MSOC: Timberwolves at Victoria/UBC Preview

Men's Soccer
September 26, 2018

Canada West Men’s Soccer Preview
UNBC @ Victoria
September 27th, 2018
5 PM PT

UNBC Timberwolves (3-1-2)
2nd in Pacific Division Standings
10 Goals For
6 Goals Against
Goals Leader: Francesco Bartolillo: 4 Goals
Assists Leader: Francesco Bartolillo: 3 Assists
Points Leader: Francesco Bartolillo: 7 Points
Saves Leader: Rob Goodey: 33 Saves

Player to Watch:
Joel Watson, M
A second-year midfielder for the Timberwolves, Watson has proven to be invaluable to the UNBC approach this season. The native of Victoria is tremendous at putting pressure on opposition, battling for position, and winning 50/50 balls. The 2017-2018 UNBC Male Rookie of the Year, Watson will need to be his gritty self against the Vikes.

Victoria Vikes (3-3-3)
5th in Pacific Division Standings
18 Goals For
21 Goals Against
Goals Leader: Matteo Ventura: 6 Goals
Assists Leader: Will Adams: 3 Assists
Points Leader: Matteo Ventura : 7 Points
Saves Leader: Jas Lally: 39 Saves

Player to Watch:
Matteo Ventura, F
A freshman for the Vikes, Ventura has been electric for the Victoria attack. With six goals in his past seven games, the native of Victoria will command plenty of attention from Timberwolves defenders Gordon Hall and Conrad Rowlands.

Canada West Men’s Soccer Preview
UNBC @ UBC
September 28th, 2018 @ 630 PM
September 30th, 2018 @ 1 PM

UNBC Timberwolves (3-1-2)
2nd in Pacific Division Standings
10 Goals For
6 Goals Against
Goals Leader: Francesco Bartolillo: 4 Goals
Assists Leader: Francesco Bartolillo: 3 Assists
Points Leader: Francesco Bartolillo: 7 Points
Saves Leader: Rob Goodey: 33 Saves

Player to Watch:
Owen Stewart, M
Never the biggest player on the pitch, the five-foot-eight Stewart makes up for his lack of size with grit and creativity. With a knack for scoring goals in big situations, the third-year Prince George product sits third in UNBC’s Canada West history in game-winning goals.


UBC Thunderbirds (7-0-1)
1st in Pacific Division Standings
20 Goals For
4 Goals Against
Goals Leader: Caleb Clarke: 7 Goals
Assists Leader: Clarke, Fussell, Sangha: 2 Assists
Points Leader: Caleb Clarke: 9 Points
Saves Leader: Jason Roberts: 17 Saves

Player to Watch:
Caleb Clarke, F
A former member of the National team, Clarke is at UBC playing his fifth and final season of eligibility. Currently leading the conference in goals and points, the six-foot-one forward has played professionally overseas, and will need to be focused on for the TWolves to contain the dynamic striker.

Quotes:
UNBC’s Jonah Smith

On the Timberwolves’ recent success…
“Offensively, we are finding ways to produce. We have some really dangerous players on the wingers, and people are scoring goals, which is giving us a lot of confidence. Now, in the back, we have cleaned things up.  Rob (Goodey) has been excellent for us, and everyone else has been solid. The combincation of some goals, and good defense has been the difference.”


On the matchup with the Vikes…
“UVic is really organized, they work hard, and now they have found a way to score goals. When you combine that all together, they make it difficult for teams. As long as they’re solid, we have to look to essentially shut down any possibility of a counter-attack and try to dominate the game through possession.”

On the matchups with the Thunderbirds…
“As long as we stick to the gameplan, keep doing what we’ve been doing, we defend well, and we play as a group, that is what is going to beat UBC. No individual player is good enough to beat that team, but if we all work together as an 11, we are going to have a really good shot.”