Box Score Friday night in Calgary, AB the UNBC Timberwolves Women's Soccer program kicked off their 2024 Canada West campaign with a 4-0 setback at the hands of the Mount Royal Cougars. Four different players found the goal column for MRU in the second half during a physical battle that saw 15 combined fouls between the two sides.

45 minutes (plus stoppage time) solved nothing as the teams were even at 0-0 at half. Mount Royal outshot the TWolves 7-3 and had three shots on target. It was a feisty first half that featured eight combined fouls – five of which came from the TWolves who had three starters (Blake Plummer, Keeley Read and Scarlet Thomas) making their Canada West debuts.

A scary moment halfway through the first half as the TWolves reigning MVP Britryn Hinsche sustained an upper-body injury. The Williams Lake product briefly returned to action but was eventually subbed out for rookie Lauren Gubbels in the 30^th minute.

The first-year goalkeeper from Kelowna was tested early off a shot from Julia Makoloski and turned it aside for her first Canada West save. Gubbels finished her night with two saves, and Mr. Mike's Player of the Game honours given the difficult nature of her unexpected Canada West debut.

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Five minutes into the second half, Gubbels made a spectacular save off a Catriona McFadden deflection inside the six. But Dany Juarez won a race to the rebound, centered it back to McFadden who finished her next opportunity to give MRU a 1-0 lead.

Veteran Kjera Hayman did her part to try steer momentum back to UNBC's side, as she placed a shot on the MRU net in the 54th minute of play.

The Cougars extended their lead to 2-0 in the 60^th minute when McFadden won a race down the right side of the UNBC penalty area and centered a perfect ball to the waiting Makoloski who knocked home her second of the season.

As has been true to their identity during Neil Sedgwick's entire run as head coach, the UNBC Timberwolves did not fade quietly to the night. Their competitiveness and morale remained strong even as the Cougars continued to apply offensive pressure in the late stages.

A cool moment in the 84^th minute occurred when Prince George's own Alysa Leclerc subbed into the match and saw her first minutes of Canada West play.

Some extra insurance came for MRU when Avery Dalton and Tamara Djurisic each added goals during stoppage time, and when the final whistle sounded the scoreboard read 4-0 for MRU.

Up next for UNBC – A trip to Vancouver Island for a Sunday afternoon clash with the Victoria Vikes. Kick off goes at 1:00 pm from Victoria.