By Larry Read
TRU Sports Information Officer
KAMLOOPS, BC—They aren't out but its going to be tough for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack to get into the 2018 Canada West women's soccer league playoffs.
The WolfPack were beaten 1-0 by the visiting University of Manitoba Bisons at Hillside Stadium on Sunday (Oct 14).
The only goal of the contest came in injury time in the first half by Burna Mavigner of the Bisons.
The shutout was shared by Maddie Wilford and Justina Jarmosko.
TRU falls to 3-8-1 while Manitoba jumps to 6-4-2. The loss by TRU coupled by UBCO's win over Winnipeg (3-1) means the Heat have moved into the sixth and final playoff spot in the Pacific Division. Both UBCO and TRU will close out the regular season next week on the road against the same opponents: UNBC and MacEwan.
This was the first match between the two schools in three years.
This was the final home regular season match for the WolfPack and also the final career appearance for their lone graduating player: midfielder Marlie Rittinger (4th year, Ashcroft, BC).
SYNOPSIS
TRU carried the play offensively in the first half with eight shots but it was the Bisons who drew first blood. In the first stages of injury time in the opening half, Kelsey Thorkelsson (3rd year, Winnipeg, MB) fell while trying to defend Machaela Burdany. Burdany slid the ball cross field to Burna Mavigner who's low blast was just out of the reach of TRU keeper Danielle Robertson.
The Bisons took out starting keeper Maddie Wilford to begin the second half but she was forced to re enter the match in the 70 th minute when her replacement, Justina Jarmosko was injured catching a long kick at the top of the box and collided with two WolfPack players on an innocent play.
HIGHLIGHTS:
KEY STATS:
Goal scoring:
- 45:00-MAN-Bruna Mavigner (5th year, forward, Fortaleza, Brazil) was the receipent of a cross field pass from Machaela Burdany (1st year,midfield, Winnipeg, MB). Burndany pounded on a loose ball, then moved to the left before passing to Mavigner who left footed the ball into the lower right side of the net. Mavigner's fifth goal of the season MAN 1 TRU 0
Shots: Manitoba:5-0:5 TRU: 8-7:15 Corners: Manitoba: 1-4:5 TRU: 3-7:10
Saves: TRU: 0 Manitoba: 5-1:6 Shots on goal: Manitoba: 1-0:1 TRU: 5-1:6
Fouls: TRU: 7-3:10 Manitoba 4-11:15
Keepers: TRU: Danielle Robertson (2nd year, Courtenay, BC) Manitoba: Maddie Wilford (4th year, Winnipeg, MB) 45 mins, 5 saves 0 GA Justina Jarmoszko (3rd year, Winnipeg, MB) 23 minutes 0 saves 0 ga
RECORDS:
WINNIPEG: 6-4-2 TRU: 3-8-1
QUOTES:
TRU head coach Kelly Shantz (3rd season):
On Match: "it is a tough loss. I loved the fight we put in.We outshot them badly. No fault on their goal. They worked hard and we didn't get a kick at it. I was actually enjoying the last 10 minutes. It's no fun being down. This is what soccer is all about. Two good teams fighting for playoffs and everyone going super hard. I loved the way my team reacted. I loved the urgency we played with and the fight we showed. We didn't get a reward and that happens sometimes in soccer. Its more important that we there there and we put up a fight. There will be other days that we will be rewarded. We have to remember that."
On Marlie Rittinger trying to get equalizer with chances at the end: "We were pushing to give it to her because she has terrific moves through traffic and a calm demeanor. I told her if she had a chance in the last 15 minutes to make sure she puts her head up and goes forward and has a chance. She had a couple of whacks at it but it didn't work out."
Was he and others 'scoreboard watching' to see how UNBC and UBCO were doing (in regards to playoffs): "No Question. We saw UNBC lost in Lethbridge to help us on one side. When we came out at halftime we knew Winnipeg and UBCO were scoreless. We were hopeful that would remain the score. You have to (scoreboard watch) it is just smart. We saw UBCO was up 2-0 and we had to go for it."
Video of Coach Shantz Interview: click here
WolfPack midfielder Marlie Rittinger (4th year, Ashcroft, BC):
On final career home match and coming back: "I was a little nervous to begin with. The girls really made me feel comfortable. It was really nice to come back for my last semester here. It was exciting. I felt that I could help leadership wise. The team is really young out there. The girls have made me feel welcome. It was frustrating to give up that goal in extra time. We fought back in the second half and I got some opportunities, it was sad we couldn't get the equalizer."
Video of Rittinger post match: click here
Manitoba head coach Vanessa Martinez Lagunas (6th year):
On game: "Full credit to my team. They worked hard when they had to. Bruno scored that beautiful goal just before the half and it was crucial. Really proud that because in the second half, Thompson Rivers was putting a lot of pressure on our net. The girls did a great job of keeping it at zero and we got the clean sheet."
On the keeper situation and why did she pull start Wilford after the first half: "We have a great group of goalkeepers. I wanted to give Justina (Jamoszko) a chance. She was coming back from an injury. She was ready. Somebody hit her on the leg, exactly where she was a little bit injured. Maddy came back really strong. They really help each other. They know they are a group. A team. And that is what it counts."
Video of Coach Lagunas Interview: click here
UP NEXT:
The WolfPack will hit the road for their final two matches of the Canada West regular season next weekend. They will visit the UNBC Timberwolves in Prince George on Friday October 19th and then take on the MacEwan Griffins in Edmonton to end the season on Sunday, October 21th.
Earlier this year, the Griffins scored two late goals to beat the WolfPack 2-1 while TRU downed the Timberwolves 3-1 in matches played at Hillside Stadium in September.
The Bisons will finish off the regular season at home against Saskatchewan and Regina next weekend.
The matches will be webcast live on a pay per view basis on www.Canadawest.TV.
OF NOTE:
The McDonald's/TRU Bookstore "Leader of the Pack" player of the match was: Rittinger who was honored after the match.