Friday night in Prince George at a rainy Masich Place Stadium, the UNBC Timberwolves Women’s soccer program dropped their home opener by a slim 2-1 margin to the visiting TRU WolfPack.
First-year midfielder Sophia Branby paced the WolfPack attack with a goal and an assist while Berea Woldeyes notched the match-winning goal in the 77th minute.
The Green and Gold got their offense from third-year forward Kate Rattee who scored a remarkable goal off a header in the 12th minute. TWolves goalkeeper Lauren Gubbels finished the night with seven saves.
On a night where women and girls of all ages were celebrated for their place and their dominance in sport, the home side grabbed early momentum in the 12th minute and it was a first-year local who initiated it.
Alysa Leclerc, making her first career start in Canada West won a race down the right side of the pitch. As she drew closer to the out-of-bounds line, she placed a perfect centering pass into the penalty area, where forward Kate Rattee was waiting.
Rattee timed the jump perfectly and connected on a header that went sailing past Cassandra De Amaral and in for her first career Canada West goal. Rattee would eventually be named the Mr. Mike’s Player of the Game for the TWolves.
With the 1-0 advantage, Neil Sedgwick’s club stayed composed and did a good job in front of rookie goalkeeper Lauren Gubbels keeping some of the dangerous TRU veterans to the outside.
Gubbels would finish the match with seven saves, making another early season positive statement between the pipes for the Green and Gold as she takes over for the injured Brityn Hinsche.
The shots at half were 4-2 for TRU, but the UNBC Timberwolves held the 1-0 edge through 45.
Needing a spark, the TRU WolfPack made four half-time substitutions and one of them paid immediate dividends. In the 53rd minute, the WolfPack swarmed the penalty area. The TWolves tried twice to clear it, but the WolfPack stayed persistent and eventually Ainsley Grether tipped the ball left to the recently subbed-in Sophia Branby who snuck it inside the right post to tie the score. For Branby it marked her first of the season.
The TWolves nearly clawed their way back ahead after a misplay in front of the TRU goal. Sidney Elliott won the race to a 50/50 ball against the TRU goalkeeper De Amaral, spun and fired, but unfortunately her attempt sailed ‘just’ over the crossbar.
With 12 minutes left and the score still tied, the WolfPack took their first lead of the night when second-year forward Berea Woldeyes took a pass about 20 feet from center on the TWolves side of the pitch and wired a high sailing shot that went perfectly over Lauren Gubbels and in. For Woldeyes – Her first of the season, and for the visitors a 2-1 lead that they ultimately would not relinquish.
TRU outshot UNBC 9-2 (shots on target) and finished with an 8-2 advantage in corner kick opportunities.
Up next for UNBC – A noon clash with the UBC Okanagan Heat on Sunday at Masich Place Stadium.
