Sports Editor: Jason Pchajek
Breaking hearts and taking names
Bisons end playoff hopes for Alberta opponent
JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF
PHOTO BY DAVE MAHUSSIER
With the playoffs already a lock, the U of M Bisons women’s soccer team played host to a pair of Alberta clubs, fighting for the final postseason spot in the Prairie division. Manitoba came away from the weekend with a pair of wins, locking down third in the division in the process.
Friday
Hopes were dashed Friday night, as a 3-1 Bisons win mathematically eliminated the Mount Royal University Cougars from playoff contention.
Nicole Davis continued her stellar offensive season with her seventh goal of the campaign late in the match. Meanwhile, powerhouse rookie defender Stefanie Young got on the score sheet in the wrong way, committing a foul which led to the lone Cougars tally.
Gabrielle Clark also had a strong performance with two goals on the night, including the game winner.
First, Clark had to open the scoring. After Davis drew a penalty kick, the third-year midfield took her place on the spot and cashed in for a 1-0 Bisons lead in the 12th minute.
The misplay by Young set up a penalty kick for Mount Royal in the 37th minute. Quinn Hardstaff rifled a shot off the post and in to knot the game 1-1 in the first half.
The tied score held until the 70th minute, when Clark gained back the lead for her team. Off a Jessica Tsai corner kick, the ball landed at the feet of Clark, who wasted no time roofing a shot on Cougars keeper Katrina Greenley.
Davis notched the insurance marker in the 72nd minute for a 3-1 Bisons win.
With the loss and a Lethbridge draw against the University of Winnipeg Wesmen Friday, the Cougars sat five points behind the Pronghorns for the final playoff spot. With just one game remaining and a maximum of three points available, the Cougars were eliminated from the playoff hunt.
Saturday
A cold drizzle fell over West Turf Field Saturday, and the product on the field was similarly cold between the Bisons and University of Lethbridge Pronghorns. Once the sky cleared, the heat grew and Manitoba snagged a 2-0 win.
Bisons head coach Vanessa Martinez Lagunas was very happy with the win, which was a historic one for the program.
“It’s the first time in program history […] that we finished with eight wins in a season,” she said.
“So it’s a great, great forward step for us.”
After a scoreless first half the Bisons got plenty of chances in the second. Manitoba’s three best chances of the second half all came from Young.
First, the rookie defender danced her way past a pair of Pronghorns defenders and rifled a shot just wide. The herd then collapsed on the Lethbridge goal and Young sent a header on, but Pronghorns keeper Erin Gill punched the ball clear.
Shortly after the header, Young found herself with space just out-
side the penalty area and sent a strong shot just outside the right post.
“It’s the first time in program history […] that we finished with eight wins in a season” — Vanessa Martinez Lagunas, Bisons women’s soccer coach
Manitoba finally broke through late in the match off the foot of Celeste Gallego. Dalima Chhibber picked up the ball in the penalty area, spun and passed it to Gallego. She paused and fired the shot just inside the right post for the 1-0 Bisons lead.
“I got in and I wasn’t really thinking about anything, as soon as I was in front of the net and I got the ball it was just ‘Finish,’” Gallego said. Gallego was not done there, finding space just over a minute later to score again.
The Lethbridge defence was too slow, and Gallego broke through the line. Gill came up to challenge, but Gallego ripped a shot top corner for the 2-0 Manitoba lead in the 87th minute, which was all Manitoba needed for the win.
Manitoba will now wait to find out its post-season matchup, with the Canada West play-in games slated for Oct. 25.
Bisons Briefs
Women’s hockey comes out even with Calgary
After a split series with the Mount Royal University Cougars over Thanksgiving weekend, the Bisons women’s hockey team travelled to Calgary to face the University of Calgary Dinos, earning another split.
Manitoba got back on the winning track Friday, picking up a 2-0 win over the Dinos thanks to a pair of late goals.
The two sides battled through the first 40 minutes of play, with Calgary outshooting Manitoba in the second period 10-5.
It was in the third period when the Bisons took over, outshooting Calgary 8-2, with two shots finding the back of the net.
Emilie Massé picked up her fourth of the year, with assists by Megan Neduzak and Chloe Snaith to make it 1-0 Bisons. Then, Sheridan Oswald notched her first of the campaign for the 2-0 Bisons win.
Erin Fargey stopped all 16 shots she faced in the Manitoba crease for her first win of the season.
The herd had less luck Saturday, as Amanda Schubert took to the crease for a 2-0 loss to split the weekend series.
Fans in Calgary did not have to wait long to see a goal in game two of the weekend, as Dana Wood scored her first of the season 10:46 into the opening frame.
Despite firing 10 shots on goal in the second period, the Bisons came up empty-handed and Calgary pounced in the third.
Annaliese Meier also picked up her first goal of the season, assisted by Brooke Dennett
4:45 into the final frame, to give Calgary a 2-0 lead.
Snaith scored late for the herd, but Manitoba could not draw even as Calgary took the game 2-1.
Men’s volleyball sweeps southern opponent in tune-up
The Bisons men’s volleyball team rounded out the preseason schedule with a set of exhibition games against the University of Jamestown Jimmies.
Friday was a lopsided affair, with the herd coming away with a dominant 3-0 win over Jamestown.
Manitoba opened the match with a swift 25-17 opening set win, with Jamestown giving the home side some trouble in the second, battling to a 25-20 Bisons win.
The final set was not even close, as the Bisons cruised to a 25-12 win to take the match.
Kevin Negus led the way for Manitoba with nine kills, followed closely by Ben Carleton with eight. Carleton also had a game-high seven digs for the herd.
Jamestown came out with fire to start game two, but fell 3-1 to Manitoba to close out the exhibition series.
The Jimmies battled to a 27-25 first set win, but from there the Bisons took over the match.
A 25-21 second set win tied the game for the herd, with a 25-23 third set and 25-18 fourth being all Manitoba needed to sweep away its American opponent.
Negus again led the way for Manitoba with a whopping 25 kills in the match.
JASON PCHAJEK, STAFF