Smylie, WolfPack, pick up elusive bronze medal

he third time was a charm for the TRU WolfPack at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Soccer national Championship.

After losing in the bronze medal match each of the previous two years, the third time was a charm for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack at the 2013 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Soccer national Championship.

The Wolfpack, along with 150 Mile House sweeper and co-captain Laura Smylie, defeated the Algonquin Thunder 2-0 Saturday at Newton Athletic Park in Surrey.

“The last few years we’ve been in this match and come up short so this year we were a little disappointed we didn’t get to the gold medal, but I’ll take this one,” said keeper Emily Edmundson. “It was a good game and it’s a good feeling, for sure.”

The match was evenly contested in the first half with both teams getting a feel for one another.

But it was in the 45th minute the first goal was scored when WolfPack forward Courtney Daly chipped a ball past a diving Thunder keeper.

The Thunder pressed in the second half with its first good chances coming in the 74th minute, however, the WolfPack were able to clear any attempts at its net.

Later in the half Daly, again, pounced on a loose ball in the centre of the box and scored her second goal of the game, making it 2-0 and solidifying the bronze medal for TRU.

Both teams advanced to the bronze-medal match through the back door after losing in the quarterfinals.

The WolfPack, coming into the tournament after winning its third straight PACWEST title, went 12-0-2 in league play.

Williams Lake Tribune