Box Score Two teams that know each other well engaged in another classic on Saturday night at Investors Group Field, as the Manitoba Bisons and Regina Cougars played to a 1-1 draw. With the result, Manitoba stays five points ahead of the Cougars for the final playoff spot in the Canada West's prairie division.
Manitoba out-shot Regina 17-9, and had ten corners compared to one for the Cougars, but were unable to steal three points.
The team's most prolific scorer
Bianca Cavalcanti was once again the centre of attention with seven shots, and she also scored the team's lone goal on a penalty shot 56 minutes into play. She and
Dalima Chhibber were on the mark on numerous set pieces, with Chhibber's free kick in added time going off of Regina netminder Allyson Ford's fingers and then the crossbar, but somehow it stayed out.
Cavalcanti's free kick in the 79th minute also went off the crossbar, while a corner just prior to that from Chhibber sailed right to
Paris Sidhu, who made solid contact in the box, however her shot sailed just high.
"We fought until the end. They were playing really well and I thought we were really composed and created so many chances," said Bisons head coach Vanessa Martinez-Lagunas postgame.
"A learning lesson is that we need to put more in. Don't leave any life to the opponent. That's something we didn't do this weekend, also against Sask, we had about 20 shots and so many chances, but when you put only one in it's a very dangerous thing. We need to keep working on being clinical. I think we're doing many things right. We need to make sure that we keep our focus and that there aren't any lapses in the full 90 minutes."
Regina got four combined shots from striker Peyton Enns -- a Winnipeg native who now has nine shots on goal and a tally against her hometown school -- and Sophia Stevens, who leveled the game in the 74th minute on an impressive left footer that went low to the far post.
The play of Ford and Manitoba goal
Karina Bagi was another key storyline. Both keepers were fearless coming out for challenges, and combined for eight saves. Bagi's most important stop came in added time, as she bravely challenged Enns near the six-yard box, diving to negate a partial breakaway. Both players collided hard and felt the effects afterwards in a gritty performance.
Next up for Manitoba is a (3-4-1) is a home tilt against MacEwan while Regina (0-3-5) will play Winnipeg for the second time in three days due to a make-up game.
