The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack and University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat’s rivalry added another chapter in Kamloops on Saturday, when they played to a 1-1 draw.
A Salmon Arm player scored the equalizer, which put the TRU record at 1-1-2. The Heat record is at 2-1-1.
“It was a tale of two halves,” said WolfPack head coach Tom McManus. “We played fairly well in the first half and took it to them. I thought they came on strong in the second half and we started to tire out.”
The WolfPack had a number of chances in the first half but it was UBCO who got on the scoreboard first.
Midfielder Emily Braun from Calgary fired a rocket from the middle of the 18-yard box that WolfPack keeper Emily Edmunson from Kamloops had little chance on. TRU came right back a minute later. Blair MacKay, also from Kamloops, had a brilliant chance but fired it over top of the net.
The Pack did get the equalizer at the 34th minute. Salmon Arm’s Amanda Barrett wound up with the ball off a UBCO turnover and used her speed and skill to launch a laser that fooled Heat keeper Sabrina Gasparac from Langley.
“It was great to see her score,” McManus said of Barrett. “I recruited her last year because of her speed and scoring ability. During the second half of the season she wasn’t getting the chances. I pulled her aside and said ‘Why did I recruit you?’ She answered: for my speed. I said what else? And she said, her scoring touch. So start to do it. I told her the same thing today and it paid off.”
Both squads are at home next weekend.