CALGARY- The No. 5 University of Calgary women's soccer team suffered a devastating loss on home soil this Saturday afternoon as the Manitoba Bisons handed the team a 1-0 defeat, thus eliminating the Dinos from the Canada West Playoffs.
Calgary had their first dangerous chance of the match in the 6th minute, as Carmen Lee gathered the ball and ripped a shot from in tight that Madison Wilford managed to stop, keeping the score 0-0.
Manitoba's keeper came up with more huge saves in the 30th and 33rd minutes, as she robbed both Kira Lee and Jordan Smith from their chances. Mollee Ramsay was also denied any attack on net, with both attempts grabbed out of the air by the goalie.
Despite the multitude of shots in the first half, Manitoba was able to get out without any harm, keeping the match at 0-0. The half came to an end with the Dinos holding the 12-2 edge in shots.
The Manitoba Bisons were able to take the 1-0 lead in the 49th minute, as Sara Schur passed a picture-perfect ball over to Rebecca Martin, who neatly tucked it into the back of the net. The goal was Martin's first of the season.
Following the goal by Manitoba, the Dinos defense stepped up their game, not allowing for the creation of any more dangerous chances by the opponents. Calgary had a golden opportunity to tie the match several times, but remained unlucky. Dominica Wronski (57th), Natalie Arnett (60th and 65th), Maddison Fritze (66th), and Maddie Lee (81st), all seemed unable to find luck when facing off one-on-one with the keeper.
Madison Wilford finished the match with 13 saves for the Bisons, while Sophia Traxler made three saves for the Dinos. Calgary outshot the Bisons 27-6.
The game marks the end of the 2016 women's soccer campaign, a fact that clearly dissatisfied both the team and coaches. Head coach Troye Flannery lamented, "It was a bit of a disappointing season; there's nothing that we've done before today that matters. You lose one game and you're out. We generated chances to win fifty games, but we didn't finish any of the chances. There are no excuses whatsoever."
With road win, Manitoba advance to Canada West Select Six, played from November 3-6.