WINNIPEG - Needing a win on Saturday and a Regina Cougars loss or tie on Sunday to secure a spot in the Canada West playoffs, the Manitoba Bisons women's soccer team took care of their end this afternoon.
After a 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Wesmen, they're left to watch Sunday's match in Saskatoon to see if their season continues next weekend.
Tabata Bravo, Bianca Cavalcanti and Nicole Davis were the goal-scorers for Manitoba. Karrisa Schneider scored in the 63rd minute for Winnipeg.
The Bisons end their regular season with a record of 6-4-2. This being the last home game of the season — any potential playoff matchup would be on the road — the team honoured their graduating seniors before the match. Brea DeBettignies, Lauren Martens and Shaylyn Dyck all had their careers noted and celebrated by the two teams and 115 fans in attendance.
Shortly after the ceremony, the Bisons were on the board. Bravo scored her first of the season off a scramble in front of the Winnipeg net just two minutes in, set up by a gorgeous corner kick from Breyanna Johnston-Krulicki. After both Jessica Tsai and Bianca Cavalcanti had cracks at the ball, it was Bravo who popped it over Wesmen keeper Taryn Raabe for the goal.
For her part, Raabe was spectacular for the Wesmen side. Making 12 saves, many of them acrobatic, the veteran Winnipeg keeper was able to keep the road team in it. With saves on Johnston-Krulicki at 6' and Davis at 12' — the latter diving across her net — Winnipeg was able to keep it a 1-0 match.
That score didn't last, though. At 38', Cavalcanti scored her ninth of the season in what's become classic fashion — soaring over the defence to head in a ball off a Jessica Tsai corner kick. The bread-and-butter goal gave Manitoba some insurance.
The Wesmen battled in the second half, eventually getting within one goal off Schneider's penalty kick. Winnipeg was able to spend far more time in the attacking zone, tallying six of their seven shots in the match in the last 40 minutes.
Manitoba responded again, though, as Nicole Davis was set up in the 76th minute by Bravo — who finished a two-point night and ensured three points for the Bisons in the standings.
Manitoba will now watch and wait for the Huskies-Cougars match tomorrow. Fans can watch it at 11 a.m. Winnipeg time on Canada West TV presented by Co-op.
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