Larry Read

TRU Sports Information Officer

KAMLOOPS, BC—In a battle of two teams whose playoff fortunes rest a lot in their own hands, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack and University of Lethbridge Pronghorns played to a 2-2 draw.

The Canada West women's soccer match was played on a cold Saturday at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops, BC.

SYNOPSIS

TRU got two goals from Marisa Mendonca  (3^rd year, midfield, Penticton, BC)  including one on a penalty shot to seal the tie.  Mendonca had scored in the first half to give TRU the lead before Lethbridge battled back to tie and then take the lead themselves.

Mendonca has four goals in her last three matches and now four on the season.

Kayla Blacquiere (5^th year, midfield, Lacombe, AB) had both goals for the Pronghorns. Both were named their respective players of the matches.

HIGHLIGHTS:

click here

KEY STATS:

Goal scoring:

1. 18:59-TRU-Marisa Mendonca got the lead pass from Keenan Degen (2nd year, midfield, Kamloops, BC) and got her right foot on it and went high left side. Mendosa's third goal in three games and third of the year.  TRU 1  Lethbridge 0
2. 22:48-Lethbridge-Kayla Blacquiere got a through ball from Nikki Furukawa (5^th year, midfield, Lethbridge, AB). Dannielle Robertson caught ball but it squirted out of her hands and Blacquiere drove it home. Her third goal of the season.  Lethbridge 1  TRU 1
3. 68:44-Lethbridge-Kayla Blacquiere-received long ball and went in 1v1 on Natalie Verdiel (3^rd year, defender, Powell River, BC). She studder stepped and then drove to the right and went high center of the net.  Her fourth goal of the year  Lethbridge 2  TRU 1
4. 88:08-TRU—Marisa Mendonca-Penalty Kick-she went top right hand corner.  The PK was awarded after TRU's Cassie Morris header off a free kick taken by keeper Dannielle Robertson caught a Lethbridge defender in the arm in a scramble. Nikki Furukawa received yellow card for picking up ball and throwing it following the hand ball call.  Mendonca's fourth goal of the year.  TRU 2   Lethbridge 2

Shots:    Leth: 8-6:14    TRU:3-4:7    Corners:   Leth:  1-3:4        TRU:0-3:3

 Saves:   TRU: 5-2:7  Leth:  1-2:3        Shots on goal:  Leth: 6-3:9   TRU: 2-3:5

Keepers:   TRU:   Dannielle Robertson (1^st year, Courtenay, BC)          Leth: Micaela Stone (4^th year, Lethbridge, AB)

RECORDS:

Leth:   4-5-2            TRU: 3-7-1

QUOTES:

TRU head coach Kelly Shantz: 

On coming back to tie: "We wanted to get a result today. With UNBC beating Manitoba last night they are a point ahead of us. This was our makeup game. We wanted to stay close. The tie was huge. We tossed a couple of forwards on. We threw everything at it in the last five minutes.  To get that penalty shot with two minutes left and score. It was huge."

On what went well in second half:  " I am sure they (Lethbridge) talked about limiting our play and putting pressure on us.  We didn't react as well. It is a good learning experience that we have to play for the entire 90 minutes. We came out of half time huddle a little flat and didn't have a good 15 minutes. Their goal wasn't a particularly good one. This is a team (TRU) that could fold a bit after giving up the lead with our inexperience.  We dug deep and made some changes. Congrats to Dannielle (Robertson) for going down and knocking the ball in, Cassie (Morris) for going up and winning the header out of nowhere to flick the ball in. When you work that hard good things happen.  The ball just fell on the one girls arm and we get a penalty kick with two minutes left."

COACHES VIDEO COMMENTS:   click here

TRU Midfielder Marisa Mendonca (3^rd year, Penticton, BC)

On the penalty shot: "Honestly, I have always been the penalty shot taker all growing up, It was kind just routine. I knew where I wanted to hit it and how to do it. When Kelly told me to take it I knew where it was going to go. No big deal. I was pretty calm."

Four goals in last two weeks why? "Striking the ball. It is something that I have always wanted to do. I love playing forward. I love playing attacking mid. I know I can hit the ball from range. It is just coming down to doing what I know what to do and keeping focused on that."

Lethbridge head coach Fred Trihn:

On wild second half: "Both teams were trying to win. I have to look at the tape again on that goal. I think our effort saw us fade a bit and then we tried to take it back up. Sometimes you have to be consistent. That is the main message. Our efforts need to be more consistent. Whether the call goes your way or not."

COACHES VIDEO COMMENTS: click here

UP NEXT:

The WolfPack continue their home stand as they entertain the University of Calgary Dinos at Hilside on Sunday October 15^th for a 2 pm kickoff.

The Pronghorns will visit UBCO on Sunday.

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

Today's game will be shown later this week on Shaw TV in Kamloops, BC.

The WolfPack men are hosting the 2017 USport Men's Soccer Nationals November 9-12^th. Tickets on sale at all TRU home matches.