CALGARY – In what looked to be a game destined for a scoreless tie, the Manitoba Bisons had different plans, as third year defender Meagan Smith made good in the 89th minute to send the Bisons home with the 1-0 victory against the University of Calgary Dinos.

BOX SCORE

Smith (Clanwilliam, MB), who did not start the match, took the pass from team captain Desiree Scott (5th, Winnipeg) and found the far left side of the net past the outstretched Dinos goaltender Kristen Barton. Both Scott and Caley Miskimmin (5th, Winnipeg), who along with Karli Colpitts led the Bisons in scoring in 2008, drew assists on the goal. Scott most recently played for Team Canada at the 2009 FISU games, where she teamed up with Dinos midfielder Lindsay Burrowes.

The late goal put a blemish on an otherwise tremendous afternoon for Barton, who bounced back from a fairly rough outing in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Regina Cougars. Barton, who had to shake off an inadvertent hit to the face from a Dinos teammate early on, made 10 saves on the afternoon, with one coming in dramatic fashion where she laid out to punch a potential goal away in the first half.

Her counterpart, Ashley Forbes (4th, Winnipeg), made one less save, but took home the victory instead, something Barton would have certainly rather had. Forbes made every stop she needed to throughout the match against a Dinos team that looked fairly lifeless on offense in comparison to their five goal outburst on Saturday.

Saturday's hero, Tessa Miller, managed only two shots on goal, with Joanna Ng matching her in that department. Morena Ianniello led the team with three shots on goal, but they were to no avail as the Dinos seemed out of sync up front for the majority of the match.

The Bisons were led by Miskimmon and Jaime Lacoste (3rd, Winnipeg), who each registered three shots on goal in the gritty victory for the Winnipeg based team.

Manitoba, who leaves Alberta with the 2-0 record they were looking for to start the season, will return home next weekend to face the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and the University of Alberta Pandas. Both clubs are coming off a tough weekend against the Trinity Western Spartans and the UBC Thunderbirds.

The Calgary Dinos on the other hand, will hit the road next weekend to face the University of Victoria Vikes and the University of Fraser Valley Cascades. Calgary, who after a bewildering weekend is now 1-1, will return home on the weekend of September 26th and 27th to get their shot at the Pandas and Huskies.

-UC-