The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men's soccer team left the field at Hillside Stadium on Saturday (Oct 10) with a bad taste in their mouth and it had nothing to do with undercooked Thanksgiving Turkey.

The WolfPack played a strong game but came out on the short end of a 2-1 decision to the visiting University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat in Canada West play.  The Heat's record moes to 3-4-3 while TRU drops to 1-5-2.

Thompson Rivers battled back from a 1-0 deficit to tie the contest but then saw the game decided in the 85 th minute when Ryan Jerry (2^nd year, midfield, Summerland, BC  got the ball and broke down the centre of the field. He launched a shot which appeared to be carried by the wind, deflected off the hand of WolfPack keeper Travis Froehlich (5^th year, Revelstoke, BC) and sailed into the top of the net.

"For us it was the missed opportunities, "said a dejected TRU head coach John Antulov. " Their keeper made pretty much unbelievable point blank saves in the first half. They were sure goals. Kudos to him for making those saves.  We had the opportunities and then made a crucial error in the first half that resulted in them scoring the first goal. It was uncharacteristic.  We kept going on forward in the first half. In the second half we had the opportunities. We put on the pressure but gave up that goal."

"When we have a rivalry game it is always tough," stated Heat coach Dante Zanatta. "TRU played extremely well. We were fortunate in the first half. Our keeper (Christopher Cuthill, 3^rd year, Delta, BC) made some good saves.  Sometimes you need the close things to go your way and we got that. Our team continued to battle. We gave up a PK late but found a way to comeback."

Zanatta agreed that Cuthill was outstanding. "He was. He played very well. He rose to the occasion and kept us in it.  He kept us in early.  TRU had a great chance to tie late in the first half but he made the save."  He made ninesaves in the game: five in the second half alone.

The Heat opened the scoring in the 8 th minute when Luke Warkentin (1^st year, forward, Surrey, BC) broke in hard to the box and got the ball and buried it low on Froehlich for his fourth of the season.

TRU's goal kame in the 61 st minute when Khalifa Fanne (2^nd year, midfielder, Tours, France) was hauled down by Manny Straight (5^th year, midfielder, Victoria, BC) in the box.   The ensuing penalty kick was taken by Mitch Popadynetz (2^nd year, forward, Nelson, BC) who buried it for his first of the campaign.

Antulov felt despite giving up the winning goal in the second half, his team dominated and had extra speed when he inserted Fanne and Olamide Adjibike (1^st year, midfield, Maple Ridge, BC).  

"Lots of speed on the outside. I thought we were putting a lot of pressure on them. I could continue to say it is a learning experience for our players. I know they are frustrated and a little upset. The game yesterday and today—I think—they deserved a little better than they got. That is the game of soccer."

Both teams will be at home next weekend (Oct 17-18) against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds and the University of Victoria Vikes.

For the WolfPack: its UBC first. Both matches next weekend will be 2 pm kickoff's at Hillside Stadium.