With four games left in the season, the UNBC Timberwolves men's soccer team have a decent shot at earning its first win in Canada West.
The T-wolves (0-10) wrap up the home portion of their inaugural season of CIS soccer at the North Cariboo Senior Soccer field with a pair of games versus the Fraser Valley Cascades (1-3-4), Saturday and Sunday at noon. Next weekend UNBC hits the road against the Calgary-based Mount Royal Cougars (2-7-1) before heading to Winnipeg to play the Wesmen (0-7-3).
T-wolves head coach Alan Alderson said its the final opportunity for the T-wolves to reach the goal he set at the start of the season.
"I told the boys that it would be nice to get a home win and an away win in this first season," said Alderson. "That's what we're gunning for."
The Cascades sit just one place ahead of the T-wolves in the Pacific division, so if the home side plays a strong game they could squeak out a win.
"Like everyone in this league they have more talent and experience then we do," said Alderson. "We would love to win but we know at the end of the day that the only part we control is showing up and being the very best that we can."
The T-wolves started last Friday's game in Vancouver against the top-rated UBC Thunderbirds (8-0) well, but wound up on the wrong end of a 6-0 score. It was the first game for the T-wolves since losing their top player, Sourash Amani, to a broken lower leg.
"The first 24 minutes of the Friday night game were fantastic," said Alderson, adding UBC scored a pair of quick goals and the T-wolves were unable to recover.
On Saturday, the T-wolves fell 5-1 in the second game against the T-birds, who have scored 34 goals while giving up only four this season.
"I'm incredibly proud of the effort our guys put forward and that's all you can ask for as a coach - to be learning which we're doing; getting better which we're doing and to battle hard which we're doing," said Alderson.
Tyson Hunter scored his first CIS goal, stepping up in Amani's absence, but the T-birds held a 4-1 lead at the half.
In the second half Alderson gave everyone an opportunity to play, including Chandan Sangha and Alan Zhao who saw their first game action.
"It was a fun opportunity for the boys to go up against an incredibly talented team," said Alderson.
