WSOC: Timberwolves earn one point in home opening weekend

Athletics
September 13, 2015

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. - The UNBC women's soccer Timberwolves kicked off their fourth Canada West season with home games against the UBC Okanagan Heat and the Thompson Rivers WolfPack.

Though they showed positive signs over the course of the two matches, they earned just one of a possible six points at home to start the season.

Timberwolves allow late goal to Heat, settle for draw (1-1)

In their home opener on Friday, the Timberwolves were two minutes away from victory before the UBC Okanagan Heat found the net off a free kick, forcing UNBC to settle for a 1-1 draw.

Timberwolves co-captain Sydney Hall (Prince George, B.C.) had the lone UNBC goal, while it was Mairi Horth (Ladysmith, B.C.) who grabbed a point for the Heat with her late marker.

Neither team generated a sustained offensive momentum early, though UBC Okanagan frequently had the ball in UNBC's final third.

Keeper Jordan Hall (Prince George, B.C.) stood tall early, keeping the game scoreless until her twin decided to take over.

In the 25th minute, Sydney Hall intercepted a Heat clearing attempt, then used her speed to blow by the UBC Okanagan defenders and put a shot over the head of Heat keeper Joella Koblischke (Lake Country, B.C.) to give UNBC a 1-0 edge going into halftime.

UBC Okanagan applied pressure to start the second half, and they had a glorious opportunity to tie it in the 58th minute, but Courtney Hemmerling (Kelowna, B.C.) was just offside on the play.

The Timberwolves had a pair of golden opportunities to potentially ice the game in the final 10 minutes, but a shot from rookie Kaitlin Godsoe (Prince George, B.C.) just missed to the left, while Tianna Rossi (Prince George, B.C.) hurried her shot after a cross, missing wide right.

Both teams increased the intensity late, but UBC Okanagan finally through in the 88th minute. A free kick from Justine Drosdovech (Kelowna, B.C.) bounced around the box before finding its way to Horth, who made no mistake.

UNBC protested for a handball in the scrum, but nothing came of it, and the goal stood.

Sydney Hall earned game MVP honours for the Timberwolves, while Horth was the Heat's choice.

Thompson Rivers take down Timberwolves (3-0 TRU)

Kylie Erb (6) of the UNBC Timberwolves battles Danielle Fauteux (3) of the Thompson Rivers WolfPack for the ball during their Canada West women's soccer match on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015. UNBC Communications photo.In their second game of the weekend, the Timberwolves had their opportunities to score, but they never really threatened WolfPack keeper Taylor Shantz (Kamloops, B.C.), who posted 10 saves for the clean sheet.

Danielle Fauteux (Kamloops, B.C.) scored twice to earn game MVP honours for Thompson Rivers, while Timberwolves co-captain Fiona Raymond (Prince George, B.C.) got the nod for UNBC.

The WolfPack got on the board early in the first half, as Fauteux headed a Jaydene Radu (Calgary, Alta.) cross past Jordan Hall (Prince George, B.C.) to give Thompson Rivers the 1-0 advantage in the 17th minute.

Fauteux struck again just before halftime, taking a pass from Sara Fertile and breaking through the Timberwolves back line before slotting the ball through Hall’s legs to give the WolfPack a 2-0 lead after 45 minutes, permanently seizing momentum in the process.

The elements made their presence known throughout the second half, as intermittent hail and rain significantly altered playing conditions. Neither team got anything sustained going in the second half, though the WolfPack controlled possession.

Thompson Rivers iced the game in the 84th minute, when Taylor Miller (Kamloops, B.C.) took a through ball from Radu and put the ball over Hall’s head from about 25 yards out to complete the scoring.

UNBC’s best chance to get on the scoreboard came in the dying minutes, as Sydney Hall found herself with a spot kick after a WolfPack foul in the box. However, Shantz guessed right on Hall’s attempt, making the save and preserving her clean sheet.

The Timberwolves have a tough road trip coming, as they head to Victoria to play the Vikes on Friday, Sept. 18 at 5 p.m., before heading to Vancouver to battle the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. UNBC then returns home on Friday, Sept. 25, where they welcome the #2-ranked Trinity Western Spartans to Prince George.

Contact Information

Geordie Carragher

Sports Information Officer

University of Northern British Columbia

carragher@unbc.ca

(250) 960-6009

(778) 349-4977