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Big finish

Timberwolves aiming to end regular season with pair of home victories
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UNBC Timberwolves midfielder Paige Payne gets set to hammer a shot on goal against the University of Victoria Vikes during a Sept. 30 game at Masich Place Stadium. The T-wolves host the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack tonight and the UBC Okanagan Heat on Sunday to end their Canada West regular schedule. – Citizen file photo

They've won just one of their 12 games all season.

But it's not too late for the UNBC Timberwolves women's soccer team.

If the stars align perfectly this weekend, they can still earn themselves an invitation to the Canada West postseason party.

First things first, the T-wolves must find a way to beat the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack tonight at Masich Place Stadium (6 p.m. start). Not only that, but the MacEwan Griffins will have to do the T-wolves a favour by beating the UBC Okanagan Heat tonight in Edmonton.

Only then will Sunday's final regular-season game (noon start) against UBC Okanagan be one that will impact UNBC's bottom line.

UNBC currently ranks eighth in the Pacific Division standings with a 1-8-3 record. The Heat (3-7-2) now occupy the sixth and final playoff spot, followed by the seventh-place WolfPack (3-8-1).

Assuming the T-wolves win tonight and the Heat loses to MacEwan, that would keep the T-wolves' playoff hopes alive. They would need a win Sunday and then have to count on MacEwan defeating the WolfPack Sunday afternoon in Edmonton for UNBC to advance to its second-straight playoff berth.

"I think we just need to stick to our DNA and just play how we can," said T-wolves midfielder Hannah Emmond. "We need to come out confident, because we can win this weekend. It's a big weekend for us to pull some points."

In their only other meeting this season the T-wolves lost 3-1 to the WolfPack, Sept. 14 in Kamloops.

"TRU is a big, aggressive team," said Emmond. "They send long balls in behind defenders, so we have to make sure we are on that and getting first to the ball. They are going to come out wanting points as well, so these games are big."

On that same trip in September, UNBC went to Kelowna and tied with UBC Okanagan 2-2.

"UBCO plays like us... they like to possess the ball, and play out through the back before breaking through the midfield," said Emmond. "I think that is why we ended up tying them last time, because we play the same."

The T-wolves are one of the youngest teams in Canada West and have just two fifth-year players on the roster - defender Kylie Erb of Summerland and midfielder Madison Emmond of Prince George, Hannah's older sister. Madison is the all-time leader for UNBC in career games played with 65, tied with Tianna Pius.

"We all play for each other, and we want them to have more than two games," said Hannah. "So we are hoping to make playoffs. It has been a great honour to have them on our team, so it is sad to see them go."

The UNBC men can wrap up their second consecutive playoff berth this weekend in Abbotsford. The T-wolves (5-3-5, third in Pacific) play the Fraser Valley Cascades (6-6-1, fourth in Pacific) tonight and Saturday night to wrap up the regular season.