KAMLOOPS,BC—The learning process continued for the youthful Thompson Rivers University WolfPack soccer team on Saturday night (Oct 5).
The Pack let down for a brief moment and found the ball in the back of the net as they fell 1-0 to the University of Victoria Vikes. The Canada West women's soccer match was played at the Warner Rentals field at Hillside Stadium.

The teams were scoreless after the first half. Thompson Rivers outshot UVIC 16-6 in the contest including 10-3 in the second half.

The lone goal came in the 51 st minute. A communication error between TRU defender Julia Burkart (2^nd year, Nelson, BC) and keeper Danielle Robertson (4^th year, Courtenay, BC)  allowed Vikes forward Emma Dewit (2^nd year, Duncan, BC) to tap the ball which rolled into the yawning cage. It was her first goal of the season.

The WolfPack tried desperately to get the equalizer but couldn't beat Vikes keeper Puck Louwes  (5^th year, Utrecht, NED).  It was her fifth clean sheet of the year.

Victoria moves to 5-2-3 on the year while TRU drops to 1-6-3.

SYNOPSIS

The WolfPack and Vikes played a very cautious first half which resulted in a scoreless tie.  Thompson Rivers had a good chance in the 15^th minute when Rylee Singleterry was sent in on the right side and crossed it over to Taylor Miller who put it over the top of the net.

In the 38^th minute,  UVIC sent the ball into the goal mouth where TRU's Danielle Robertson made the first stop. Victoria tried to pounce on the rebound but the entire WolfPack back four raced to the goal line to keep it out.  Each team had six shots in the first 45 minutes with the WolfPack having two on goal compared to UVIC's one.

After the Vikes scored their goal, the Pack had as number of chances. In the 79 th minute, TRU got a corner kick .  Rookie Solaine Sasaskamoose (midfield, Burnaby, BC) took the kick and it sailed into the box where Camryn Curts (3^rd year, midfield, Courtenay, BC) tried to get her head on it. But just missed.

In the 85^th minute, Curts and Taylor Miller (5^th year, midfield, Kamloops, BC) worked a nice give and go in the left hand side of the Victoria end.  Miller crossed the ball to the center of the box. Emily Mann (3^rd year, midfield, Kamloops, BC) got a piece of it but not enough to get it in.

The WolfPack had five shots on goal in the contest compared to four for Victoria. Louwes made five saves including three in the first half . Robertson had three saves herself, two in the second 45 minutes.
The "Leader of the Pack" player of the match was defender Alix Varchol (2^nd year, Summerland, BC).
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HIGHLIGHTS
https://youtu.be/kK_JU7zL5U8
 
COMMENTS BY COACH  MARK PENNINGTON  (first year):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1180690692495962112  
 
COMMENTS BY WOLFPACK DEFENDER ALIX VARCHOL (SUMMERLAND, BC):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1180690478578036736  
 
COMMENTS BY UVIC COACH TRACY DAVID (18^th season):
https://twitter.com/GoTRUWolfPack/status/1180690151573315584
 
UP NEXT:
The home portion of the WolfPack season comes to a conclusion on Saturday October 12^th against their closest geographical rival, the UBCO Heat. It will be the back end of a home-and-home series between the two schools and the second in the 2019-20 Presidents Cup series. 

Thompson Rivers and UBCO battle in men's and women's' soccer, basketball, volleyball and cross country with points awarded after each confrontation.  The WolfPack won both the men's and women's President's Cups last year.

Kick off on Saturday October 12^th will be at noon.  The game will also see the team honoring its three fifth year graduating players: Natalie Verdiel (Powell River, BC), Marisa Mendonca (Penticton, BC) and Taylor Miller (Kamloops, BC).

All of the above soccer, volleyball and basketball games, by the way, can been seen on a pay per view basis on www.CanadaWesttv presented by Co-OP.

The WolfPack finish the season on the road in women's soccer—playing at Fraser Valley on October 18^th and Trinity Western on October 19 th.