Image credit: TRU WolfPack Sports Information

By Marty Hastings

CANADA WEST

WolfPack, Heat to square off on final weekend of regular season, with post-season fates in balance

Oct 14, 2025 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Graduating seniors Katie Chun and Allie Shiyuk were listening alongside teammates when TRU WolfPack head coach Mark Pennington addressed the club.

“He said that we should play hard because it might be Katie’s and my last time playing forever,” Shiyuk recalled of the team talk. “Katie and I looked at each other across the locker room and both of our eyes started watering and I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness.’”

The WolfPack are scheduled to play host to the UBC Okanagan Heat of Kelowna on Saturday and Sunday at Hillside Stadium, with game time slated for 2:30 p.m. both days.

They are the final matches of the regular season for both squads — and they have major post-season implications.

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TRU (5-7) is fifth in Pacific Division standings, sitting two points back of fourth-place UBC Okanagan (5-5-2).The top four teams in the division will qualify for the playoffs.

“The fact that it’s in our hands is kind of everything we really wanted,” said Pennington, whose WolfPack have not qualified for the post-season since 2022.

“A win and a tie and we’re in, but we’re going for two wins. Depending on the results, we could still finish third [in the division].”

Shiyuk took over the WolfPack captaincy in time for her graduating campaign determined to make an impact on team culture before moving on from her post-secondary career.

Pennington said she has done that — and more.

“I don’t actually think there’s enough positive things I can say about that kid from every aspect,” he said.

The head coach also offered praise for Chun, mentioning her remarkable development from shy rookie to confident leader.

“I feel like I still have a lot more to give to the team,” Chun said. “I have a lot more soccer to play. Let’s just go win and go to playoffs. We’ll go in there and win those fights. We know that they like to keep the ball a lot, so we just have to feel comfortable with letting them do that. When we get the ball, move forward fast and finish our chances.”

The WolfPack had a strong start to the campaign, but have sputtered of late, losers of four straight.

“[It will] probably feel like a little bit of a failure, in terms of the season, not making playoffs from the strong position we were in at the start,” Pennington said. “But on the flip side, if we win two games this weekend, I think statistically it will be our best ever finish in [regular season standings].”

Shiyuk wants her final home matches to be the springboard to the playoffs — not the end of her Canada West career.

“So badly,” she said. “I want to keep playing. I don’t feel ready to part with soccer yet.”