WINNIPEG – The Manitoba Bisons women's soccer team collected six points on home turf over the weekend, defeating the Alberta Pandas 3-2 on Saturday before following up with a 4-1 victory Sunday at Princess Auto Stadium.
The sweep moved Manitoba to 3-5-2 on the Canada West season, while Alberta fell to 2-7-1.
Saturday's contest featured five goals and several momentum swings before the Bisons emerged with the victory.
Alberta opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Erin Hope found the back of the net off an assist from Lizzy McLeod. Manitoba responded just over 10 minutes later as Sarina Mann finished a chance created by Bianca Cavalcanti to level the match at 1-1.
The Bisons took their first lead in the 30th minute when Cavalcanti scored her fifth goal of the season, but Alberta answered before halftime through Sienna Portwood to send the teams into the break deadlocked at 2-2.
Manitoba regained the lead for good in the 60th minute. Lily Polet scored her first goal of her U SPORTS career, finishing a setup from Mackenzie Munro-Flora to put the hosts ahead 3-2.
The Bisons outshot Alberta 17-12 and held a 12-8 edge in shots on goal. Goalkeeper Kailey Johnston-Krulicki made six saves to earn the win.
The Manitoba attack found another gear 24 hours later, producing four goals in a 4-1 victory to complete the weekend sweep.
Frankie La Peter opened the scoring in the 37th minute off a feed from Cavalcanti before Cavalcanti doubled the lead with a goal just before halftime to give Manitoba a 2-0 advantage.
Alberta cut the deficit in half early in the second half when Clara Seck scored in the 51st minute, but the Bisons quickly restored control. Mann converted a pass from Polet in the 59th minute, and Cavalcanti added her second goal of the afternoon in the 75th minute to seal the result.
Cavalcanti was the offensive catalyst throughout the weekend, recording three goals and three assists in Manitoba's two victories. The fifth-year striker's three-goal weekend increased her career total to 26, tying Bisons alum Karli Colpitts for third on the program's all-time goal-scoring list. Cavalcanti also moved into a tie for fifth in school history with 10 career assists and sits two shy of Amanda Wong for fourth all-time.
Manitoba controlled play throughout the second match, holding a 22-6 advantage in shots and a 9-3 edge in shots on target. Johnston-Krulicki stopped two shots to pick up her second win of the weekend.
