With the season winding down, the Bison women's soccer team is riding a wave of momentum. That continued Saturday, as they beat the UBC Okanagan Heat 1-0 at Nonis Field in Kelowna, British Columbia. The win improves Manitoba to 5-4-2 on the season, tied for third place in the Prairie Division, and clinches them a playoff spot. With the loss, UBCO falls to 2-7-2.
The Bisons got the win off the foot of fifth-year Bruna Mavignier, who scored her fourth goal of the season in the 58th minute for the game's only marker. The goal was unassisted.
In net, Bisons keeper Madison Wilford got her fourth win of the season, making four saves. UBCO keeper Emma Terrillon made five saves in the loss.
Early on, UBCO had the first scoring opportunity in the fourth minute as an interception led to Mackenzie Phoh getting a shot off, but missing the net. It took until the 13th minute for the Bisons to get their first crack at the net, but this one by Amanda Wong found Terrillon. Wong had another shot off a foul in the 14th minute, which was also saved by Terrillon.
In the 26th minute, first-year Heat forward Jessica Ambrosio sent a corner ball to Lindsey Berthelsen in the penalty area, who missed the net wide. Before the first half was up, UBCO would have one more chance, again by Phoh who missed the net wide.
Manitoba began to dictate play in the second half, as Hailey Lavarias put a shot on net just 51 seconds into the frame. The Bisons kept attacking shortly after, with two corners in the 50th leading to a Mavignier shot that went wide, a Mackie Burdeny shot that hit the crossbar, and a Gabrielle Clark shot that went high. The Herd finally found the net in the 58th, as Mavignier intercepted a backline pass and drove to the penalty area, finishing with a shot into the top left corner.
The Heat would try to equalize, getting two shots on net in the closing 30 minutes. Still, the Bisons were able to hold on for their third straight clean sheet; they also shut out Winnipeg in two games at home last weekend.
Manitoba will now play the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack on Sunday, October 14 at 3 PM CT. The game will be streamed on CanadaWest.TV.
