It was one of those results which has become too commonplace for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women's soccer team this season.  The WolfPack came up with a pretty solid effort but on the scoreboard, they wound up short.

The MacEwan University Griffins came into Hillside Stadium and came away with a 2-1 Canada West victory on Sunday (Oct 18).

The result leaves MacEwan at 6-3-3 on the year while TRU falls to 4-6-2.

"We got off to a quick start which was needed, said Griffins coach Dean Cordiero. " I thought we had moments where we could have broken open the game and get our second goal. But when you don't capitalize and TRU got momentum going, we were in trouble. I thought it was a very physical game and it played well into TRU's favor. They battled back into the game."

The Griffins opened the scoring off a set play in the ninth minute. On a corner kick, Meagan Lemoine (1^st year, midfield, Edmonton, AB) sent the ball into the box where WolfPack keeper Taylor Shantz (5^th year, Kamloops, BC) got a hand on it. The ball then went into a scramble where Jennifer Lam (5^th year, midfield, Edmonton, AB) shoveled it to Jamie Erickson (1^st year, defender, Edmonton, AB) who scored her third goal in two matches.

"We came out hard and the girls were determined to make amends for yesterday's (Saturday Oct 17) win but not great performance with Mount Royal," said WolfPack head coach Tom McManus. " MacEwan came out and played well. Sadly we didn't get the point."

The WolfPack stormed out of the dressing room in the second half and played some of their best soccer of the year. They controlled and passed with authority.  In the 48 th minute, Jaydene Radu (5^th year, forward, Calgary ,AB) switched the ball from left to right and spotted a wide open Danielle Fauteux (5^th year, forward, Kamloops, BC).  She put it in the yawning cage past Griffins keeper Rebecca Reif (3^rd year, Edmonton, AB).

Mcmanus agreed that their passing in the second half was strong. "We had a meeting yesterday after the game and said how bad our passing was. We told the girls to get the ball to their feet at half time.  We told them they could beat this team with passing and they showed that."

MacEwan got the winner in the 74 th minute.  Sheena Tracey (5^th year, forward, Edmonton, AB) fooled the WolfPack when it appeared she was talking to her coach but then turned and raced behind the TRU backline.  She broke in on the WolfPack net and was hauled down by TRU sweeper Jodi Hutton (3^rd year, Kamloops, BC).  Hutton received a red card on the play and MacEwan got a penalty shot.

On that shot, Lam put it left on Shantz for the winning goal.

"We had to weather the storm a bit in the second half,' stated Cordiero. " It is a game of momentum. We had it in the first half and relinquished it a bit in the second half. I thought our 'game changers' did exactly that. We didn't change anyone at half time. We wanted to run with that group for a bit. We wre a little bit fatigued. The girls that came in gave us some life.  It was a tight match.  TRU is a good team and is well coached by Tom. He is getting the most out of those girls.  We had to hang on.'

The WolfPack close out the regular season with matches next weekend (Oct 23-24) at Hillside Stadium against the Alberta Pandas and the UNBC Timberwolves. The match on Sunday will see the team honor their graduating players:  Shantz, Radu, Fauteux, Katie Sparrow and Emily Oliver (both Kamloops, BC).

MacEwan is home to Calgary and Lethbridge.

THROW INS:  The WolfPack suffered another injury when Oliver left in the first half. With the chances of TRU making it to the post season a little better after their .500 weekend, McManus was asked if the girls are looking too far ahead. " I think they are a little nervous but they are working and training hard. They are a good group."