KAMLOOPS, B.C. — A heavily rotated UBC Thunderbirds men's soccer team dropped their first decision of the season falling 1-0 to the Thompson Rivers WolfPack on Sunday, at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops, B.C.

Having clinched first place in the Pacific Division along with a playoff berth some time ago, the T-Birds who were playing their second road game in as many days chose to rest several starters for the last regular season game of the Canada West campaign.

The T-Birds finish the regular season with a 13-1-2 record and 41 points, tied for the most wins and most points in a single season in Canada West history (Alberta, 2016).
 
UBC's previous high mark in regular season wins was 12 in 2013 when the team played 13 games, with one cancelled because of inclement weather.

Meanwhile, the WolfPack were playing for their playoff lives and credit to the hosts who grinded out the 1-0 victory, their third win in a row to see their record improve to 6-6-2 while securing a post season berth.

Second-year defender Joshua Banton scored the match's only marker, when he got on the end of a free kick from former Thunderbird and Canada West MVP Mitch Popadynetz in added time in the first half.

Banton, a native of Leigh-on-sea, England has now found the back of the net twice in his last three outings. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Jackson Gardner earned his second clean sheet of the season for the WolfPack.

The hosts had an excellent chance to go ahead earlier but UBC's Kerman Pannu made a goal-line stop on a 37th-minute shot by Jan Pirretas Glasmacher.
 
Pannu also led his team with three shots towards the WolfPack net.
 
The T-Birds had a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Goalkeeper Chris Hansen-Barkun made his first start for the T-Birds at the university level, making four saves.



"Yes, I disappointed we did not get a result today," said UBC head coach Mike Mosher. "We may have not had our strongest group out there but the expectation is always that we find ways to get results. But we have had a very strong season to date winning a lot of games and scoring some great goals along the way.  We will have everyone healthy and available as we go into next weekend and the biggest games are in front of us."

TRU now heads into the playoffs with some momentum having won four of their last five matches. The No. 1-ranked T-Birds' primary goal was to get through the final weekend of the regular season with their health and after dipping into their depth and using their entire squad in back-to-back games the 'Birds are ready to soar into the post-season. Playoffs begin on Saturday, Oct. 27 when UBC hosts the Mt. Royal Cougars in a Canada West quarter-final matchup at Thunderbird Stadium. The kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.

With files from TRU Communications