Alan Alderson didn't like the start, but he'll take the finish.
Alderson, head coach of the UNBC men's soccer team, watched the club lose its first three games and win its final three at the Mr. Quick BCISL Competitive Indoor Soccer Tournament. In the final, the Timberwolves defeated Smithers 3-0.
The tournament concluded Sunday at the Northern Sport Centre fieldhouse.
"On Day 1, basically every player on my team played about the worst they could, on Day 2 everybody showed up and played good soccer," Alderson said. "We came out hungry and ready and wanted to rebound after a very poor first day."
On Saturday, the Timberwolves began the event with a 4-1 loss to Smithers and then dropped games to Team BC (4-2) and Wii Still Not Fit (4-0) before they ran to a 4-0 victory against Quesnel. Team BC was a Prince George all-star squad and Wii Still Not Fit was a UNBC alumni team.
In a Sunday semifinal, the T-wolves edged Wii Still Not Fit 1-0 and that result put them into the championship game against Smithers. With the title on the line, Connor Noftle, Tofa Fakunle and Tyson Hunter scored the UNBC goals.
"Smithers had good, talented players," Alderson said. "That was a really solid win. It's good for a young team to learn to win. Any time you can win a trophy -- it doesn't matter who the opponents are or whatever -- it's a really good part of building your program so we're really excited about that."
In the women's division, Subway FC defeated Queen Bees 2-1 in Sunday's final. Sydney Wilson and Sydney Hall struck for the Subway FC goals, while Sidney Roy scored for Queen Bees. All three players are members of the UNBC women's soccer program.
-- PETERS, Citizen staff
