Box Score WINNIPEG – The University of Manitoba Bisons women's soccer team finished its 2013 conference schedule with a 2-1 loss to the Fraser Valley Cascades at the U of M Turf Fields – West Side on Saturday night.

The Bisons (1-7-4) trailed by two goals late in the second half but mounted a late charge. They cut the lead to one in the 74^th minute on a goal by Gillian Sidon, who was playing in her final university match, but were unable to the tie game.

"I really liked the way we came back in the second half," said Bisons head coach Vanessa Martinez Lagunas. "They put a lot of pressure on us and made it difficult for us to combine, especially in the first half."

Fraser Valley (5-4-3) came out playing physical and pressed Manitoba in their own end early. The pressure resulted in some quality scoring chances but the Bisons, behind goaltender Chloe Werle, kept the game scoreless. With halftime approaching, the Cascades would get on the scoreboard on a goal by Shelby Beck.

Manitoba had an opportunity to tie the game early in the second half but Meagan Sparrow's shot from the far side of the box skipped just wide of the goal. In the 56^th minute, the Cascades built onto their lead after they were awarded a penalty kick. Carly Neeson beat a sprawling Werle on the play and it was 2-0 for Fraser Valley.

The Bisons would begin to make a comeback in the 74^th minute. Sidon, who committed the foul that led to Fraser Valley's second goal, would beat the goalkeeper from inside the box and Manitoba cut the deficit in half. Moments later, the Bisons would receive their best opportunity to tie the game but Maryn Haswell was unable to corral a pass in a scoring area. From there, the Bisons simply ran out of time and would lose by one goal.

Before the game, the Bisons recognized their two graduating players, Sidon and Laura Stewart. Sidon started in 53 games with Manitoba and her goal on Saturday was the sixth tally of her career. Stewart, a fourth year player, played in 26 matches and scored her first career goal this year against Winnipeg.

"It was a very important night for Gillian and Laura," said Martinez Lagunas. "I'm happy for them. They played really hard and had good games, both of them."