WOLFPACK GOLF NAMES 2010 TEAM August 29, 2010
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The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack have named their men’s golf team for 2010. The eight man roster was finalized after three qualifying rounds held this week at the Dunes in Kamloops.
“I am quite optimistic for the season,” says WolfPack head coach Bill Bilton Junior. “W e didn’t have our best showing last year but I feel that the extra lessons and practice over the summer is starting to pay off. The guys are playing better and their scores are evidence of such. Commitment levels are definitely up.”
2008 CCAA Champs
The WolfPack won the Canadian College Athletic Association title in 2008. Last season, they struggled to a fifth place finish in the BC College Athletic Association.
Adam Gruber
This years squad is led by Adam Gruber (Kamloops, BC). Gruber enters his third year with the WolfPack as the 4th best golfer in the BCCAA in 2009. He and brother Mark led the qualifying tournament with totals of 222. Adam had scores of 78-73-71 while Mark carded rounds of 72,75 and 75. Mark is entering his second season with the WolfPack.
Mark Gruber
“I look for Adam to step up with a few individual wins with some good showings,” Bilton stated. “ Hopefully he’ll pick up some tournament victories.”
Kevin Ricalton
Other returning veterans are Kevin Ricalton (Kamloops,BC): third year, Brennan Arduini (Kamloops, BC): third year, Geoff Fahlman (Prince George, BC): third year and Colby Cook (Chilliwack, BC): second year.
There are two new faces on the WolfPack: Chase Broadfoot and Quinn Campbell. Broadfoot shot 83,70 and 78 in the qualifying. Campbell carded 80,75 and 79.
Of the returning vets, only Arduini and Fahlman didn’t play the qualifying tournament. They were working. “But they played enough with me during the summer that I knew they were improving in their game and were going to make the squad,” added Bilton Junior.
“I like the chemistry of the team as many of the guys have played together the last few years and we are all pretty close,” he added. “ Confidence is running pretty high now and I think the matches coming up with UFV will help with the early season jitters at the same time as get the competitive juices flowing again.”
Geoff Fahlman
The WolfPack are hosting UFV next week (Sept 2-3) at the Dunes in what is being called the first annual “Coquihalla Cup”. “ The format will be like the Ryder Cup, “ Bilton explains. “ We’ll play four ball matches on Thursday, alternate shots in the morning round on Friday followed by individual matches on Friday. Eight players will be on each team. Since its match play, we’ll play for points-1/2 for a tied match and a full point for a win. 8 ½ points needed to win the cup.”
Bilton says his team has a bond and a rivalry with UFV. “ We really get along with UFV and coach Chris Bertram. I thought this would be a nice event to have since we are just down the road from them.
It’ll be golf but also socializing and a skills competition as well.”
Round one will go 11 am on Thursday, September 2nd. On Friday, September 3 rd: the morning round goes at 730 am with the afternoon round set for 12:30 pm
Coach Bill Bilton Junior
The WolfPack have something special at stake this 2010 season as they host the CCAA Nationals in October. “ If having the National Championships in your backyard doesn’t get you excited, I don’t know what would?” Bilton says. “ The guys are really pumped to be playing on their home turf for the CCAA Nationals and we are equally excited to be hosting.”
Bilton adds that there will be no charge for the public to attend the championships in October.
WSOC LOSE CLOSE ONE TO UFV IN EXHIBITION PLAY August 29, 2010
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There is a saying that you only get better by playing higher competition. If that is the case, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s soccer team certainly achieved that this weekend. The WolfPack closed out their three game exhibition tournament at Hillside Stadium on Sunday (Aug 29) with a 1-0 loss to the University of Fraser Valley Cascades. The Cascades were one of two CIS squads involved in the tourney.
“They knocked the ball around well,” said WolfPack head coach Tom McManus about the Cascades. “ I have to give my girls credit though, even in the first half we went into with a game plan and kind of hung onto it. Our girls showed so much character compared to what they did yesterday against Saskatchewan (a 6-1 loss to the CIS Huskies). Fraser Valley finished even higher than Saskatchewan in the Canada West last year and I thought we played better against them. I think the girls came out with a strong effort wanting to show me they want to wear the WolfPack shirt this year.”
Courtney Dennill
The Cascades had the majority of the scoring chances in the first half and had the majority of the scoring chances. TRU’s best came in the 33rd minute when rookie outside left mid Courtney Dennill (1st year, Kamloops, BC) struck the ball from just inside the 18 yard box. It just missed the mark.
In the second half, the play was more even. Fraser Valley got their goal in the 78 th minute. After a corner kick put the ball into the front of the goal, The Cascades took a couple of shots that WolfPack keeper Shannon Meyer (5th year, Kamloops, BC) got a piece of before it went in.
McManus felt despite going 1 and 2 on the weekend, he saw some positives from his charges. “ I saw some things in some players that will help or not help me in making my decisions on who will stay. I was pleased with the efforts of a few of the players that came in. I think overall, we achieved the goal of playing against higher competition while being evaluated for the final roster.”
He added that the WolfPack learned a lesson about speed. “ I have told the girls for two years now that CIS play is just a little bit faster than college. This weekend they learned that.”
The difference in the match at times was the play in the midfield. “That was the difference between CIS and college. It’s not the speed of the girls it’s the ability to move the ball quicker,” said McManus. “ As the ball is coming in, you are actually moving to it before it arrives. You are already pressuring. That is what you have to do at the CIS level. I believe our girls can do it—its just a matter of time.”
Abbey McAuley
McManus credited the return of captain Abbey McAuley (3rd year, Langley, BC) and Ashley Piggot (3rd year, Prince George,BC) in playing a lead role in his teams ability to stick with Fraser Valley. He also thought Dennill performed well as an outside left mid. “ In my opinion, she raised her play with her outstanding play.” He also singled out veterans Kelsey Callander (3rd year, Williams Lake, BC) and Chloe McAuley (3rd year, Langley, BC) for strong play on the right outside mid.
Chloe McAuley
The WolfPack have one more pre-season match. It comes up this Thursday (Sept 2) when they visit the NCAA Simon Fraser Clan. TRU opens their 2010 BC College Athletic Association season September 11 th in North Vancouver against Capilano University College.
Their first home match is September 18 th at 11 am against Vancouver Island University.
CORNER KICKS: McManus made an unusual move late in the match inserting Cassandra Evans (3rd year, Swift Current, Sask) into the forward role. She is usually a midfield/defender. “ I wanted to get a couple of fresh legs out there up front.” He said. “ I know Cassandra likes to swing and shoot. I thought if we got into that position that something good might happen. I don’t think we would see that in the regular season because most of the players we have to play forward are injured.”
The WolfPack carried 23 players into the weekend. McManus plans to make three cuts before Thursday. The team has Monday August 30 th off.
WSOC FALLS VICTIM TO SASKATCHEWAN IN FRIENDLY August 28, 2010
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It was a good thing it was only preseason. Because if it wasn’t, then Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s soccer coach Tom McManus would have been more upset. His WolfPack didn’t come up with one of their finer efforts as they fell 6-1 to the visiting University of Saskatchewan Huskies at a pre-season tournament being held at Hillside Stadium.
“We were simply outplayed,” said McManus about the match. “ Saskatchewan was very good in the midfield. And with us having Abbey McAuley (3rd year, middle, Langley, BC) out of the line up put us at a big disadvantage.”
McAuley, the TRU captain this season, is a force in the midfield.
The Huskies were helped onto victory as TRU gave up an ‘own’ goal off a corner kick in the first half. “ The girls continued to play but they couldn’t rebound from that setback,” McManus explained.
TRU got their only goal in the first half when Val Godard (5th year, forward, Kamloops, BC) scored.
Val Godard
The WolfPack are now 1 and 1 in the tournament. Saskatchewan is 1 and 0. The Huskies meet fellow the Mount Royal Cougars of the Alberta College Athletic Conference Sunday (Aug 29) at 9 am. TRU will close things out against the University of Fraser Valley Cascades of the Canada West Sunday at noon.
UFV beat Mount Royal 3-0 in the other match on Saturday. Mount Royal is standing at 0 and 2.
Both matches are going at Hillside Stadium.
WOLFPACK MENS SOCCER DOWNS WESTSIDE RINO IN ‘FRIENDLY’ August 28, 2010
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The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s soccer team has evened it 2010 pre-season record. The WolfPack went into Vancouver and beat the Westside Rino of the Premier Division 2-1 on Friday night (Aug 27).
”This was a good test for us,” said TRU coach Sean Wallace. ” They were a skilled team which gave us a good battle.”
The WolfPack opened the scoring in the 15th minute. A combination play involving defender Adam Dodgson (Kamloops, BC), midfielder Peter Loncar (Kamloops, BC) and rookie Justin Wallace (Kamloops, BC) resulted in Darcy Geldart (Kamloops, BC) getting the goal. Geldart was a red shirt last year.
Darcy Geldart
After the Rino tied the game before the end of the first half, the WolfPack got the winner in the second half. Wallace got the ball in the top of the 18 yard box and went low right hand corner for the winner.
“The coaching staff is very pleased with the progression we are seeing from the players,” says Coach Wallace. ” It will be very difficult to make cuts this year: more difficult than in years past.”
Coach Wallace walking back after demonstrating in practice
The WolfPack have two more exhibition matches next week: including one against CIS University of the Fraser Valley.
They open their 2010 BC College Athletic Association season September 11 th in North Vancouver, BC against the Capilano University College Blues. The WolfPack’s home opener is September 18 th at Hillside Stadium against Vancouver Island University.
WSOC OPEN UP PRE SEASON TOURNEY WITH VICTORY August 27, 2010
Posted by lread in Women's Soccer.add a comment
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s soccer team is off and running at their own pre-season tournament. The WolfPack downed the Alberta College Athletic Conference Mount Royal Cougars of Calgary in a ‘friendly’ at Hillside Stadium. The score Friday (Aug 27) was 1-0 for TRU.
It was the first chance for WolfPack head coach Tom McManus to see his squad in action. “I thought they did very well,” he said. “ I thought they knocked the ball around nicely into feet. They panicked a few times but overall they made very good decisions. Everyone I put on today did a good job.”
Abbey McAuley hopes for throw in
The WolfPack put on a very veteran squad in the first half. Kelsey Callander (Williams Lake, BC), Ashley Piggot (Prince George, BC), Abbey McAuley and her sister Chloe (Langley,BC) formed the midfield and were very dominant.
“ They really stepped it up,” said McManus. “They are the engine room. If you don’t have the center midfield working then you’ll lose the ball out right away. Even out wide-Kelsey and Chloe were out wide and got great shape. All we have to do is continue to push the ball outside and we’ll do well.”
After a scoreless first half, the WolfPack scored in the 55 th minute. Off a corner kick, first year prospect Courtney Dennill (Kamloops, BC) got the ball and hammered it home. She was one of many newcomers who earned praise from McManus.
Sarah Gomes
“I thought Sarah Gomes (Prince George, BC) was excellent,” he said pointing out she played the entire match at defender. “ I thought Hannah Ambler (Kamloops, BC) when she went on at forward and then at wide left did great at both positions. That was excellent. Emily Bailey (Campbell River, BC) was strong as well.”
McManus has been stressing more offense in his training camp. The WolfPack got a lot of shots on the Mount Royal keeper. “ We had some good offense. I thought we broke down in the attacking third and to be honest, some of our passing wasn’t what it should be. We were pushing towards the corner flag instead of some of the diagonals and push inside. Overall, the girls did a great job in the first half. Val (Godard, Kamloops, BC) and Heather (Lloyd, Kamloops, BC) made some great runs and continually put themselves into open space. “
Val Godard and Heather Lloyd
The four team tourney continues Saturday (Aug 28) with TRU back on the pitch at noon against the University of Saskatchewan. Mount Royal will face University of Fraser Valley Cacades at 3 pm. The event winds up with matches Sunday (Aug 29) at 9 am (Mount Royal vs Saskatchewan) and noon (TRU vs Fraser Valley). All matches are being played at Hillside Stadium.