WINNIPEG — The Manitoba Bisons (3-4-2) and Winnipeg Wesmen (1-5-3) played to a 1-1 tie in their first women's soccer matchup of the 2016 Canada West season, under the big lights at Investor Group Field on Thursday, October 6. The game was the first match up in the 26th Annual Duckworth Challenge — a long standing tradition between the two schools — and fourth year since soccer was added to the festivities.

Both goals were scored in the first half. Sara Schur opened scoring for the Bisons with a perfect header in the 24', but the Wesmen responded just ten minutes later as Clair Preston would clean up after a chaotic scramble right in front of the Bison net. 

"I think in the first half we capitalized on the chances that we needed to and we had them. When they scored, we gave them that goal because we didn't mark close enough inside the box," said Bisons head coach Vanessa Martinez Lagunas. 

"In the second half, we dominated completely. We finally won the mid-field and we created at least five clear chances and we needed to put one in. So we need to keep working on that."

Winnipeg came out aggressive on offence to start the game but Manitoba matched their energy on defence early as the two teams felt each other out. Winnipeg had the best scoring chances in the opening minutes, including a great free kick taken by Gelsomina Vanderhooft that gave Bison goalkeeper Maddie Wilford her first action of the night. Selina Speranza had Manitoba's first solid chance for the Bisons at 10', getting a foot on a beautiful cross into the Wesmen box that just went wide.

Pace of play slowed as the teams got stuck playing near the sidelines, but picked up whenever the ball found the open field. Both teams seemed to generate their best scoring chances off of free kicks — that is until Danielle Comeau broke in all alone on Wilford and nearly beat the Bison keeper. This sparked some prolonged pressure from the Wesmen, but the Bisons stood strong and handled it well. 

After weathering the Wesmen storm, Manitoba managed to capitalize on the counterattack, as Sara Schur put the perfect touch on a free kick from Jessie Harland and deftly directed the ball past Wesmen goalkeeper Taylor Thorkelsson at 24'. 

"I had a moment with Jessie where we locked eyes before the kick, and I just knew she was going to find me with the ball," said Schur of her goal. 

The Bisons would not hold the lead for long. The Wesmen tied it up with some aggressive play in front of the Bison net. Clair Preston would get the goal at 34' off the rebound of a shot by Danielle Comeau. Just moments later, Manitoba almost retook the lead off off a great free kick taken by Amanda Wong, but Thorkelsson pulled it down. The Bisons earned another great chance as Alanna Shaw was sprung in past a trailing Wesmen defender, but again Thorkelsson held her ground. The final five minutes of the half saw the Bisons really pick up the intensity on offence, as they kept the Wesmen mostly pinned in their own side of half. Despite their best efforts, the teams headed into the half tied 1-1. 

Winnipeg came out with fire in the second half, pushing the ball deep into Manitoba territory early. After withstanding the early Wesmen pressure, the Bisons mounted a counterattack as the two teams fell into their second half rhythms. Selina Speranza, who was really finding her groove at the end of the first, nearly set up a second Manitoba goal with a brilliant cross that just couldn't find Alanna Shaw on the opposite side of a wide open Wesmen net.

Manitoba would sustain that pressure, as Sara Schur would break in for a solid shot of her own, followed up by another chance from Speranza. Things sort of settled down a bit from there, as Winnipeg attempted to push back. There were great chances at both ends of the field midway through the second half but neither team could capitalize on the go-ahead goal. Manitoba got a great chance in the 71', with a ton of players in the box and a loose ball rolling parallel to the goal line, but Winnipeg managed to clear. Moments later, Schur would break in with another great chance for the home side but Thorkelsson was there with the save. 

As the game entered it's final stretch, both teams put together some threatening attacks. For Winnipeg, Hayley Wiebe got a great shot up close, but Wilford was able to jump up and snag it. At the other end of the field, Camille Plett broke in on a breakaway at 41' but elected to pass it to Bruna Mavignier, who took aim at the bottom left corner, with Thorkelsson sprawling out to save the tie. Thorkelsson continued to handle the Bison pressure in the dying minutes, as the Bisons pushed hard for the go-ahead goal, including a brilliant chance by Speranza at the end of full time.

With time running out, Manitoba was awarded a free kick in extra time but the Wesmen defence held strong as the game ended deadlocked at one goal each.

Schur and Thorkelsson were named the players of the match for their respective teams. 

"I think the second half was a good half," said Martinez Lagunas. "We created the chances, we dominated the play. The girls were aggressive, they wanted the win, and again just being a little faster and anticipating when the ball was going around in front of the net. Somebody has to be there to put it in."

The teams square off for the second half of their weekend series Saturday, October 8, at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex. Kick off is scheduled for 12 p.m. CDT.