Larry Read, TRU Sports Information officer

KAMLOOPS, B.C. - The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack had the number five team in Canadian University Soccer on the ropes for 45 minutes. Sadly for them, they couldn't hold on as they wound up tying the visiting University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 2-2 Sunday (Sept 3) at Hillside Stadium.

The Thunderbirds remain the only unbeaten team in Canada West at 3-0-1 while TRU falls to 1-1-2.

SYNOPSIS

The game was played in smoky conditions in Kamloops. There were fears the game was going to be postponed with air quality at 7 starting at game time (due to the Interior Wildfires).   TRU jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the half with UBC scoring twice in the second stanza to remain undefeated at Hillside Stadium.

 TRU got goals from Joshua Banton (London, England) and Josh Donaldson (Kamloops, BC).  Kristian Yli-Heitanen (North Vancouver, BC)  and Connor Guilherme (Unionville, ON)  had the goals for UBC.

 Lubomir Magdolen (Kamloops, BC) made some brilliant saves to keep TRU in it.  Chad Bush (Ottawa, ON) was tested numerous times as well. 

VIDEO CLIPS: 

Highlights:

click here

KEY STATS:

Goal scoring:

1. TRU-6:52-Josh Banton (1^st year, defender, London, England): takes right dish off pass from Ryan Glanville (5^th year, midfield, Williams Lake, BC).  He beats UBC keeper Chad Bush low left side.  Banton's first Canada West goal.   TRU 1  UBC  0
2. TRU-26:51-Josh Donaldson (3^rd year, midfielder, Kamloops, BC) heads in the ball after James Fraser (2^nd year, midfielder, Penticton, BC) sends ball to far left side of the box. It was picked up by Mitchell Popadynetz (4^th year, midfield, Nelson, BC) who deked and put a left foot into the air. Donaldson's header goes left side on Bush.  His 2^nd goal of the season.  TRU 2  UBC  0
3. UBC-54:00-Connor Guilherme (3^rd year, defender, Unionville, ON) capitalizes on a header off a corner kick taken by Zach Verhoven (2^nd year, forward, Surrey, BC) from the left side of the field.   Guilherme's first goal of the season.  TRU 2  UBC  1
4. UBC-86:00-Kristian Yli-Hietanen (3^rd year, forward, North Vancouver,BC) pounces on ball in front of Magdolen and slides it underneath him. Guilherme and Rylan Sangha (4^th year, midfield, Richmond, BC) draw the assists.  Yli-Hietanen's first goal of the year.  TRU 2  UBC 2

Shots:    TRU  5-4:9    UBC  6-11:17      Corners:   TRU:1-0:1    UBC: 5-16:11     

 Saves:   TRU: 4-3:7    UBC:2-1:3

Keepers:  TRU: Lubomir Magdolen (2^nd year, Kamloops, BC) UBC: Chad Bush (3^rd year Ottawa, ON)

RECORDS:

TRU      1-1-2            UBC  3-0-1

QUOTES: 

TRU head coach John Antulov: 

On game: "Thought our first half was very strong and we had some good opportunities to score.  I think defensively we were solid. The second half, they put some pressure on us in the first 10-15 minutes. It was a set piece goal-they have done us in so far this year. We have to clean up.

Says they have proved they can play with top teams in Canada: " I think the guys are getting that belief. The day that my guys are upset because we tied one of the best teams in the nation, that is a good day for us. But we still have a long way to go. We need to get more fit.  We were tired at the end. The guys who come in have to be ready. Not taking anything away from UBC. They took it to us in the second half and Lubo had to come up with some big saves.

Coaches Comments VIDEO:
click here

TRU keeper Lubomir Magdolen:

On strong first half: "We played really well in the first half and in the second, but they took it to us and capitalized on the chances they had. We really came out flying and thought we could hold them off in the second but we couldn't.  

UBC head coach Mike Mosher:

On Game : "We were disappointed with our first half but we thought there were some decent moments that we could build off of.  This was the first bit of adversity we have faced this year and we challenged the boys to show us what kind of character response we could get. I thought we were quite dominant in the second half." 

Was this the toughest test yet? " I wouldn't say it's the toughest. But John has done a terrific job bringing in some top quality players. We knew that Thompson Rivers was going to be a good team. That they were wanting to make a statement from this game. We weren't up for it in the first half but we were in the second. Credit to John for putting together a strong team."

UP NEXT:

The WolfPack  will hit the road for matches Friday (Sept 8) and Saturday (Sept 9) vs Trinity Western University Spartans and the University of Fraser Valley Cascades.

 Their next home match will be Sunday, September 17^th when the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns pay a visit to Hillside Stadium.  Kickoff is 2 pm. The match is sponsored by Chahal Priddle Lawyers.

The Thunderbirds have the bye week.

 All of the WolfPack matches—home and away—will be webcast on a pay per view basis on www.Canadawest.TV.

 The WolfPack are hosting the 2017 USport Men's Soccer Nationals November 9-12^th. Tickets on sale in September.

OF NOTE:

The TRU Bookstore/McDonalds "Leader of the Pack" Player of the match was: Magdolen.