WolfPack soccer teams remain unbeaten after pair of wins in Kelowna

“It’s just been how we have been able to gel together as a group really quickly,” John Antulov, WolfPack men’s head coach states. “It’s a group that really seems to care for each other, wants to work for each other and battle and fight. Everyone seems to get along really well, and the chemistry seems to be the best since the 2022 team that won the national championship, so that has been the biggest part.”

On the women’s side, the WolfPack have begun their season with two straight wins.

In the final moments of the first half, TRU got a pair of goals to take a 2-0 lead over UBC Okanagan. Second-year winger Sara Kuusimaki scored her first goal of the season in the 45th minute while fourth-year striker Esi Lufo scored her first of the season in the first minute of stoppage time.

The Heat responded late with a goal in the 86th minute, but the WolfPack hung on to secure the 2-1 win. Second-year goalkeeper Floor Ursem made six saves.

“Credit to the players to dig deep after basically spending 20 hours on the bus in the last couple of days, to be able to put a shift in,” Mark Pennington, WolfPack women’s head coach states. “We freshened up our lineup because knew we were going to have to get pressure and they stuck to the plan. The game plan was to actually let [UBC Okanagan] have the ball a little bit and then try to compact spaces to trap them and win in transition, and that’s where both the goals came from.”

With two wins, no losses and no draws in two matches, the WolfPack are tied with the UBC Thunderbirds for first in the Canada West Pacific Conference standings.

Both WolfPack squads hit the road again this weekend. TRU travels to Vancouver Island to take on the University of Victoria Vikes on Friday, Sept. 11. The men kickoff at 5:00 p.m. while the women follow suit at 7:15 p.m.

by Aaron Schulze

WolfPack soccer teams remain unbeaten after pair of wins in Kelowna

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