Soccer thunderbirds strut their stuff
Bisons loss drops record to 1-1-0
ROMER BAUTISTA, STAFF
Photo by Eryn Mackenzie.
Defending CIS women’s soccer champions the UBC Thunderbirds showed the University of Manitoba Bisons that they were still the top dogs in Canada West, with a resounding 4-1 victory Sunday afternoon at University Stadium.
The Bisons (1-1-0) started off strong, keeping the action in their offensive zone, and getting the first scoring opportunity of the game. Forward Caley Miskimmin made a run in the sixth minute, but had her shot go wide of the goal.
The Thunderbirds (2-0-0) recovered quickly from their tentative start, sending the Bisons back on their heels with an offensive flurry. The nation’s top-ranked team was able to get three goals past Bisons goalkeeper Ashley Forbes in a span of just 15 minutes.
CIS all-star Caitlin Davie got the visitors on the board in the 26th minute, driving the ball over the outstretched arms of Forbes from just inside the penalty box. Four minutes later, forward Carmen Lindsay fired another long-range bullet that Forbes wasn’t able to get a piece of. The Thunderbirds capped off their strong first-half with some nifty passing that eventually led to an easy goal by Natalie Hirayama from just six feet out.
The Bisons had their fair share of opportunities in the first half as well, but were unable to make the most of them, thanks to the stingy play of the Thunderbirds’ defensive core and some passing mistakes on behalf of the Bisons forwards. The Bisons’ inability to capitalize on their chances was a point that both teams’ coaches were well aware of.
“We’re still learning as a young team. The more experienced teams, they don’t miss those opportunities, as you saw with (UBC). They had probably fewer opportunities than we did, and they capitalized on them,” said Bisons head coach Walt McKee.
“I think we were fortunate,” said Thunderbirds assistant coach Stephen Baarts. “The score, I don’t think was indicative of the way the game went. We were just lucky enough that our chances went in, and their chances hit people and the posts and stuff. Those things happen.”
The Bisons came out of the halftime break with a much stronger effort, but still had a difficult time getting past the Thunderbirds defence. When they did get in behind the defenders, they had an equally difficult time getting the ball past Thunderbirds goalkeeper Jill Kinsman, who finished the match with five saves. Kinsman, a converted forward, was filling in for CIS all-star Jackie Dunnett, who missed the game due to a shoulder injury.
The Bisons finally solved the Thunderbirds defence in the 84th minute. Forward Karli Colpitts made a run down the left side of the field, and sent a cross into the box, where the ball found itself on the foot of forward Lianna Bestvater, who nudged the ball past Kinsman.
The Thunderbirds answered swiftly, however, when defender Michele Yakashiro headed a goal past Forbes in the 86th minute. Forbes finished the match with seven saves.
The Bisons’ offensive struggles on the day were amplified in the 53rd minute, when Desiree Scott was taken down just outside the penalty box by Thunderbird defender Kelly Isberg. Scott left the game clutching her right shoulder, and did not return. Her status for next week’s games is still up in the air.
“We’ll take it easy with (Scott) for the next few days — make sure she is 100 per cent before we travel (next week),” McKee said after the game.
Despite the loss, the Bisons were still pleased with the results of their weekend. In Saturday afternoon’s season opener, the Bisons rallied from a 1-0 deficit to defeat the University of Victoria Vikes, 2-1. Scott scored the game-winning marker.
“Overall, I’m happy satisfied with the way things went this weekend. We played two of the top teams in the country, and we beat one of them,” said McKee.
The Bisons continue their season next week, when they travel for two away games against the Fraser Valley Cascades and Trinity Western Spartans. The Thunderbirds have their home opener next weekend, when they host the Victoria Vikes.
