WINNIPEG — After giving up the first goal in three consecutive losses, Bisons women's soccer came into Thursday's matchup against Winnipeg with one message circled in red: start strong.

"A lot of emphasis was put there," said Bisons head coach Vanessa Martinez-Lagunas. "We wanted that redemption. We were heartbroken last weekend and I think the girls took that out in the match tonight."

That's a bit of an understatement. Bianca Cavalcanti opened the scoring less than two minutes after the referee's first whistle, beginning an avalanche of four consecutive Manitoba goals — two by the Brazilian and two from fellow first-year Jenna Kunkel. They finished the job after, securing a 5-1 win over the Wesmen and snapping a losing skid dating back to September 11.

The win also comes with the bonus of a 1-0 lead in the 30^th annual Duckworth Challenge. After the 29^th year was lost to the pandemic, Manitoba is looking to bounce back and build on a 17-12 lead in the Wesmen-Bisons competition — a best-of-five played throughout the athletic season in women's soccer, as well as men's and women's volleyball and basketball.

Dating back to women's soccer joining the competition in 2013, Manitoba is now 7-0-3 in the women's soccer portion of competition.

The Challenge atmosphere may have helped the competitive spirit that Manitoba came out with. Cavalcanti's fourth goal of the season was well assisted by Kunkel, who collected a long pass and dribbled into the box, passing across Wesmen keeper Taryn Raabe and toward a sliding Cavalcanti.

That was followed by another marker for the native of Recife, Brazil at 15'. After a series of dribbling maneuvers in the corner, Cavalcanti worked her way into the box, where she was taken down before she could get a shot off. She was awarded with a penalty and made no mistake.

With five goals in five matches this season, Cavalcanti is now second in Canada West and first among conference rookies.

The Bisons continued scoring shortly after half. Jenna Kunkel scored her second and third goals of the season within nine minutes — the first coming off a scramble in the box, where she extended and blocked the ball into the net. The second came off a gorgeous set piece, with Jessica Tsai diverting a corner to Breyanna Johnston-Krulicki, who launched a cross right to Kunkel — who headed in the goal.

Kunkel has been another outstanding rookie for Manitoba's offensive attack, as her three goals and one assist put her in the conference's top 20 scorers.

"She's a very smart player," lauded Martinez-Lagunas. "Very versatile, she can play anywhere in the midfield and anywhere in the attacking positions. She has a great creativity as well — she knows what to do with the ball and has great finishing ability."

Late markers gave the match its final score. Wesmen forward Emma Friesen got one for the road team in the 82^nd. In extra time, another first-year for Manitoba got on the board — Paris Sidhu scored her first U SPORTS goal, dodging Raabe in the box and putting the ball into the middle of the net.

The Bisons and Wesmen play again on Saturday, September 25 at noon. The match is hosted by Winnipeg at the Waverley Soccer Complex and can be watched on Canada West TV presented by Co-op.