WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons and Regina Cougars opened their 2017 women's soccer seasons with a scoreless draw on Friday, Sept. 8 at the Turf Fields (U if M campus).

Despite the lack of goals, there were plenty of chances for both teams. The Cougars dominated the early goings of the first half with plenty of ball possession. Bison goalkeeper Justina Jarmoszko was up to the task however, making several clearances. 

At the other end of the field, Regina 'keeper Savannah Williams was not to be outdone. In the middle of the half Bison midfielder Sara Schur whipped in a hard cross, but Williams stymied her with her outstretched hand. 

A few minutes later, Bison midfielder Hailey Lavarias set up Florin Wagner on a counter attack, but Wagner whiffed on the shot and it went over the crossbar. 

Wagner had another chance towards the end of the half when she fired a high free kick from well outside the 18-yard box. Williams did well to track the ball and managed to tip it over for a corner kick.

Regina came out flying in the second half to start, flustering the Bison defenders. It was the Bisons who had the better chance to start the half, when Schur had her header fly over the crossbar.

A few minutes later, Cougar forward Sydney Langen was alone on goal but could not get a good handle on the cross, with the ball skittering wide. The Cougars came the closest to scoring approximately halfway through the second half. Jarmoszko came out to play the ball but had the bounce over her and hit the post.

In the 75th minute, Kirsten Finley was alone on goal, but she had her shot go over the net. Both teams threw everything they had at each other and it was a well deserved draw according to Bisons head coach Vanessa Martinez-Lagunas.

"I think both teams played really well, both teams were attacking from one side to the other," she said. "There are many things we need to improve on, especially our final pass in the attacking third, we created lots of chances but we need to put it in."

The Bisons play the Saskatchewan Huskies tomorrow (Sat., Sept. 9) at home at 7 p.m. CT.