Larry Read
TRU Athletics
KAMLOOPS – The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s soccer team opened their own pre-season tournament with a victory.
The WolfPack took down the visiting Univeristy of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves 2-0 Thursday at Hillside Stadium.
The victory ups the ‘Pack’s exhibition record to 3-1. This was UNBC’s first match under new interim head coach Steve Simonson. The teams were scoreless after the first half.
“My first week with the guys and getting to know them was the number one goal,” Simonson stated. “For 70 minutes we played great but that first goal took away our confidence. It was a great first step.”
“I liked the fact we kept a clean sheet and played composed,” stated TRU head man John Antulov. “We had good solid possession and played really smart. I was very happy with the centre of our park with Colton Walker (3rd year, Sicamous), Mike Harvey (3rd year, Calgary), Kyle Fertile (5th year, Kamloops) and even when we started to bring the kids in, they kept the same composure. We had good solid play throughout.
The WolfPack started fifth-year keeper Travis Froehlich (Revelstoke) in the first half and finished off with rookie Claye Harsany (High River, AB).
Antulov said Harsany looked composed in his half of work. “That is what I expected of Claye when I recruited him. I have seen him play and I like his composure. He communicates. He is a solid keeper. We expected of him.”
Both WolfPack goals came off the foot of fifth year Oriol Torres (Barcelona, Spain). The first goal came in the 70th minute with the other being scored in the 85th. The second goal saw Torres take the ball on his right foot and cross it over his head to his left and then tucked it in the lower left hand side of the cage occupied by Mitch McFarlane of UNBC.
“Oriol came into camp with the idea of doing well in his fifth year,” stated Antulov. “ He played fantastic in Phoenix. He has been like that the last two and a half weeks.”
The WolfPack continued the tournament with a match on Saturday versus Douglas College Ducks of the PACWEST. The tourney wraps up today with Grant MacEwan Griffins of Edmonton facing UBCO Heat at 9 a.m., UNBC meeting Douglas at 11 am and TRU facing Langara College Falcons at 1 p,m. There is an admission charge for all matches.
CORNER KICKS: The WolfPack open the 2015-16 Canada West season at home Sept. 12 when they entertain the Trinity Western University Spartans at Hillside Stadium. Kick off is 2 p.m. The game will be webcast on Canadawest.tv.
