WINNIPEG -- Twelve shots on net were not enough, as the University of Manitoba Bisons women's soccer team (1-5) dropped a 4-2 decision to the University of Alberta Pandas on Sunday at Princess Auto Stadium.

Despite the loss, captain Jessica Tsai recorded her 24th career regular season assist, just two shy of Desiree Scott for the school record, while Nyema Prentice-Whyte and Shannon Lee scored for Manitoba.

Sunday's match was proceeded by the annual Rose Ceremony, a tradition started by Bison soccer founders Gary Johnson and Walter McKee. At field level, each player chose someone who has been influential in their soccer careers and thanked them for their help in advancing their soccer careers by presenting a rose.

The ceremony was quickly followed by some high-octane offense in the first half. Manitoba recorded nine shots on goal in the frame. Five minutes in, Bison third year defender Shannon Lee floated a free kick from 30 yards yard out into the top right corner to give Manitoba a 1-0 lead. The goal was her second of the season, and she is tied for the team lead with a career high five points.

"There was a small window, and I just thought it was worth a shot," she said. "If not, I knew my teammates were going to be there for the rebound. It was gonna go in one way or another."

The Bisons sustained the offensive pressure, with Taryn Cabak and Prentice-Whyte getting some good looks early in the box. However, Alberta fourth-year goalkeeper Autumn Wynn was up to task, efficiently defending against the Bisons attack.

It wasn't long before the Panda's responded.

After a Manitoba foul just outside the box, Alberta's Makenna Van der Veen pounded a free kick through the Bison's defense to even the score. Manitoba goalkeeper Holly Dyker did not have much of a chance on the unpredictable bounce, and she was left scrambling again as Van der Veen streaked in alone on a breakaway in the 32^nd minute.

The third- year midfielder finished the solo effort to put her team up 2-1.

Although the Manitoba back line of Lee and Ava Memka effectively kept Alberta out of their end for the rest of the half, the Pandas continued to score in the second.

A flurry of Pandas shots dropped a ball onto the boot of Alberta's Wanda Czesbruck, who volleyed her second goal of the season past a diving Dyker.

Moments later, Van der Veen completed the hat trick after she raced untouched through the Bisons midfield and struck one into the bottom left corner of the Bisons net.  

Down 4-1 in the 57^th minute, but still maintaining offensive pressure, Manitoba had lots of time to make it a competitive game.

Prentice-Whyte would do just that by receiving a through ball from Tsai and dancing through the panda back line before striking it past a diving Wynn.

Prentice-Whyte and the rest of the Bisons strikers continued to create offensive opportunities in front of the Alberta net but couldn't finish on loose balls in front. Second-year midfielder Mia Fonseca had a great chance late, but the ball hit the cross bar following a header in the final minutes of the match.

Bisons head coach Vaness Martinez-Lagunas said her team had a good start, but lost focus as the game went on.

"I think that consistency is missing. We have great offensive power, we've been scoring every game, but that defensive side of the game needs work […] that'll be our top priority for the week."

With her assist on Prentice-Whyte's goal, Manitoba captain Jessica Tsai is now two helpers away from tying former Bison and Canadian Olympic Champion Desiree Scott's program assist record of 26.
She admitted to it popping into her mind a few times during the contest.

"It's in the back of my mind for sure," she said.

"I'm a math girl I like the stats, but to me it's more important that as a team we can get the job done. The points will come if we're playing well, and we can support each other."

Tsai now sits third in league assists (four) and second in shots (25). Prentice-Whyte now leads the herd with four goals on the year, only two back from the most in Canada West. Her four markers on the year are also tied for the fourth-most by a rookie in a season in program history.

Tsai is happy to see the rookie start her career off with a bang.

"She's brought so much energy into our team. She also has a ton of confidence. Going into your first year, if you can bring a lot of confidence you're going to do great things, which is exactly what she's done this year so far."

Manitoba fell to 1-5 with the loss, and will look to improve their record next weekend when they host Lethbridge and Calgary at home. Both games are at 1 pm, Saturday and Sunday respectively.