The University of Manitoba Bisons womens soccer team (2-6) won their first home game of the season Sunday thanks to consistent scoring from veteran players, as well as mindful goaltending in key moments. A high press from Manitoba and less than favourable conditions prevented Lethbridge from garnering any significant chances in a 4-0 win for the Bisons.

Saturday's match was a windy affair between two teams that already had a high scoring contest earlier this season. On Sept. 7, Lethbridge took a 4-3 decision by scoring a few minutes into each half to give themselves comfortable leads throughout the game. Coming off a loss against the last placed University of Winnipeg Wesmen, Lethbridge was looking to do the same. However, after a close 3-2 loss to the University of Calgary, the Bisons were eager to be first on the scoresheet.

In the match's early moments, the ball shifted back and forth as the teams felt each other out early on. However, Manitoba quickly took over and worked the game into their favour.

After 22 scoreless minutes, Bisons defender Ava Memka received a pass from fellow defender Shannon Lee and notched her first career goal by pounding a shot from 30 yards out into the upper portion of the net, giving Manitoba the 1-0 lead. It was Memka's first career U SPORTS goal.

"I have been dreaming of scoring since my first year," she said.
"As a centre back, you don't think it's going to happen until it happens. I am just so happy that it went in the net, and that Shannon Lee my centre back partner, was the one that assisted me. That just feels perfect for my first goal."

Already dictating play and winning one on one battles, Manitoba continued to maintain possession, even as they fought against the wind.

The Bisons fired seven shots on goal in the half, the most consequential being a Nyema Prentice-Whyte breakaway that found the back of the net in the 30^th minute. The first-year forward's marker was her fifth of the year and third weekend in a row scoring. She's now fourth all-time for single season goals by a rookie in program history, passing teammate Taryn Cabak, who netted four a year ago.

A high press from the Bisons, as well as consistent help on the back end from Tabato Bravo and Lee helped limit Lethbridge to only two shots on goal in the first, allowing the Herd to head into the second half with a confident 2-0 lead.

Now with the wind at their back, the Bisons quickly got to work on offence.  Manitoba captain Jessica Tsai, who already had two dangerous shots in the first frame, took a feed while hanging behind the play and buried the Herd's third goal of the match. The fifth-year forward's 49^th minute goal was her third of the weekend and added to her team-leading eight points.

Fourth year forward Janelle Chomini, who had an assist on Prentice-Whyte and Tsai's goals, continued wreaking havoc in Lethbridge's box, while Lee placed some dangerous balls in the middle and even got a header on net in the keeper's area. Meanwhile Taryn Cabak made life difficult for Lethbridge defenders as first year Sarina Mann offered support for the Bisons up front.

Manitoba's midfield, as well as wind gusts up to 70 kilometres an hour, helped prevent Lethbridge from working the ball up the field and having any quality chances on net. In stoppage time, Paris Sidhu put away a bouncing ball off a free kick to secure Manitoba their second win of the year.

Bisons goalkeeper Holly Dyker was solid in her seventh start of the year, smothering everything coming her way, including a scramble in the 51^st minute where she was forced to make multiple saves in the box. In a game where she only saw five shots on goal, Dyker said she relied on her team to stay locked in.

"It's tough to stay focused," she said.

"The main thing I do is keep communicating with my team. Aside from that I'm all alone out there."

Dyker now has two shutouts on the year, both Bisons wins.

"I think we were fired up after yesterday's game," she added. "We wanted the win, and we came out here today and showed we wanted it more than them."

Dyker hopes to build on Sunday's win and keep the momentum going for the rest of the year.

"I think moving forward it's going to be hard work." she said. "The motivation from today's game is going to carry on for the rest of the season."

The Bisons will next visit the University of Alberta and MacEwan, two teams atop the Canada West Prairie division standings whom the Bisons lost to only a week ago. After strong performances against Calgary and Lethbridge,  Memka is confident her team is ready to lay it all out on the field next weekend.

"I think this really brought us together. I'm so excited to bring it to Alberta next weekend."