By Larry Read

TRU Sports Information Officer

KAMLOOPS, BC---The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's soccer team's playoff hopes are still alive. The WolfPack came away with a 3-1 victory over the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves on Saturday (Oct 6).

The WolfPack moved to 3-6-2 on the season after getting goals from James Fraser, Justin Donaldson and Koffi Nyavor.

Conrad Rowlands replied for the Timberwolves, who drop to 4-3-3 on the year.  This was the first of a two games in two days series between the two teams in Kamloops.

SYNOPSIS

TRU welcomed back Canada West MVP Mitch Popadynetz after missing four straight matches. He set up James Fraser 76 seconds into the contest to give the Pack a 1-0 lead.

The Pack went up by wo in the 14 th minute as Justin Donaldson scored his second of the campaign. But UNBC cut the deficit to one in the 36^th minute. Off a set piece,  WolfPack keeper Jackson Gardner left the cage to punch the ball away. After a scramble, Conrad Rowlands was able to out jump two defenders to head it in.   It was 2-1 at the half.

The WolfPack added one more goal. It came in the 89^th minute when Koffi Nyavor fired a rocket to the top centre of the net.

UNBC's best chance in the second half came in the 79 th minute. Cody Gysbers (3^rd year, midfield, Victoria, BC) had a penalty kick but it went over the net.

HIGHLIGHTS:

click here

KEY STATS:

Goal scoring:

1. TRU-1:38—James Fraser (3^rd year, forward, Penticton, BC) capitalized by driving to the net to put home the rebound on a shot from Mitch Popadynetz (5^th year, midfield, Nelson, BC) at the top of the box.  Fraser's fifth goal of the year.  TRU 1  UNBC  0

2. TRU-14:58—Justin Donaldson (4^th year, midfield, Kamloops BC) got a high ball from Fraser and drove down right side. His shot went lower left side of the net.  Donaldson's second goal of the year. TRU 2 UNBC 0
3. UNBC-36:16-Conrad Rowlands (5^th year, forward, Chilliwack, BC)  off a set piece, TRU keeper Jackson Gardner punches ball into the air. It was headed by a defender. Rowlands outjumped two defenders to put it in the open cage. Rowlands 3^rd goal of the year.  TRU 2  UNBC  1
4. TRU-89:51-Koffi Nyavor (4^th year, midfield, Coquitlam, BC).  Nyavor brought ball down on right foot, two touches and then launched a high shot, center of the net.  Nyavor's second goal of the match

Shots:    TRU 16-7:23:   UNBC 3-4:7  Corners:   TRU 1-3:4  UNBC  2-3:5  Saves:  TRU 2-2:4   UNBC: 6-3:9

Fouls:   TRU:   9-11:20    UNBC:  5-9:14   Shots on goal:  TRU 9-4:13   UNBC 3-2:5

Keepers:  TRU:  Jackson Gardner (1^st year, Chilliwack, BC)  (2-3)

                  UNBC: Rob Goodey (3^rd year, Langley, BC) (4-2-4)

RECORDS:

TRU 3-6-2     UNBC:  4-3-3

THEY SAID IT! (game quotes):

TRU head coach John Antulov: 

On the game: "Definitely a win that we needed. Our confidence was a little fragile. Even in the second half it was a little hectic. The guys battled hard and ended getting up the result."

On what he told the team to get them started off strong: " Let's just do what we can. Let's play for our three fifth years. These guys put five quality years into this program. Let's go out and have fun and do it for these guys (Mitch Popadynetz, Jason Staiger, Finlay McPhie)."

Said all three goals were beautiful ones: "They were all good solid build up goals with great finishes. Just nice to be putting the ball in the net consistently. We have been doing that the last couple of games. Hopefully we can continue to build on that."

Video of Coach Antulov's post game interview:  click here

UNBC head coach Steve Simonson (4^th year):

On match: "We knew TRU would come out motivated. They are playing for their playoff lives. A win from us puts them out of it. They came out like I expected them to do. They make things scrappy early on. A couple of bounces went their way. "

On game two Sunday: " We will have a better effort tomorrow. Our guys have high standards and they won't be happy with how they performed today."

Coaches video comments: click here

UP NEXT:

The WolfPack and the Timberwolves will close out their weekend series tomorrow (Sunday) at Hillside Stadium.  It will begin at 1 pm PDT. All of the remaining WolfPack home matches will be webcast  live on a pay per view basis on www.Canadawest.TV.

OF NOTE: 

The TRU Bookstore/McDonalds "Leader of the Pack" player of the match was Donaldson.   Video of Donaldson's post game interview: click here