WINNIPEG – The Bisons women's soccer team sent their seniors out in memorable fashion on Sunday afternoon, scoring a season-high six goals in a four-goal victory over the Lethbridge Pronghorns at home to conclude their 2025 campaign.
 
Manitoba earned points in each of their last four games, sweeping Lethbridge after a win and tie against Alberta the week before. Their six goals were the most in a game for the program in three seasons.
 
"The consistency of our performance over the weekend was really good. It starts on the defending side. I thought we were really organized, and were not giving Lethbridge any space to play through us, so they had to resort to playing aerial balls," said Bisons head coach Mark Colvin.
 
"In possession, it's things we've been working on all year. We want to be brave on the ball. We want to be a possession-oriented team. It's great that we were able to defend together, and have more possession within the game. Something we've been working on over the last couple of weeks is picking the right moment to attack space, and play forward with speed, and the right moment to play at a slower tempo, move the ball around and tire the opponent out. Just finding that balance and tempo of the game, we did really well at this weekend."
 
Seven student-athletes completed their final game as members of the Herd, all making notable contributions.
 
Yesterday's Player of the Game Paris Sidhu scored her first goal of the year, finishing with 11 points in her career as a Bison, the most of any active player. Meanwhile, today's Player of the Game Alex Paul – the longest-serving member of the roster – helped generate a number of quality attacks from the back line for a Manitoba side that was technical, aggressive and accurate all game, scoring on six of their nine shots.
 
Additionally, captain Taylor Sousa opened the scoring in her final game as a Bison, while fellow seniors Tabata Bravo and Chloe Morin combined for three points, and Breyanna Johnston-Krulicki and Sydney Arnold each made meaningful contributions, starting for the Herd, with 60 combined overall starts in their U SPORTS careers.
 
"To our seniors, we have seven players who have been impactful members of the team all season. They all played a significant role for us, and they had great performances on the field. I've had a very short time with the girls. It's been literally three months since we got together, but it's a special three months. It's a very intense three months with our schedule. We're very grateful for their contributions this year and for so many years," added Colvin.
 
"Yesterday Paris was recognized as our standout player, and today Alex was for me, our top player on the field, with her passing from the back. She converted this season to play in the back line as a defender, having played most of her career in midfield. She took on the new role with so much enthusiasm, and out there she looks like a centre back. Her passing and ability to break lines on the ball helped us all weekend."
 
The two sides combined for 14 shots, nine of which were on goal in a riveting first half. The Herd controlled possession for the majority of the half, taking a three-goal lead 36 minutes into action, but the visitors cut their lead to one at the break, taking advantage of multiple set pieces.
 
Sousa opened the scoring in the eighth minute for her first goal of the year and second point. Her right footer from 18 yards out bent beautifully, finding the top right corner. Bravo earned an assist on the play.
 
Manitoba made it 2-0 in the 27^th. Bianca Cavalcanti delivered an excellent ball into the box, and it was finished off by Sidhu, who tapped the ball in with her right foot.
 
Nine minutes later, the Herd increased their lead to three. Bravo won a one-on-one battle for possession 30 yards out, lobbing a brilliant ball into Cavalcanti, who put it away from in close for her first goal of the season and fourth point of the weekend.
 
With her second assist on the day, Bravo recorded her fourth point overall, a career high in what was a memorable five years for the first-ever commit out of Mexico for the Bisons. Her 65 career games played are fourth-most in school history.
 
"I had butterflies all over from the beginning of the week," said Bravo in the lead-up to her final game as a Bison.
 
"It's a week where we had been practicing and training hard and showing how much we believe in each other. Having the opportunity to wear the number eight one more time was so special."
 
The Pronghorns found the response less than 30 seconds later. Goalie Kate Prince, who had been dangerous taking free kicks all game, blasted a ball from midfield, which went off the head of Bronwyn Pittman for her first goal of the season.
 
The Pronghorns cut Manitoba's lead to one in extra time. Julia Reale's corner found the head of Chiara Duenser as the visitors went to the break with hope.
 
Manitoba came out in the second half with the same energy that pushed them into the lead. They scored four minutes in and were the dominant team all throughout.
 
Morin found Mia Fonseca on a header off a corner kick in the 49^th minute to make it 4-2, and rookie sensation Taleesa Minnaar closed things out with two goals as a super sub.
 
Both tallies came off excellent passes. The first, in the 81^st, was courtesy of Sarina Mann, who dribbled past two Pronghorns, getting the ball to Minnaar from just outside the box, where she blasted it home.
 
Shortly after, Neesha Claire found Minnaar on a beautiful pass to round out the scoring. She sprinted down the right flank, and lobbed the ball above the opposition to Minnaar, who put it away in the corner. It was Claire's first career U SPORTS point.
 
Minnaar's three goals tied for the team lead, while Mann finished with a team-leading five points.