WSOC: Bisons edged by reigning national champs MacEwan 1-0 in extra time
Bisons’ goalkeeper Karina Bagi registered 10 saves in the loss.
Braedan Willis, Bison Sports
The No. 6 ranked and defending national champion MacEwan Griffins defeated the University of Manitoba Bisons by a score of 1-0 on Saturday, Oct. 1 at West Turf Field on the University of Manitoba campus in Winnipeg. During extra time at the end of the match while down a player from a red card in the 73
rdminute, MacEwan's Maya Morrell broke the 0-0 deadlock for the dramatic, last-second victory.
The loss marks Manitoba's fourth in the last five games (3-5-1) during what has been a competitive stretch for head coach Vanessa Martinez Lagunas' squad.
"The effort, intensity and determination they brought to this game was amazing," commented Martinez Lagunas. "I am proud of this game because it proves the progress we are making as a team. We created chances, defended well but now we just need to focus on the small details of our game."
The Bisons had a plethora of scoring chances throughout the game, most coming off the feet of
Bianca Cavalcanti and
Janelle Chomini, but where unable to solve Griffin keeper Bianca Castillo.
The win for the Griffins is their seventh on the season, now sporting a record of 7-2-0, which puts them atop the Prairie division in Canada West.
The two sides began the match exchanging extended sequences of offence mixed in with plenty of physicality. The visiting Griffins used their forward group to put the Manitoba fullbacks under pressure but it was the Bisons with the first scoring opportunity of the game. In the 15
thminute, Cavalcanti managed to beat the Griffin goalkeeper with her shot, but not the goal post.
MacEwan answered with their best chance of the first half in the 21
stminute with a dangerously placed cross into the Manitoba box but Bison keeper
Karina Bagi later stopped the shot.
Two more prime opportunities before the end of the opening half for the Bisons' came from Cavalcanti in the 24
thminute followed by a dangerous free kick from
Dalima Chhibber at the 32' mark. The first half was highlighted by
Karina Bagi, registering sevens saves for Manitoba.
Both teams brought the same level of urgency and compete in the second half. Chomini checked in after
Tabata Bravo went down with an injury, making an immediate and noticeable impact on the offensive side of the ball for Manitoba. Chomini also drew the red card that was assessed to Hannah Supina in the 73
rdminute.
Captain
Jessica Tsai had what was arguably the best scoring chance of the game for the Herd at the 86' mark. However, while in tight with the Griffins goalkeeper, Tsai put her shot over the cross bar. Just a few minutes later in added time, the visitors got the goal both teams had been looking for all match, securing the dramatic 1-0 victory for MacEwan
The Bisons return to action tomorrow, Sunday October 2, at 12:00 p.m. when they host the Alberta Pandas on West Turf Field in Winnipeg.
