One goal for the UNBC Timberwolves this season is simple - they'd like to earn their first win since 2009.
The UNBC women's soccer team beat its B.C. Colleges Athletic Association rivals, UBC Okanagan Heat, 1-0 during the weekend of Oct. 10, 2009, but has posted a 0-34-4 record (not including exhibition games) since in both the college league and the Canada West conference of the CIS, which it joined last season.
The last time the T-wolves won a game, Tiger Woods was a married man, the Oprah Winfrey Show was still on TV and the world was hunting Osama Bin Laden.
And third-year T-wolves player Sydney Hall was still in high school.
"I haven't played on the team when we had a win," said Hall. "It's definitely hard playing when you don't get the results that you know the players really hope for and deserve, but it all comes with time and we'll get there, hopefully this year is our year."
The T-wolves opened their sophomore Canada West season last weekend on the road with losses to the Fraser Valley Cascades (2-0) and to the third-ranked team in the CIS, the Victoria Vikes (4-1). UNBC makes its home debut this Friday at the North Cariboo men's soccer fields against the Alberta Pandas (7 p.m.) before hosting the Mount Royal Cougars on Sunday at noon.
In 2012 the T-wolves were outscored 71-6 through 12 games, but they're counting on having a stronger offensive output this season led by a trio of Sydneys - Hall, Sidney Roy and Sydney Wilson. Hall was switched from defence to forward this season in an attempt to strengthen the offence.
Already, Hall said the T-wolves are gelling at a quicker pace then they did in their rookie Canada West season.
"Last year was an eye-opener because the CIS is such a different league," said Hall. "This year our team has come together a lot quicker and there are so many more girls so we're able to adapt. I feel that everyone is really excited about the new season and think we'll get some good results this year."
Newcomers include Jessica Erikson, Tianna Pius and Fiona Raymond, members of the Prince George Youth Soccer Association Kodiaks' program.
Second-year T-wolves head coach Andy Cameron said the team will be improved from last year's version, but added they're young - mainly first- and second-years, so he's trying to set realistic expectations.
"We've got 23 players on the roster, which adds depth and we've got a lot of good first-year players," said Cameron. "I think we're on target for the second year of a CIS program. We're looking to obviously get some wins this year, but... it's about getting better each and every day."
