T-wolves advance, face UBC on Sunday

Last year, just getting into the U Sports Canada West women’s soccer playoffs was a monumental event for the UNBC Timberwolves’ history book.

Friday night in Vancouver the T-wolves wrote another chapter.

The beat the Manitoba Bisons 2-1 on penalty kicks to advance to the Canada West quarterfinal round and will play the UBC Thunderbirds Sunday at noon at Thunderbird Stadium.

Paige Payne, Madison Emmond and rookie Sarah Zuccaro each scored in the shootout and T-wolves goalie Brooke Molby did the rest, making saves off Bison shooters Machaela Burdeny and Michaila Pilcher to trigger the T-wolves’ celebration.

In regulation time, UNBC defender Mara McCleary got her foot on a corner kick from Payne and booted the ball in behind goalie Madison Wilford for a 1-0 lead, 69:10 into the game. The Bisons tied it six minutes later on an unassisted effort from Hailey Lavarias, which sent the game into overtime.

“Manitoba is very competitive and they have some special players on their team but I thought we dealt with them very well,” said Timberwolves head coach Neil Sedgwick.

“The girls stuck to our gameplan and they really executed, especially going into the second half, there was some really good stuff and they scored the go-ahead goal. Unfortunately we conceded six minutes after that.

“Both teams had chances but I’d say we had the better chances in the game. They definitely created some good looks at the goal.”

Each team managed one shot in two 15-minute OT sessions but neither could score. The T-wolves outshot Manitoba 5-3.

“The penalty shootout was the first for the program and the girls did exceptionally well,” said Sedgwick. “We haven’t practiced it at all. Our goalkeepers did a bit of work on penalty shots in their goalkeeper session and Brooke did well and made some saves.

“The message going it was, as soccer players we don’t get into those situations very often, so don’t be nervous about it. Embrace it and enjoy it and they did a great job. The last one (from Pilcher) was going in just underneath the crossbar and Brooke was able to tip it over the top and that was the one that clinched it.”