Box Score Lethbridge – With a flair for the dramatic, Bison fifth year midfielder Selina Speranza waited for injury time to play hero, scoring her second of the game to lift the Manitoba Bisons to a 2-1 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns in women's soccer on Saturda, September 24 afternoon.
Speranza, who wreaked havoc on the 'Horns defence all day with her speed, sprinted down the left flank, eluding all 'Horns defenders and placed the ball off right post and in to give the Bisons the victory.
Nikki Furukawa scored the 'Horns lone goal.
The win improves the Bisons record to 2-2-1 on the season, while the 'Horns fall to 1-4-0.
The Bisons opened the scoring only 20 minutes in. Sara Schur played a ball through the 'Horns defence and Speranza raced past a 'Horns defender and placed a perfect shot just inside the far post from the left flank. It was Speranza's team leading fourth goal of the season.
Bisons remained dangerous throughout the half, registering 11 shot attempts in the half and forced Paige Gattafoni into four saves.
The 'Horns registered six shot attempts in the half but only one found the net. Their most dangerous chance came during injury time but Kayla Blacquiere hit the side netting.
Out of the break, Spernaza nearly doubled the Bisons lead. After running onto a ball all alone, she swiftly deked around Gattafoni but her shot hit the outside of the net.
The miss proved costly as the 'Horns would bring the game even in the 49th minute. Newcomer Raeleen Vanden Dungen crossed the ball into the penalty area, where Furukawa gathered the ball that bounced off a Pronghorn and picked the low far corner for her fourth of the season.
Off the restart, the Bisons pushed forward and were nearly rewarded but a cross into the area went untouched.
From there, the 'Horns began to exert some control on the pace and put the Bisons on their heels. Blacquiere had a pair of great chances. Namami Wakayama flicked a header into the box for a point blank chance but Bison keeper Maddie Wilford was equal to the task.
With 20 minutes remaining Furukawa laid the ball off to Blacquiere inside the 18-yard box but Wilford got a hand on a well labeled shot.
After going a long stretch without any quality chances, a dangerous cross by a Bison attacker found
Amanda Wong in the middle in the penalty area but her half-volley went right to Gattafoni.
The 'Horns and Bisons both finished with 17 shot attempts, but the Bisons had one more shot find the mark.
The 'Horns will host the Winnipeg Wesmen tomorrow at noon to conclude the weekend set. The Bisons will travel to Calgary to face the Dinos on Sun., Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. CT.
