Sidney Roy made a bold prediction for the UNBC Timberwolves women's soccer team.
"We're going to score more goals this year," said Roy.
The second-year member of the T-wolves notched the team's first goal of the Canada West season Saturday in Victoria, a 4-1 loss to the CIS third-ranked Vikes. In their inaugural season in the CIS the T-wolves took until game five to score their first goal. They've improved upon that statistic by three games. Last season the T-wolves were out scored 71-6.
Even better for Roy and for T-wolves head coach Andy Cameron is the fact the team drastically reduced its goals against. Last year against Victoria the T-wolves lost 10-0. Against the Fraser Valley Cascades, whom UNBC dropped a 2-0 decision to Friday night, the T-wolves fell 7-0 in 2012.
"We have an improved product on the field over last year," said Cameron. "The girls worked harder over the summer to come in fitter this year and there's a newfound maturity on the team in that they know what to expect with the CIS game."
The Vikes opened the scoring but the T-wolves tied the game at 1-1 in the seventh minute when Roy used her speed to break past the defenders and find the back of the net. T-wolves' defender Tanya Grob put in some solid defensive work as the Vikes went on the attack for the next 20 minutes in an attempt to regain their lead. The Vikes were finally able to beat T-wolves keeper Jordan Hall in the 33rd minute to take a 2-1 lead on a goal from midfielder Jaclyn Sawicki. Before the break, Vikes midfielder Jackie Harrison scored her second of the game to give the home side a 3-1 advantage. The Vikes added a late goal by Maryse Reichgeld in the final minute to complete the scoring.
The T-wolves (0-2) returned to Prince George after the game and will host the Alberta Pandas in their home opener Friday, 7 p.m. at the North Cariboo men's fields, before facing the Mount Royal Cougars on Sunday at noon.
