players, hiring assistant coaches, off season training for the players, and team bonding —– lots of team bonding.

“We’ve challenged them with some different fitness ideas.” says Pennington. “We challenged them in the off season as well with a team identity that we need to be fit. They were sending each other videos, and sending me videos from wherever they were in the world. We had kids doing squats on top of a mountain in Croatia, some kid running up stairs in Germany.”

The WolfPack will go into the season with three fifth years —- Natalie Verdiel, Marisa Mendonca and Taylor Miller.

Miller returns to the WolfPack after two year away completing a human kenetics degree, and is now enrolled in the education program at TRU.

A new beginning she says —- even though it will only be for one year.

“It’s been really good.” says Miller. “High energy, high tempo —- something I’m not used to fully, being gone for two years. But even remembering when I played (before) the tempo wasn’t as high, and the girls just seem really into it, so it’s good.”

While a corps group returns from last years 3-9-2 team, there also a half dozen recruits for the 2019 Canada West season.

One of those is South Kam midfielder Daniella Falsetta —— a dynamo on the wing in todays game against the Blues.

“I was really pumped to get on the field.” says the South Kam grad. “I was excited. I just want to bring some speed up the wing. We have a lot of speed on this team, and a lot through balls get played to me on the outside. It’s my hometown, and I’ve always come out here to watch games with my Dad.” says Falsetta. “A lot of players I’ve played with already, so it’s definately exciting.”

Today’s game wasn’t about the final score —– although we can tell you the WolfPack won.