Box Score WINNIPEG - The Manitoba Bisons women's soccer team finished their second conference regular season game at home against the visiting Saskatchewan Huskies with a 3-1 loss on Saturday, September 6 at the University of Manitoba Turf Fields. Saskatchewan's Jenelle Zapski found plenty of opportunities against the Bisons, recording a hat-trick in the game. Both teams had a 1-0 record prior to Saturday's game where the Bisons were looking to finally end their five-game losing streak against the Huskies over the last five seasons. Saskatchewan came into the game wanting to extend their win streak and had defeated the Bisons by a 3-1 score during the 2013 season opener at Manitoba en route to a 2013-14 conference record of 8-2-2. The visitors opened up the first half of the match dominating the time of possession with controlled, accurate passes, but failed to find any openings in the Bisons defense. The Huskies applied pressure early, forcing Manitoba to pass the ball back to their defenders or turn the ball over completely.
By the 15 minute mark of the match, Saskatchewan started to break down Manitoba's defense, but any shots they took either sailed away from the net or were blocked by the Herd. Manitoba looked poised to score off a
Camille Plett breakaway, but her kick went just wide of the net. The shot attempt lifted Manitoba's spirits, who were struggling offensively thus far, but the Huskies finally found their opening and scored.
At the 27 minute mark, Huskies midfielder Gillian Pinder found third year Zapski at the top of the penalty area and sent a kick flying above Bisons keeper Martina Arran and into the net. The goal seemed to light a spark in Manitoba, who found themselves with a few more offensive chances, but Saskatchewan eventually regained control of the time of possession and scored again.
After a corner kick from Saskatchewan's Meagan Manson, Zapski got a second chance off a header and found the back of the net for her second goal of the match at the 45 minute mark to send the Huskies into the half with a 2-0 lead.
Saskatchewan started the second half of the match right where they left off, and at the 50 minute mark, Zapski completed the hat-trick after a cross pass from Carmen Gorlick in the middle of the penalty area. She knows has already four goals scored in two conference games in 2014.
Manitoba finally got on the board at the 66 minute mark after rookie Bruna Mavignier extended her point streak to three games (counting pre-season) with a goal from a Kaylan Strang assist. With 20 minutes left in the match, the Bisons made a push, but a series of impressive saves by Huskies keeper Kyleigh Vause thwarted the Bisons' chances of a comeback.
"They're a strong team. They surprised us in the first half. We started a bit nervous with a lot of turnovers and passing mistakes," said Bisons head coach Vanessa Martinez Lagunas. "Something we talked about in the second half was to calm down and keep the ball."
"Good teams are the ones that after a defeat, they bounce back stronger than before," said Martinez Lagunas. "That's what we're going to do."
With the loss, the Manitoba Bisons drop to 1-1 on the season while the Saskatchewan Huskies improve to 2-0. Saskatchewan has now beaten Manitoba six conference games in a row to tie their overall record against the Bisons at 6-6 during ten Canada West seasons. The Bisons will play again on Saturday, September 13 at 6 p.m. CT as they host their crosstown University of Winnipeg rivals in the 24th annual Duckworth Challenge at the University of Manitoba Turf Fields. The Huskies will travel to Mount Royal University to play the Cougars on Saturday, September 13 at 12 p.m. MT at MRU Stadium Field.