David versus Goliath?
Any time the UNBC Timberwolves take on the UBC Thunderbirds in a game of soccer the potential is there for a mismatch of biblical proportions.
That's unavoidable when a school with a long and successful soccer history and a student population of 61,000 (UBC) takes on a small university like UNBC with just 4,000 students that is fielding a team in only its eighth year in the league.
It shouldn't even be close, but sometimes it is.
Take last year, for instance. A year ago Saturday, the T-wolves men's team met the Thunderbirds on their home turf in Vancouver and ended up playing them to a 1-1 draw. UNBC lost 7-0 to UBC the following day but for the T-wolves coming home with a tie was a major victory.
Tonight at Masich Place Stadium (6 p.m. start), the T-wolves (4-4-1, seventh in Pacific Division) will try to replicate last year's success against the T-birds (5-1-1, first in Pacific), always a threat to win the U Sports Canada West title.
“UBC is always extremely strong, but we know they have lost a number of key players from last year," said T-wolves forward Stu Rowlands, who leads his team with four goals in nine games this season . "This gives us a big opportunity to take some points from them. We must come in confident, and ready to compete.”
UNBC gained a split last weekend in Edmonton, losing 3-2 to Alberta when they allowed two goals in the final two minutes, then shutting out Grant MacEwan 1-0.
“Currently we are happy with our results, but there is always room for improvement," said Rowlands, in a team release. "Looking at the standings now, we must at least have a 0.5 ratio or better if we are going to have a fighting chance. We must perform in order to make playoffs. It will come down to the last few games.”
The T-birds have scored 15 goals in their seven games but have allowed seven over that stretch. In their nine games the T-wolves have scored 13 times and have given up 13.
After tonight the T-wolves will have just five games left, including a rematch with UBC Sunday at noon at Masich, followed by two games next weekend at Trinity Western and a two-game home series Oct. 19-20 against Thompson Rivers University.
The UNBC women (3-1-2) are on the road Saturday afternoon in Kelowna to face the UBC-Okanagan Heat (0-6) and will be in Kamloops Sunday afternoon to play the Thompson Rivers WolfPack. TRU (1-4-1) is at home to Calgary today.
