WINNIPEG -- The Mount Royal Cougars capitalized early on and held off a persistent Bisons attack, surging to a 2-0 win on Saturday afternoon at East Turf Field. The win improves their record to 4-0-1, while Manitoba fell to 0-4-1.

The visitors recorded 12 shots on goal, led by four from Tamara Djurisic, while Manitoba had seven, two each from Tabata Bravo,

Mount Royal pressed the issue in the first half, out-shooting the Bisons 9-4, with seven shots on goal. They won a variety of battles in the midfield, which merited three corners within the first ten minutes.

One of those corners led to the game's first goal. A loose ball landed in the feet of midfielder Gabrielle Linford, who put it away from ten yards out into the left corner for her second goal of the season.

Manitoba pushed back, and had multiple quality opportunities, including a header from midfielder Taryn Cabak in the area right after the MRU goal that went just wide. The opportunity came off a brilliantly-placed free kick from just past 40 yards out from midfielder Alex Paul.

Leading scorer Tabata Bravo also gave the Bisons multiple looks at net. She sprinted into the box in the 21st minute, getting a header off that was stopped from in tight by Cougars goalie Ella Filek. Just over ten minutes later, Filek made another quality stop, denying Cabak in the box off a quality pass from the left flank by Bravo.

After some quality back-and-forth play, it was MRU's skill in the midfield once more that earned them a second goal.

Gabrielle Linford earned possession at midfield, getting the ball to Dany Juarez at the 30-yard line. Juarez then placed an accurate ball in to forward Analisa Galvez, who sprinted into the area, tapped it into the left corner from ten yards out.

The back and forth play continued in the second half. Djurisic had multiple quality looks from just outside the box, flashing her power on multiple shots, one which went wide early in the second half, and the other which was stopped by Bisons goalie Holly Dyker.

After a ton of pressure, including multiple set pieces that resulted in second chance opportunities, the Bisons were able to close the gap. A brilliant through ball landed on the foot of senior Taylor Sousa, whose shot was stopped, however freshman Taleesa Minnaar was right there for the rebound for her first career U SPORTS goal in added time.

The Bisons continued to push in added minutes, but MRU held on to secure the one goal win.

Both sides play again tomorrow at 1 pm at East Turf Field.