By Adam Donnelly

WolfPack Men’s Soccer hope to ride momentum into Canada West playoffs

Oct 25, 2018 | 5:15 PM

KAMLOOPS — With a win, they’d be in. The TRU WolfPack Men’s Soccer team held their fate in the hands Sunday at Hillside Stadium and they were taking on a familiar opponent in the UBC T-Birds.

At the end of the first half, Mitch Popadynetz lined up for a free kick, and Josh Banton directed the header into the UBC net.

It would be the only goal of the match, as the WolfPack would hang on for a 1-nil victory over UBC. The loss would be the only blemish on UBC’s spotless record in the Canada West regular season.

“It was a huge game for us,” Popadynetz explained. “We left the season late, but we figured it out and I think we look good going forward.”

For Popadynetz, as well as three other players — Thomas Lantmeers, Jason Staiger, and Finley McPhee — Sunday was their last home game on the pitch at Hillside as part of the WolfPack. Beating a long-time rival was a fitting end to their USports regular season careers.

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“We took it to them, first half,” Finley McPhee said after the game. “They couldn’t get anything going in the second half… it was good.”

“It feels so good. So good,” Popadynetz said. “Such a high playing with these boys. I love these guys. It’s a huge result.”

It was 11 months ago the WolfPack hosted USports National Championships at Hillside Stadium, and in the Bronze medal game, these same two teams met each other, with some hardware on the line. TRU was victorious in that match as well, winning the game on penalty kicks.

For head coach Jon Antulov, playing the Thunderbirds is a challenge his players continue to rise to.

“That’s a program we want to emulate,” Anytulov said. “That’s where we want to be in the next 15 to 20 years. I think the boys realize when you’re playing a good squad, a great squad, you need to be ready and focused and ready to play.”

With the win, the WolfPack won the right to travel to Edmonton Friday to take on the U of A Golden Bears in the first Canada West quarterfinal. Since October 6th, TRU is undefeated making them one of the hottest teams in Canada West heading into the playoffs.