LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Manitoba Bisons earned a memorable 3-2 comeback victory over the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Sunday at Community Stadium, giving Fabio Capone his first win as interim head coach of the Bisons.
After dropping a 2-1 decision to the Pronghorns on Saturday, Manitoba responded by overcoming a two-goal second-half deficit, scoring three times in the final 10 minutes to secure a split of the weekend series.
Lethbridge opened the scoring in the 25th minute and took a 1-0 lead into halftime before doubling its advantage in the 73rd minute.
The Bisons refused to back down and began their comeback in the 81st minute when Bianca Cavalcanti found the back of the net to cut the deficit to 2-1. Just over two minutes later, Cavalcanti struck again to pull Manitoba even at 2-2.
With momentum firmly on Manitoba's side, Cavalcanti completed a remarkable hat trick in the 88th minute, scoring the winner and capping a three-goal outburst in less than seven minutes.
Cavalcanti accounted for all three Manitoba goals, leading the offensive charge as the Bisons rallied from 2-0 down for their first victory of the conference season. Bridget Murphy earned the win in goal.
The dramatic comeback not only secured a valuable road victory, but also marked the first win of Fabio Capone's tenure as interim head coach, as the Bisons showed resilience and determination throughout the match.
"This one means a little more than just a result. There have been a lot of challenges, lessons and moments behind the scenes that have made this journey so meaningful. I'm incredibly proud of this group and grateful to be part of their journey. This is only one chapter. The story continues to be written. And the best part is, we're writing it together. One training, one game, one moment at a time. This group is starting to believe in what we can become and I couldn't be prouder to be on this journey with them," said Capone from the road after the win.
Manitoba returns home with momentum after earning a split of the weekend series in Lethbridge. Next up for the Herd is homecoming at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at Princess Auto Stadium, where fans all get in for free. Fans can claim their free tickets online here.
