Box Score Written by: John Gaudes

WINNIPEG, MB - Cold, freezing rain, gusting winds - The University of Manitoba Bisons and University of Alberta Pandas saw it all on Friday, October 3 at the University of Manitoba Turf Fields. Battling the elements and each other, the two women's soccer teams fought to a 1-1 tie.

Welcoming the Winnipeg autumn with open arms, Manitoba's co-captain Sarah Haiko scored first and the Bisons held a 1-0 lead against a relentless Pandas attack for 54 minutes. Unfortunately, they gave up a Maggie Zacsko goal in the closing moments and walked away with a tie.

"It was unlucky. A point is really important for us, [though]," said Bisons head coach Vanessa Martinez Lugans. "I have to focus on the positives and we had a lot of shots on goal."

"We need to polish those last minutes and the set pieces, first not to give them away and not give them the opportunity, and if they do happen, be tighter and not allow any rebounds."

The tie sees Manitoba move to 3-3-1, while Alberta moves to 3-1-3. Manitoba now sits three points back of MacEwan for the last playoff spot in the Canada West Prairies Division. With Alberta standing between them and that spot, this weekend will affect both teams' playoff chances.

The Bisons got an assist from Robyn Kastner, her fourth of the season. Alberta's goal was assisted by Julia Ignacio.

Manitoba started both halves with energy, and just three minutes into the first, off a well-placed Kastner corner ball, Haiko was able to stick with a ball that was saved and head it in off the post.

While the Bisons 1-on-1 defence was consistent and their leak-outs were on point, Alberta spent much of the rest of the game with the ball on their feet. With two minutes left in the first half, the Pandas got a scramble ball in the Bisons box, but keeper Brittany MacSween was able to fight off Jessie Candlish at the last moment.

Then, with shot after shot coming from the Pandas from 30 minutes left in regulation on, they finally broke through with 3:30 left on the clock. After a Pandas corner was kicked out, a rebound came right to the foot of Zacsko, who put a low shot past MacSween and a mass of humanity to give the game its final score.

The Bisons women's soccer team will play Alberta in the second game of their weekend back-to-back on Saturday night at the University of Manitoba Turf Fields. Kickoff is 6 p.m. CST.