It was a late first-half goal that sunk UBCO Soccer in its second road match in Winnipeg on Saturday evening as the University of Manitoba scored in the 45th minute to win (1-0) on their home field at the Winnipeg Soccer Federation South Complex.
Thanks to a goal late in the first half from Manitoba’s Stefanie Young, the Bisons improve their conference record to (3-3-0) while the Heat remain winless with a record of (0-6-0).
“The two wins this weekend were very important for us,” stated Bisons head coach Vanessa Martinez Lagunas, whose team also defeated the Thompson Rivers WolfPack on Friday night. “The Heat attacked and defended very well tonight. Both teams played a very tactical game.”
Manitoba’s Haydn Burdeny had the first quality scoring chance of the match. In the sixth minute, a corner kick from the Bisons dropped perfectly in front of the Heat net but UBC Okanagan keeper Iona Lawson saved Burdeny’s header. Just a few minutes later the visitors had their first opportunity to get on the scoreboard but a great slide tackle by Bison defender Shaylyn Dyck cleared the ball out of harm’s way.
At the 22-minute mark, the Heat had a pair great defensive plays on their goal line after another dangerous corner kick from Manitoba, keeping the game scoreless.
In the dying moments of the first-half, just moments after the Heat were unable to connect on four straight corners, the Bisons finally found the back of the net. Manitoba, with a corner of their own, was placed perfectly by Jessica Tsai and found the foot of Young. She hammered home the games first goal, giving the Bisons a 1-0 lead heading to the locker room.
Several fouls from both teams slowed down play to start the second half. The Heat had their first three shots of the second half all stopped by Bison keeper Anna Biebrich with two of the shots coming from Heat rookie midfielder Catriona McFadden. The visitors pressed late and forced Biebrich to sharp the rest of the way as the Bisons clinched the 1-0 victory to earn their second win of the weekend.
The Bisons will set out on the road next weekend for a pair of games against the Regina Cougars (Sept. 28and the Saskatchewan Huskies (Sept. 29). The Heat head back home and will host UNBC on Sept. 28 in their homecoming match and the Calgary Dinos on Sept. 29. Both matches on the Nonis Sports Field and start at 1 p.m.