Prince George, B.C. – A two-goal performance from Tofa Fakunle paced the UNBC Timberwolves to their first victory of the season as they hung on for a 3-2 victory over the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops.

Francesco Bartolillo also scored for the Timberwolves (1-4-0), who swallowed up just about every WolfPack offensive effort. 

Mitch MacFarlane (Prince George, B.C.) turned in a solid performance in the UNBC goal, making six saves and consistently challenging the Thompson Rivers attackers. 

Ryan Glanville (Williams Lake, B.C.) had both markers for the WolfPack (1-4-0), who outshot UNBC 25-6, and finished with an 8-4 edge in shots on goal. 

Fakunle got the ball rolling for the Timberwolves in the 13th minute, taking a cross from Bartolillo and beating WolfPack keeper Claye Harsany to give the Timberwolves the early one-goal advantage. 

Fakunle extended the lead in the 33rd minute as Harsany was too aggressive in challenging UNBC’s co-captain on a break, resulting in a converted penalty kick for the 2-0 advantage heading into halftime. 

UNBC extended its lead to three midway through the second half, as substitute WolfPack keeper Lubomir Magdolen was shown a yellow card for an aggressive challenge. 

The ensuing penalty kick from Bartolillo was stopped, but he scored on the rebound to extend the lead for the Timberwolves, though Glanville answered about 10 minutes later, finding the ball in a six-yard box scramble and breaking MacFarlane’s clean sheet. 

Following Glanville’s second of the game in added time, Thompson Rivers had a shot at stealing a point, though MacFarlane was able to punch away a threatening corner kick from Mitchell Popadynetz to preserve the victory. 

The Timberwolves will try and complete the weekend sweep over the WolfPack today at 1 p.m. 

Meantime the Timberwolves’ women’s side will try to bounce back from an opening night loss to U Winnipeg on Friday when they host Manitoba at noon today.