The Bison women's soccer team (3-6-3) completes their 12th season in Canada West regular season play as they host the UBC Thunderbirds (5-3-4) on Saturday, October 22 at 11 a.m. CT and then host Victoria Vikes (5-4-3) on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. CT to finish the 2016 regular season. Both games will be held at the Turf Fields – west side at U of Manitoba Fort Garry campus.
Manitoba is in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Prairie Division standings with only two matches left to play of conference action. The Top 6 in each of the two conference divisions will qualify for the playoffs. There is only two points separating fourth from eight place heading into the last week of conference regular season.
The Bisons are seeking their second and third wins at home this season, as they are 1-2-2 record at home so far. Manitoba is 2-4-1 (wins at UNBC and wins at Lethbridge and tie at Saskatchewan) on the road. The Herd has scored 13 goals and allowed 15 goals this season.
This is the first meeting between the Bisons and UBC and Victoria since the 2013 season. Manitoba played at UBC and lost 2-0 (Oct. 4/13) and lost 1-0 hosting Victoria (Oct. 18/13). The last time Manitoba earned a point against the T-Birds was the 2010 season (T 0-0 on Sept. 17/10) and versus the Vikes was in the 2011 season (T 2-2 on Oct. 15/11).
Fifth year midfielder
Selina Speranza is tied for 11th in conference goal scoring with five goals in 12 matches while team captain
Amanda Wong is tied for sixth with five conference assists in 12 matches. Wong and Speranza are tied for the team lead in scoring with seven points while second year midfielder
Sara Schur (three goals, one assist) is third with four points. Speranza is tied for fifth with 24 shots on goal.
Second year goalkeeper Maddie Wilford has started and played in all 12 conference games and is second with 90 conference saves, fourth in conference Save Pct. at .865, 11th in Goals Against Average at 1.22 plus tied for sixth with four shutouts and tied for seventh with three conference wins.
Bison Notes: On Sunday, this is the senior game for Bison fifth year players' midfielder Selina Speranza, goalkeepers Martie Arran and fourth year Britt MacSween will be celebrated for the years with the Bison women's soccer program.
