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T-wolves start soccer season tonight at Masich Place Stadium

Trinity Western Spartans visiting UNBC in two-game Canada West men's soccer series
UNBC indigenous artist jerseys cropped
The UNBC Timberwolves introduced their Indigenous-themed jerseys last year. The T-wolves men's soccer team starts its season tonight at Masich Place Stadium.

If you have a soccer jersey, wear it to Masich Place Stadium this evening.

It’s your ticket to watch some of the top male soccer players in Canada square off in the season-opening U SPORTS Canada West game between the host UNBC Timberwolves and Trinity Western Spartans of Langley.

Fans are encouraged to take advantage of UNBC’s inaugural Soccerfest promotion to take part in games and be eligible to win prizes, food and drinks at tonight’s game (6 p.m. start).

Ranked fourth out of 13 teams in the Canada West preseason coaches’ poll the Spartans are coming off a fifth-place (3-36) finish last season, going up against a T-wolves team that placed sixth (2-5-5) in the West Divisions and also missed the playoff cut.

The same teams meet again Sunday at noon on Nats’ilnik Day. On that day, the T-wolves will be sporting jerseys based on an Indigenous theme designed by Gitxsan artist Trevor Angus.

Canada West men’s soccer preview

(by Rich Abney/UNBC Athletics)
 

Trinity Western at UNBC

At Masich Place Stadium
Friday, 6 p.m.
Sunday, noon

UNBC Timberwolves  (2021 record - 2-5-5)
6th in West Division
16 goals for
19 goals against
(Returning) Goals leader: Michael Henman: 3 goals
(Returning) Assists leader: Kensho Ando: 6 assists
(Returning) Points leader: Kensho Ando: 7 points
(Returning) Saves leader: Daniel Zadravec: 61 saves

TWU Spartans (2021 record - 3-3-6)
5th in West Division
17 goals for
17 goals against
(Returning) Goals leader: Christian Rossi: 5 Goals
(Returning) Assists leader: Tristan Torresan : 4 Assists
(Returning) Points leader: Christian Rossi: 6 Points
(Returning) Saves leader: Sebastian Colyn: 44 Saves

Quotes:
UNBC’s Mitch Linley

On the start to the season…
“We’re looking forward to this home opening weekend against Trinity. Usually, we are on their huge grass field, but now we get to have it at home at Masich. We get to show them how we play. They’re a strong team. I am excited to see how they come out. We
have to show them what’s up.”

On the Spartans…
“They are a really good unit together. Attacking and defending, they’re really well balanced. They like to have the ball on the ground, and they’re not direct, over-the-top runners. They play a nice game of football. With our new approach this year, we have to be looking out for that and make sure they don’t play through us and get behind to score goals.”

On anticipating the season opener…
“We want to keep calm and keep the confidence going. We want things we worked on to run smoothly. When everyone is excited, the ball is spraying all over the place, and tackles turn into fouls. We want to go step by step. Just another opponent, and just play our game.”

On playing at Masich Place…
“Having home advantage the first two weekends of the season is good for us. We are used to Masich, we have our home fans behind us, and hopefully we can have a good start and get the ball rolling for the season.”

T-wolves milestone watch

Anthony Preston needs three goals to reach 10 for his career
Cody Gysbers needs three goals to reach 10 for his career
Anthony Preston needs one point to reach 10 for his career
Cody Gysbers needs one point to reach 10 for his career
Michael Henman needs one point to reach 10 for his career
Kensho Ando needs one point to reach 10 for his career
Kensho Ando needs two assists to reach 10 for his career
Daniel Zadravec needs 16 saves to reach 100 for his career
Anthony Preston needs three games played to reach 40 for his career
Michael Henman needs six games played to reach 40 for his career
Kensho Ando needs three games played to reach 30 for his career
Daniel Zadravec needs four games played to reach 20 for his career