Box Score Calgary – The Mount Royal Cougars women's soccer team got back in the win column late Friday, September 26 night when fourth year defender Reaghan Zilkie headed in a corner kick in the 87th minute to give the Cougars a 3-2 win over the Manitoba Bisons. With the win the Cougars snap a four game losing streak and remain unbeaten at home.
The early minutes of the game could not have gone any better for Mount Royal. The Bisons found themselves chasing the Cougars in their own zone. Brianna Keil grabbed a loose ball in the box and her second goal of the season in the fourth minute.
Shortly thereafter Emily Sands potted her second goal of the year in the ninth minute. Leading scorer Kelsey Kinzner threaded a beautiful pass in behind the defender and Sands made no mistake, sliding it just under the keeper's outstretched arm.
The Cougars 2-0 lead lasted only three minutes. Bisons leading scorer, Bruna Mayignier, slid around two defenders and chipped the ball over a leaping Meghan Prudhomme.
Minutes later another through ball came in on the Cougars goal and Prudhomme came out hard to challenge. After a huge collision, that left Prudhomme writhing in pain, she was assessed a yellow card and the Bisons were awarded a penalty kick. Prudhomme composed herself, stepped up and made a huge save on Elyce Molyneaux.
During injury time in the first half, Bisons rookie Amanda Wong picked up the ball 35 yards out. With time ticking down, she let off a rocket that could not have been placed any more perfectly. The ball nicked the bottom of the bar and went in to tie the game 2-2 and end the first half.
Scoring chances were few and far between for the majority of the second half until the 87th minute. Karlee Hodl took a corner from the right side, curling it in with her left foot. All the way from the back end came Zilkie, who used all of her 5-foot-10 frame to get up and over the defenders and head the ball past the keeper.
Zilkie's goal would stand up to be the winner as MRU took the game 3-2.
The Cougars and Bisons will play the rubber match Saturday, Sept. 27 night at 7 p.m. CT at MRU Stadium Field.
- Written by: Justin McCaffrey, Mount Royal University Sports Information
