Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

TRU ATHLETICS

TRU WolfPack Men’s Soccer opens up momentous season against top competition

Aug 26, 2022 | 11:22 AM

KAMLOOPS — On a gorgeous August evening, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Men’s Soccer team continues preparations for the season ahead.

The team is getting ready for one of the biggest seasons in program history. The U SPORTS National Championships are coming back to Kamloops five years after the WolfPack hosted and earned a bronze medal.

“A lot of the guys were getting a lot of playing time over the summer in a competitive league against really good players,” Head Coach John Antulov explains. “We’re probably ahead of where we want to be or where we usually are. It’s a good thing for our program, going forward.”

Coach Antulov describes his team as ‘deep’ heading into the season. That depth derives from players like Jan Pirretas Glasmacher, who is entering his fifth year with the WolfPack.

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Pirretas will anchor a WolfPack defence that allowed 10 goals in 12 matches last season.

“With him and Josh Banton, they helped our program to where it is now,” Antulov says. “From 2017 on, at points… we’ve been ranked in the Top 10 in Canada, we’ve made the playoffs the last four years — only us and UBC have been able to do that. That’s a big part.”

Veteran players like Pirretas will be a big part of the ‘Pack this season. However, he says some of the new additions to the team have the potential to make a big impact on the pitch.

“Usually you get, you know, first-, second-years with potential to be great in their third, fourth, fifth year,” Pirretas says. “The first- and second-years we have now, they’re ready now.”

One of those first-year players is Alesandro Comita, a Kamloops product who has spent the last three years playing in the Whitecaps program in Vancouver.

“[I’m] a very attacking-minded player,” Comita explains. “Lots of goals, assists, creating chances — just contributing to the team and helping out offensively.”

Like the rest of the team, Comita is excited to get the season underway. A big crowd at the home opener would be a great way to start the year.

“I kind of feed off my energy, the energy of the team — but obviously the crowd helps,” Comita says. “I’m sure it’s going to be a great crowd on Friday and Saturday. We’ll see what happens. I’m really excited to see everyone out — see my family and friends come out and watch us play — and hopefully get the win.”

The WolfPack would love to see the stands at Hillside Stadium full, which is why anyone wearing a soccer jersey or KYSA tracksuit will get free admission to the home opener — which just happens to be against the rival UBC Thunderbirds.

“It’s not going to be a slow start for us this summer,” Pirettas says. “We’ve been playing all summer. We want [UBC] at the start. We’re ready.”

“Win or lose, you sit there and say how did we play. Are we that far behind or are we close?” Antulov says. “I don’t have to worry about firing the guys up. They’re going to be ready to go because we’re playing top, top programs.”

Game time at Hillside Stadium is 7:00 pm on both Friday and Saturday nights.