PENALTY KICKS SECURE PLACE FOR TRU WOLFPACK WOMEN IN 2008 CCAA FINAL

For Immediate Release: November 6, 2008

Kamloops,BC--The key to any successful team is to have your veterans come through when you need it most. Such was the case for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Women's soccer team.

5th year players Shannon Kelly (Kamloops, BC), Katie Clark (Kamloops, BC) and Shantelle Cooper (Nanaimo, BC) were all instrumental as the WolfPack went through the Big Kahuna/Adidas Canadian College Athletic Association 2008 Soccer Nationals round robin unbeaten.

It wasn't easy: as the WolfPack needed penalty kicks to down Ontario champion Humber Hawks 3-2.

The Hawks held a 1-0 lead after the first half when forward Connie Tamburello (4th year, Maple, Ontario) beat Kelly in the fourth minute.

Early in the second half, Humber took a 2-0 lead when Tamburello (who was named the Hawks Player of the Match) broke down the left side and beat Kelly easily.

But from there, it was all TRU.

Clark, who has battled injuries during her last two years with the WolfPack headed by ball the Hawk keeper rose Mary Omeno (1st year, Toronto, Ont)

As time wound down, The WolfPack started to play some despiration soccer. They caught a break as in injury time, All Canadian Cooper was able to tuck the ball in to tie the score at 2.

After a scoreless 30 minute overtime period, the match was decided in overtime.

Clark was the first shooter for TRU and fired it over the net. After Tamburello gave the Hawks the lead on their first shot, Shannen Meyer (3rd year, Kamloops, BC) beat Omeno on the lower right side to pull the 'Pack even.

That cued heroics by Kelly, a player who wound up sitting on the bench her first two years with TRU. She first stopped Megan Ewing (3rd year, Allison, Ontario).

Cooper then stepped in and did what she has been doing best this season: bailing the WolfPack out. She lofted the ball high into the left hand side of the cage to give TRU the lead.

Kelly came up with saves off Bianca Barbieri (2nd year, Toronto Ont) and Nicole Carvalho (1st year, Toronto, Ontario).

That left it up to first year midfielder Jesse Lebert (Kamloops, BC). she scored to give the Pack the 3-1 win in the shootout and a 3-2 overall victory.

"Our seniors really came through," said an exhuberant WolfPack head coach Eric Schweizer afterwards "What can you say about Shannon Kelly. three saves in a shootout--unheard of. All three of our fifth year starters were major contributers tonite".

"I thought we came on after the first 10 minutes," stated Cooper "We tried to stay positive and gained our composure."

The WolfPack, who won the BC CAA Regular Season title before losing the playoff final to Langara have had something special going this year...something special they hope results in a gold medal when they play in the championship final on Saturday afternoon.

"I have to give credit to the coaches," says Cooper. "They organized a number of team building functions early on and it really worked. We are playing for each other."

The Gold Medal match is set for Saturday (Nov 8) at 3:30 pm at Hillside Stadium.

Corner Kicks: The WolfPack's player of the match was Shannon Kelly. After the match, TRU honored its graduating fifth year players: Cooper, Kelly, Clark and Kelsi Butner