This is the final weekend of Oriol Torres' university soccer career and he is bound and determined to make it one to remember.
He got it off to a great start as He had four goals leading his Thompson Rivers University WolfPack to a 5-2 win over the visiting University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves. The Canada West men's soccer match was played at Hillside Stadium on Saturday (Oct 24).
The WolfPack move to 3-6-2 on the season while UNBC falls to 1-10
TRU opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Torres (5th year, forward, Barcelona, Spain) got a penalty shot. He went low left side on UNBC keeper Mitch MacFarlane.
UNBC drew even when they were buzzing around 'Pack keeper Travis Froehlich (5th year, Revelstoke, BC). Arshdeep Mutti (3rd year, midfield, Surrey, BC) scored in the 39th minute.
The second half totally belonged to the WolfPack and Torres.
Mike Harvey (3rd year, midfield, Calgary, AB) pushed the ball ahead to Torres who scored his fourth of the season in the 47 th minute.
TRU went up 3-1 off a set play in the 62nd minute. A free kick by Mitchell Popadynetz (2nd year, forward, Nelson, BC) wound up off the head of Finlay McPhie (2nd year, defender, Vernon, BC). It was McPhie's second header goal in as many matches.
Four minutes later, Popadynetz and Ryan Glanville (3rd year, forward, Williams Lake, BC) fed Torres for his hat trick goal.
TRU went ahead 5-1 in the 68 th minute as Torres got the ball on a nice pass from Colton Walker (3rd year, midfield, Sicamous, BC). It was his sixth goal of the year.
WolfPack head coach John Antulov praised Torres for giving it his all in the match. "That was beautiful. Most of the goals were very pretty. That is what Oriol can do. It is nice for him and all the fifth years as a whole to end on a good note.
UNBC was able to add another goal before the match ended as Francesco Bartollilo (2nd year, forward, Calgary, AB) notched his second of the campaign.
"We talked to the guys at half time because we didn't think they weren't as sharp offensively," said John Antulov about their big second half offensive outburst. "From the get go, they guys went into attack mode. "
"It was a tale of two halves,' explained UNBC bench boss Steve Simonson. " We looked good in the first half but gave up a penalty. We rebounded after that. In the second half we came out flat. They scored and we never recovered from that."
"Our team is a young team," Simonson continued. "They have had some great spells at times during the season. Experience and maturity will make our results more positive. It will come with time. They have made a lot of strides."
The two sides will close out the Canada West regular season on Sunday (Oct 25) at 2 pm. The WolfPack will honor their five fifth years: Torres, Froehlich, Corey Wallis (Enderby, BC) along with Kyle Fertile and Braeden Burrows (both from Kamloops, BC) at half time.
UNBC has no fifth year players.
CORNER KICKS: Antulov says the spirit in practice this week was a big off. "It was a good atmosphere but guys are going through midterms and sickness. It wasn't as sharp as I would have liked it. I think that is what we saw in the first half. The guys started to bear down as the game wore on."