WolfPack Men’s soccer come up with strong effort but fall to Huskies

KAMLOOPS – The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack ended their Canada West men’s soccer pre-season with a strong effort. However, against one of the league’s top squads, the WolfPack fell short.

The WolfPack lost 2-1 to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Sunday, Aug. 12. The match was played in Kelowna, B.C.

“We played a very composed match and it was likely our best of the summer,’ TRU head coach John Antulov said. “We made two mistakes and an experienced, well coached and talented team like Saskatchewan made us pay for it. They are one of the top teams in the Canada West and it showed us what we need to be able to do to play with those top teams.”

The Huskies scored both of their goals in the first half. One in the 15th minute and the other in the 30th minute.

TRU got on the board in the 50th minute when Ryan Glanville (fourth year, forward, Williams Lake, B.C.) fed Mitch Popadaynetz (third year, forward, Nelson, B.C.) and he beat the Huskie keeper.

The WolfPack started Claye Harsany (second year, High River, Alta.) in the first half in goal and replaced him with Lubo Magdolen (first year, Kamloops, B.C.) in the second.

“We need to start focusing in on what we need to do to get us over the hump and grind out a result against top teams like the Huskies,” added Antulov.

Thompson Rivers kicks off its 2016 Canada West season on Saturday, Aug. 27. They host the defending CIS bronze medal winners: the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds at Hillside Stadium.  Kickoff is 1 p.m.