By Larry Read - TRU Athletics

WolfPack men’s soccer open season with a tie and a loss

Aug 28, 2017 | 5:54 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack wrapped up their first Canada West men’s soccer regular season weekend series Sunday (Aug 26) in Prince George.  The WolfPack fell victim to the host University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves 2-1.  This followed a draw on Saturday (Aug 25).

SYNOPSIS

TRU  found its self down 1-0 until the 33 rd minute when Mitch Popadynetz (4th year, forward, Nelson, BC) converted a pass from two time Canada West all-star Ryan Glanville (5th year, midfield, Williams Lake, BC).  The teams were tied 1-1 at the half.

TRU outshot UNBC 24-12 in the contest including 15 shots in the second half but were victim to a hot Timberwolves keeper in Tyrone Venhola. He faced 11 shots and made 10 saves.

Lubomir Magdolen (2nd year, Kamloops, BC) made his second straight start in the nets for TRU and had eight shots on goal, making six saves.

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KEY STATS:

Goal scoring:

UNBC -22:06  Stuart Rowlands from Tofa Fakunle
TRU-33:13  Mitchell Popadynetz (2) from Ryan Glanville
UNBC -62:03 Cordy Gysbers from Dan Goodley

Shots:    TRU  9-15:24     UNBC 7-5:12          Corners:   TRU 2-7:9    UNBC 1-0:1 

 Saves:   TRU 3-4:7  UNBC 4-9:13

Justin Donaldson (3rd year, Kamloops, BC) had 10 shots and 5 were on goal for TRU.  James Fraser (1st year, Penticton, BC)  had 5 shots with 3 on goal while Popadynetz had 4 shots with two finding the net for TRU.

Stuard Rowlands had 3 shots for UNBC (all on goal).  Tofa Fakunle had 3 shots with 2 making the net and Dan Goodley had 2 shots with both finding the goal.

RECORDS:

TRU      0-1-1            UNBC 1-0-1

QUOTES:

TRU head coach John Antulov: 

On game: “ Overall this was our best match of the year.  We couldn’t buy a goal in the second half which was a credit to their goalie. We had good positioning and good scoring opportunities. UNBC tightened up on defense and we literally couldn’t score. Justin (Donaldson) and James (Fraser) had shots that the goalie had to reach to keep out of the net. Anatolie (Leveille, 1st year, Winnipeg, MB) had a great chance as well.  I thought that Koffi (Nyavor, 3rd year, Lethbridge, AB) played strong on the back line had not only put on a lot of pressure but had some chances offensively as well.”

Does the 0-1-1 weekend put the team in a hole moving forward? “ It was no different than what we faced last year. Anybody can beat anybody any day of the week.  It will be up to our guys to respond. There is a long way to go yet. I am confident that if we play like we did today we will be a tough team to beat.”

UP NEXT:

The WolfPack will return home  for their home opener is Saturday, September 2nd at Hillside Stadium when the University of Victoria Vikes come to town. It’s a 2 pm start time. The opening match is sponsored by Chahal Priddle Lawyers in Kamloops. The WolfPack beat the Vikes the last two meetings in Kamloops.