Image Credit: TRU WolfPack

By Victor Kaisar

Canada West Soccer

WolfPack fall to defending national champion UBC Thunderbirds in soccer home openers

Aug 30, 2025 | 8:26 AM

KAMLOOPS — A tough start to the home opening weekend for the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) WolfPack soccer teams, as they matched up against the defending champion UBC Thunderbirds.

Friday (Aug. 29) at Hillside Stadium, the WolfPack women went toe to toe with UBC, but they were beaten 2-0 to sit at 2-1 on the season. Both of UBC’s goals game in a roughly a four minute span early in the first half.

“We just had two moments in the first half where we didn’t control runners properly and they are a really good team so if you give them an opportunity they will punish you,” Head Coach Mark Pennington said.

“I’m super proud of the effort, energy and quality that the girls brought. I think it shows that we’ve closed the gap to a team like UBC.”

UBC moves to a perfect 3-0 on the season and are now undefeated in their last 27 league games.

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“Anytime you play against an undefeated team that are the defending national champions it’s going to be tough but I’m really proud of how the girls did,” Pennington added. “We will see them two more times in the season so hopefully we can learn from this and get up for the next one.”

The WolfPack men also gave up a pair of goals to the Thunderbirds in a four minute span right at the end of the first half, en route to a 3-0 loss at Hillside Stadium.

“”For the first 40 minutes we were really good. After they scored the first goal it was our guy’s reaction after that goal – they just needed to stay composed and get through to halftime and we didn’t do that,” WolfPack Head Coach John Antulov said.

“We played well again in the second half, but we need to be able to put together 90 minutes, that’s the issue right now. It’s more a mentality than anything – they are young guys but they need to start playing mature.”

The TRU men’s team is still searching for its first win of the Canada West season, though Antulov says his side has shown that it can compete.

“The guys fought hard, we knew it was going to be a battle against the defending national champions,” he added. “If you look at our three losses this season I’m not seeing poor play, I’m seeing quality but we just need to put it together for the complete game.”

Next up for TRU is a home game against the Victoria Vikes at Hillside Stadium Saturday (Aug. 30). The women will kick off at 5:00 p.m. once again while the men will follow suit at 7:30 p.m.