Image credit: CFJC Today/Anthony Corea

By Marty Hastings

Men's Soccer

Winless WolfPack remain resolute after frustration boils over in home loss to Vikes

Sep 2, 2025 | 4:58 PM

KAMLOOPS — TRU WolfPack head coach John Antulov expressed discontent with officials after his club conceded two goals from set pieces in seven minutes on Saturday (Aug. 30) at Hillside Stadium.

He was issued a red card and the Pack fell 2-1 to the Victoria Vikes (3-0-1), the defeat leaving TRU with a record of no wins and four losses.

“The results haven’t gone our way, but I’ve been really happy with the play,” Antulov said. “We’ve been in all the games, if not controlling good portions of a lot of the games and just making those youth mistakes in bunches.”

The UBC Thunderbirds (4-0) of Vancouver – the No. 1 ranked team in U Sports men’s soccer – blanked TRU 3-0 on Friday at Hillside.

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TRU reached the playoffs in six consecutive seasons prior to 2024, when it posted two victories and fell short of the post-season.

Antulov touted a much improved roster this year, a club that aims to finish inside the top four in the Pacific Division and return to the playoffs.

Losses to traditional powerhouses UBC and Victoria — ranked ninth in the nation — are not terribly damaging to those hopes, but after dropping their first two games of the season to the UNBC Timberwolves (3-1) in Prince George, the ‘Pack will be in poor position if they fail to snare points this weekend.

The Fraser Valley Cascades (0-1-1) are slated to host TRU on Friday in Abbotsford and the Trinity Western Spartans (1-3) are scheduled to host the WolfPack on Saturday in Langley.

The top four teams in the Pacific Division will qualify for the playoffs.

“It’s really, really important,” said Abdel Coulibaly, who leads TRU with two goals this season. “These games will set the tone for the rest of the season. We’re definitely looking to win both of these games. Trinity and UFV are our direct opponents for a playoff spot.”

Injuries are plaguing the ‘Pack, whose captain Domenico Comita, highly touted recruit Amir Ghasemi and English import Lucas Kirnon are among those sidelined.

“Our whole starting midfield was gone this weekend and you’re playing the top teams in Canada,” Antulov said. “It’s difficult. The guys that stepped in played really well, which shows we have depth, but definitely we want those guys back in.”

Antulov said the injuries to Kirnon and Comita do not appear serious, but Ghasemi is likely to be out of the lineup long term.

WolfPack goalkeeper Luca Ortu was critical of his own play and echoed Antulov’s sentiment on mental lapses, noting they plagued his club in the losses to UNBC.

The WolfPack, who led the Vikes 1-0 on Saturday, had a 1-0 lead on the Timberwolves on Aug. 22 in Prince George, but surrendered two goals in two minutes before halftime and lost 2-1.

Two nights later, the T-Wolves tallied twice in seven minutes in a 2-1 triumph over the visiting WolfPack.

“The record doesn’t justify the performances,” Ortu said. “It’s a little bit frustrating that we didn’t get the results, but I think we’re working hard every day and I think we can get results this weekend.”

Antulov was animated at training on Tuesday morning at Hillside and the team practised with intent, the type of urgency required to escape an early-season hole.

“We need to get some results,” Antulov said. “We need to get that positivity back into the squad. The guys have been good. They’re sticking together. It’s a good mentality, but it sure is nice to have some results to get some positivity.”