SPORTS. Know the score? Contact the editor at sports@theotherpress.ca Dancing with Wolves Womens soccer team loses a tough one By Eric Wilkins, Sports Editor Dow a solid team effort on an overcast Saturday afternoon at Cunnings Field, the Douglas women’s soccer team came up with the short end of the stick, losing 4-2 against the visiting Thompson Rivers University (TRU) WolfPack. “Tt’s unfortunate,” said Coach Ciaran McMahon after the game. “We wanted the win and we feel we deserved the win... But credit to the team because they pushed and they looked for the opportunities and never got their heads down, which is a big shift from where we're coming from.” The game got off to a fast start, with Douglas’ Rebecca Mainardi stuffing a WolfPack forward on a breakaway in the eighth minute after the swift striker found room through the defence. The Royals were quick to go on the offensive themselves, though, seeing Marni McMillan (#21) finish a gorgeous through-ball from Nicolle Fraser (#13) in the 10th minute. In keeping with the torrid pace of the game, TRU went right back on the attack, forcing Mainardi to come up with a big save from in close off a volley. Unfortunately, the Douglas keeper was unable to keep out the subsequent corner kick, as Marlie Rittinger tied the game up at 1-1. After a couple more saves from Mainardi, the Royals struck again. Fraser took a chance and got one into the back of the net in the 19th minute to put Douglas up 2-1. It wasn’t long before the WolfPack answered though, as a free kick just outside the 18 in the 22nd minute saw a spectacular strike from reigning PACWEST MVP Alanna Bekkering find the top corner. TRU closed out the half with several more chances but no goals, resulting in a halftime score of 2-2. The second-half would not be as high scoring an affair as the first, but it would see the first booking of the day when Fraser ended up with her name in the referee’s notebook after a yellow card in the 52nd minute. The deadlock would be broken in the 73rd minute when TRU’s Jaydene Radu rippled the mesh. The WolfPack nearly went up another goal five minutes later when the forward found her way past the Royals’ keeper along the top of the box, but she snubbed the shot and the ball dribbled harmlessly away. Mainardi would do her part to keep the game in reach in the 87th minute, coming up with a huge save diving to her left. Unfortunately for Douglas, it just wasn’t enough. With the Royals pressing hard, Bekkering would find room to slot home her second of the day on a breakaway in injury time. 4-2, final score. “T think we battled really hard for 90 minutes... that’s something we’ve been working on as a team. We usually battle hard for about a half and then fold, and I think we played well the entire game today. We really gave TRU arun for their money,” said McMillan after the game. In reference to her goal, Douglas’ No. 21 stated, “We really wanted to get that first Royal's Women's soccer team | Photo courtesy of Jerald Wallise/Douglife (Flickr) goal and set the tone for the game and it was nice to make that happen.” Criminology major Fraser concurred with McMillan’s thoughts and added, “It’s always a good learning experience playing the top team.” McMahon was pleased with his squad in spite of the score, “We keep playing like this and we keep pushing like this and the chances are going to come our way. We took the top team in the league to within a goal down to the dying seconds and had them on their heels for most of the game.” Throwback Pierce returns to the Lions’ den By Courtnie Martin, Sports Reporter uck Pierce commenced his CFL career in 2005 with the BC Lions. After five seasons with the Lions, and alternating between starting and backup quarterback due to injuries, he was released by the Lions in 2010, joining the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a free agent. In his four-season span with the Blue Bombers, 18 Pierce made 31 starts. Despite his dedication to the Blue Bombers, he was dethroned from his starting gig by Justin Goltz, finding himself in third-string. And now, the Blue Bombers have officially cut ties with the fan favourite, announcing that Buck Pierce has been traded for 26-year- old Akeem Foster. The 31-year-old Pierce has posted a quarterback rating of 69.3 and thrown for 946 yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions this season with the Blue Bombers—a bit of arough go. His 2013 campaign has been a far cry from his 2011 season when he led “Swaggerville” to the Grey Cup final. Akeem Foster never quite found his feet with the Lions. While he teased BC fans with flashes of brilliance over his three seasons and change, Foster’s career highlight would be a 593 yard season in 2011. Blue Bombers’ General Manager Kyle Walters says, “In Akeem, we are getting a veteran Canadian receiver who, at age 26, is still entering the prime of his career. His presence immediately helps upgrade our non-import talent on our roster.” Make no mistake, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were very pleased with Pierce’s contribution to the team, but given Pierce’s age and injury history, it was time to change things up. Foster brings Winnipeg 61 receptions, 949 yards, and 9 touchdowns in 43 starts. Unsurprisingly, the Winnipeg faithfuls have expressed their disapproval of the trade of their popular pivot. Adding to the heat being put on the struggling Blue Bombers, Goltz has been a source of controversy for mockingly celebrating in a game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on September 1—a game which the Blue Bombers lost. As for Pierce, he’ll assume the backup spot behind Travis Lulay. Pierce and Lulay will be reunited after playing together during the former’s first stint in BC With both being very familiar with taking a brutal beating on the field, it should make for a humorous re- acquaintance as the rest of the season plays out.