WolfPack men face first-place showdown as TRU welcomes back fans

TRU has shown early in the season they can play with anyone. Its biggest litmus test comes Friday and Saturday with back-to-back showdowns against the Spartans, a team with an identical 2-0-4 record.

“They’re very good, very solid defensively. In attack, they really counter really well,” noted WolfPack men’s coach John Antulov. “They really pounce on guys’ mistakes, so we have to be really sharp. Just make sure we minimize mistakes, don’t give the ball away in bad areas because we’d get punished.”

Striker James Fraser added, “They like to pass the ball, keep possession, and just play good futbol, and they got the skill to back it up. I think we can match them in the skill department and I think we can show a bit more heart than them, and having home-field advantage definitely plays a good part in that.”

For the first time this season — and really the first time in two years — the WolfPack, both the men and women, will have true home-field advantage with fans allowed back in.

“We’re excited to have people back. It’s been a long time coming,” said TRU Athletic Director Curtis Atkinson. “With the capacity here at Hillside Stadium, and the fact that we’re checking vaccine passports, we can have pretty close to a full house — a little over 1,000 people can be here if you’re fully vaccinated.”

Oct. 12, 2019 was the last time TRU had fans at Hillside. The men defeated UBC Okanagan 2-1. The players say a good crowd can truly make a difference.

“Yeah I think it changes a lot,” said Fraser in terms of the dynamics of a game with the home crowd. “It really helps out when you’re out there grinding and you hear the crowd cheering. Just kind of gets your energy up, gets you fired up out there.”

Etches added, “It’ll be a good advantage again to have some support behind us. It’s been quite funny going to all the away grounds [with fans] and our grounds being quite dead, no atmosphere. It does help when you have your home fans cheering you on.”

The men play Friday (5 p.m.) and Saturday night (7 p.m.) against Trinity Western at Hillside Stadium.

by Chad Klassen

WolfPack men face first-place showdown as TRU welcomes back fans

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