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.
WSOC OPEN UP PRE SEASON TOURNEY WITH VICTORY August 27, 2010
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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.
WOLFPACK WSOC PREPARE TO HOST EXHIBITION TOURNAMENT August 26, 2010
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It’s the weekend that the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s soccer team and head coach Tom McManus have been waiting for. After practicing amongst themselves for nearly two weeks, the WolfPack finally get some game action. TRU will be hosting a four team exhibition tournament starting Friday (Aug 27) at Hillside Stadium. The other schools involved are the University of Saskatchewan Huskies (CIS), University of Fraser Valley Cascades (CIS) and the Mount Royal Cougars (CCAA).
“It’ll be great to see them (the ‘Pack players) against a team that is also looking to trim their roster,” says McManus about the matches this weekend. “At least that is what I believe is happening with the other teams.”
Coach McManus speaks to players
The WolfPack have 23 players on their roster with three more to release before the start of their BC College Athletic Association regular season on September 11 th. TRU will open up against the Mount Royal Cougars on Friday night. Kick off time is 6 pm. The WolfPack will then play the University of Saskatchewan on Saturday (Aug 28) at noon before finishing off against the University of the Fraser Valley on Sunday (Aug 29) also at noon.
McManus says he’s seen a big improvement in his side’s development over the last two weeks. “ Some players have become more comfortable and are now fitting in great. I have been very happy with the recruits and also our vets who have come in and are being leaders.”
As for what they’ve been working on in preparation for the weekend ‘friendlies”: “ We are just trying to get to a point in our style of play,” says McManus. “ We are getting to know each other and how we work on the field. A lot will come down to chemistry and that is what we’ve been working on this past week.”
McManus adds that it’ll be a gruelling weekend for his charges. “ Three games in three days is a tough haul for any team. But we are at a point in our training camp that it’s now time to see where we stand against CIS squads and a top Alberta college team.”
The WolfPack will utilize all of their players this weekend. “I am a competitive person but we are still in training camp,” McManus adds. “ I want to see where we stand but in order for me to do that, I have to see everyone on the pitch. That way, it’ll help me to put the players in the proper order from one to 20.”
Win, lose or draw, the TRU head coach is looking forward to the weekend. “ I can’t wait to see the players in a truly competitive game. It’ll be great. I’ll be taking lots of notes and looking to come away from the weekend with ideas as to what we need to work on.”
THROW INS: The Huskies were 5-8-1 in Canada West play in 2009. Fraser Valley was 5-5-4. Alberta won the silver medal in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference in2009. Other matches in the tourney have Mount Royal playing Fraser Valley Saturday at 3 pm. Saskatchewan meets Mount Royal Sunday at 9 am.
VETERANS LOOKING FOR SUCCESSFUL SEASON (GODARD/MCAULEY) August 25, 2010
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The start of the 2010 BC College Athletic Association is just a couple of weeks away, but at least two members of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s soccer team are looking forward to getting down to business. 5th year forward Val Godard (Kamloops, BC) and 3rd year midfielder Abbey McAuley (Langley, BC) will be counted on heavily to provide leadership on what could very well be a young WolfPack team.
Val Godard
“I definitely want go out with a bang,” says Godard about her final season of college soccer. “ I have to work hard. I’ve set the goal of scoring a lot more goals. I don’t think we as a team shoot enough.”
Abbey McAuley gets ball in 2009 action (D. Deruiter)
Godard enters her final season standing in 10 th spot in the all time TRU scoring parade with 14 goals. She missed most of 2009 recovering from a knee injury, yet she did score the winning goal in the WolfPack’s bronze medal win at the BCCAA Playoffs.
Abbey McAuley
McAuley has gone literally from the stands to a starting role in her three years with TRU. After making the team in 2007, she wound up being ‘red shirted’ in 2008—the year the ‘Pack hosted the Canadian College Athletic Association Championships and wound up second. Last season, she wound up being one of head coach Tom McManus’ co-captains and a finalist for the TRU Sports Task Force Female Athlete of the Year.
With training camp now into its second week, Godard is impressed with what she sees. “We have a lot of potential here. The quicker that we can jell and learn the systems, the better we will be once the season starts.”
McAuley agrees that the talent of TRU’s younger players is impressive. “Everyone who has come out has given it their all. It’s giving the vets some real competition. No matter if you are a rookie or an experienced player, you will have to give it maximum effort every time you are out there.”
Val Godard kicks ball in2008 action
Godard doesn’t think that with only two fifth year and two fourth year players, there is any added pressure on her shoulders to lead by example on the pitch. “I don’t think so, I don’t put too much pressure on myself.”
McAuley knows she’ll have a lot of attention put on her. With fellow inside midfielder Bronwyn Crawford (Kamloops, BC) sidelined for the season with an injury, she will be asked to be the steady influence in a key part of the field. “For sure it’ll be hard to fill in her shoes, I am looking to see what we come up with this year to make up for her loss,”she says. “I know I’ll have to be at the top of my game every time I step out on the pitch.”
Both players have earned the respect of their coach who will be counting on both to help the WolfPack to not only a BCCAA title, but a shot at National glory as well.
“Two excellent vets and great leaders on and off the pitch,” says McManus. “ Abbey is our captain once again this year and leads the team both on and off the field. She will once again play in central midfield and be the play maker. She scored a few great game winning goals for us last year and I am hoping she will be able to do the same thing this coming season. During training camp she has stepped it up and has all of the players working. She is well respected within the team. I am looking forward to her having another great season.”
As for his assessment of Godard: “Val has had a couple of tough years with breaking her leg last year about 4 weeks before the season started last year. She sat out the majority of the season but encouraged the players and was another positive leader. Val has a great burst of speed and is a very determined when in front of the goal. She leads by the way she plays and inspires not only our rookies but also the rest of the team to work harder.It is great to have these two players with the team and I am looking forward to watching them play and coaching them once again.”
The WolfPack open up their 2010 BCCAA season on the road September 11 th in North Vancouver against the Capilano University College Blues. Their home opener is September 18 th at Hillside Stadium against Vancouver Island University.”