TRU WolfPack wins national championship (Image credit: CFJC)

By Connor Gunn

FIRST-EVER NATIONALS WINS

‘One of the best moments of my life’: WolfPack reflect on nationals win

Nov 14, 2022 | 4:35 PM

KAMLOOPS — The TRU WolfPack Men’s soccer squad made history, winning the USports National Championship for the first time at Hillside Stadium after a goal by Domenico Comita.

“I was just thinking to myself, ‘Put it in just like you do in the backyard.’ I stepped up and knew right away as soon as I was stepping up and just rifled it right in the corner like I always do.”

The score was knotted 0-0 after regulation and TRU’s match needed extra time. In the first half of extra time in the 10th minute, Jost Hausendorf sent it across to other Comita brother, Alesandro, who made no mistake, putting the ‘Pack up a goal.

The Thunderbirds responded in the second half of extra time as Daniel Kaiser headed it in past TRU keeper Jackson Gardner.

It was tied after the two extra frames, so penalty kicks were needed. After multiple goals by each team, Gardner sprawled out for a save, giving TRU a chance to win it.

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It set the stage for the WolfPack to win 2-1 in penalty kicks for the third straight game.

“We’re always the underdogs going in,” said Head Coach John Antulov. “We’re the small school, and we use that as motivation through this season, through the last four or five years. The guys have taken that mantle and we’re okay with that mantle. I said to the guys, ‘We can play with anyone in Canada.’ I think we proved that this weekend.”

The WolfPack played an extra 90 minutes throughout the tournament in extra time and Antulov says it shows the heart and perseverance of the Pack.

“We’ve been playing kind of non-stop back-to-back games for a solid eight months so the fitness level has never dropped. When it came to this point the guys’ fitness levels and mentality and everything was there and they were able to battle through it and it showed.”

In front of a sold-out crowd, Gardner made save after save keeping the ‘Pack in the game, and says he was in disbelief with the win.

“So happy for us, everyone involved. Just a completely surreal experience without a doubt one of the best moments of my life and it’s going to take something very special to top this until the day I die.”

Gardner and Comita both acknowledged how special of a moment the feeling of victory was and won’t soon forget it.

“Full credit to the guys. The way we performed this weekend the way, we rallied as a team. For the community to show that, not only do we belong here but we deserve to have the gold medal around our necks,” says Gardner.

“It’s just absolutely incredible. Five years ago, I was a ballboy at this national championship when we hosted last time and now actually being a part of the team, being able to come on and score a penalty — it’s absolutely incredible,” Comita adds.