Introduction

From November 10-13, the TRU WolfPack Men’s Soccer team took part in the Usports Men’s soccer national championship. The prestigious tournament saw the top eight teams in the nation competing for their spot on the podium on the biggest stage in university sport. The TRU WolfPack saw an automatic berth as hosts, and with that came some claims that they didn’t deserve to be there. Well, they definitely proved some people wrong. They won the National Championship. We’ll be looking back on the tournament and pick out the top five moments from this historic weekend.

My point of view will be from that of someone that knows a thing or two about what happened on this incredible weekend. My name’s Jackson Gardner, and I am lucky enough to have been the goalkeeper for the TRU WolfPack men’s soccer team for the last five years. I would say I had a pretty good view of the national tournament. Could this just be an excuse to relive what was the best weekend of my life? Possibly. But in a weekend full of unforgettable moments, I’ll be diving into my favourite ones.

TRU WolfPack holding up championship banner (Andrew Snucins, 2022)

Overview

Game 1 (Quarter-Final): TRU vs MacMaster University

On a chilly Kamloops evening, TRU had their first test. The McMaster University Marauders came to Hillside looking for a semi-final berth. After a 26th minute goal from McMaster forward Miles Green off a free kick, it looked like that was on the cards. However, TRU battled their way back into the game against the OUA division champions and after dominating play for the rest of the half, Jan Pirretas drew the Wolfpack level. Tied 1-1 at the half, the game was set up for an exciting spectacle to finish off the game. However, after controlling play for 90 minutes, an outstanding 14 save display from McMaster goalkeeper Ethan Cagalj kept the Wolfpack at bay. This meant we headed to extra time. However, it was more of the same for the last 30 minutes, meaning that the national quarter final would be decided on penalties. After three cool rounds of penalties, I managed to get my hand to a McMaster penalty shot and give the ‘pack the advantage. Veteran Patrick Izett stepped up and coolly slotted the penalty into the top corner to give the Wolfpack the win. The crowd erupted and stormed the pitch, as the TRU WolfPack had just defied the odds, and would prove to not be the first time they would do that this weekend. 

Game 2 (Semi-Final): TRU vs Cape Breton University

November 11th saw the Wolfpack take on the AUS champions and #1 ranked team in the nation, the Cape Breton University Capers. After a shaky first few minutes, the Wolfpack found their feet. Against all odds, TRU was dictating play against the best team in the nation in front of a packed Hillside Stadium. The first half ended scoreless, but there were plenty of chances for both sides. Marco Favaro turned the tide in the 51st minute, striking a sweet volley off a corner to give the Wolfpack the lead. Once again, TRU dominated play as they forced 9 saves out of Cabe Breton goalkeeper Daniel Clarke. In the 85th minute, a controversial handball call from the referee gave the Capers a shot to claw back into the game. Cian Lynch converted the penalty shot, and that sent the game to extra time after 90 minutes. In the 92nd minute, Elijah Dos Santos got on the end of a corner kick to give the Wolfpack a 2-1 lead, and a taste of the Sports National Championship Final. However, continuing to battle, the Capers got themselves back into the game. Mad Mohamoud got on the end of a free kick and tapped it in the goal in the 107th minute to tie the game. After 120 minutes, the game was deadlocked. For the second night in a row, penalties would decide TRU’s fate. Up stepped Cian Lynch for the first round of penalties. After sending his shot into the middle left corner, I guessed right and thankfully made the save that got the Wolfpack off to an advantageous start. TRU kept the advantage until the third round, where a skied penalty levelled the shootout. That was until Muad Mohamoud stepped up, and Gardner saved. This gave Patrick Izett the chance to win the game for the second night in a row. Up he stepped, and he scored! A sense of Deja vu, as the fans stormed the pitch to celebrate a national championship final berth for the first time in program history.

Game 3 (Final): TRU vs UBC

After a one day rest, the day for the Usport National Final came. A familiar opponent in UBC was the only thing between the Wolfpack and a national championship. A 2400+ crowd in a Hillside stadium packed shoulder to shoulder made for an incredible atmosphere on the day. After a backs to the walls first half from the Wolfpack, they kept the game at 0-0 going into the break thanks to a gritty and solid defensive performance. The second half was more of the same. In the 70th minute, TRU would face more adversity. Wolfpack legend Marco Favaro was unlucky to see red for a challenge on a UBC player, meaning that the Wolfpack would play the rest of the game down a man. But TRU didn’t crack. For the third straight game, we would head to extra time. Against all odds, TRU would strike first blood. Jost Hausendorf would run up the wing and send a ball into Kamloops born Alesandro Comita, who send Hillside stadium into a riot as he struck the ball into the back of the net. However, UBC would even things up just six minutes from time as his header sailed into the TRU goal. Surely it can’t go to penalties three times in a row? Well, it did. After a few cool penalties on each side, UBC hit the post. This gave Patrick Izett the opportunity for the third game in a row to win the Wolfpack the game and the national championship. He stepped up, and the penalty missed. However, no one lost hope. It was going to be TRU’s day. It had to be TRU’s day. In the seventh round of penalties, I would make the save that gives TRU another chance to win the game and the championship that came with it. Up steps Kamloops born Domenico Comita, brother of extra time goalscoring hero Alesandro Comita. And he scores! The cinderella story is complete and the TRU WolfPack are Usports National Champions. The crowd storms the field as history is made.

With a weekend with so many incredible moments, it’s near impossible to pick a few out of the bunch. I narrowed it down to the top five.

5. Marco Favaro goal versus Cape Breton

In a weekend of clutch moments, this goal seemed to maybe fly a bit under the radar. The sweet volley by Marco Favaro was a turning point in the tournament for TRU, as they showed that their first win against MacMaster wasn’t just a one off and that they truly can compete with the nation’s best.

Favaro contests for a header against McMaster (Andrew Snucins, 2022)

4. Patrick Izett winning penalty against MacMaster 

The moment that kicked off the cinderella story. Ice cold Patrick Izett stepped up and converted the penalty shot to win TRU’s first game at the national championship, and gave a whole team, school and city something to rave about. If only they knew what was to follow over the next few days. Incredible.

Patrick Izett steps up to take the penalty (Andrew Snucins, 2022)

3. Patrick Izett winning penalty against Cape Breton University

Once again, Patrick Izett had the whole town on his shoulders. It takes some guts to step up against the #1 ranked team in the nation and calm your nerves to send your team to the national championship final. That’s exactly what he did. 

2. Alesandro Comita go ahead goal against UBC

What a moment for the Kamloops born Alesandro Comita, who became a hometown hero and immersed himself into Kamloops Sports folklore as he pounced on the end of Jost Hausendorf’s cross and scored undoubtedly the most important non penalty goal in school history.

Alesandro Comita celebrates (Andrew Snucins, 2022)

1. Domenico Comita winning penalty against UBC

The moment that won it all for the Wolfpack. Another Comita with another clutch moment. Domenico Comita was in the stands leading chants for the game against Cape Breton and was only called into action due to a late injury to TRU captain Jan Pirretas. Domenico Comita scored the most important goal in the school’s history, as he put the penalty into the bottom right corner and the packed stands emptied as fans rushed onto the field. He did it. We did it. TRU won the national championship.

Wolfpack celebrate (Andrew Snucins, 2022)