Highlights from a busy weekend of Bisons Sports on campus
Romer Bautista, Staff
Soccer
Bisons clinch playoff berth with two victories
For the first time in their three-year history, the Bisons soccer team has clinched a spot in the post-season. The U of M team was able to reach this milestone via a 3-2 victory over the University of Alberta Pandas on Oct. 13, and a 5-2 win over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Oct. 14. The Bisons are now 8-2-0, and sit in first place in Canada West.
The action was quiet for the first half of Saturday’s game, with both defences able to keep the other team off the score sheet. However, things picked up in the second half in a big way. Desiree Scott got the home team on the board five minutes into the half, finishing off a perfect feed from Caley Miskimmin. Miskimmin wasn’t finished there, as just three minutes later she was able break in all alone, and score a goal herself to put the Bisons up two. After U of A’s Veronique Mayer cut the Bisons’ lead in half, Manitoba’s leading goal-scorer Karli Colpitts netted the game-winner in the 71st minute. That goal was crucial, as Alberta was able to score their second of the night in the 74th minute.
After Saturday’s down-to-the-wire game, the Bisons knew it would be best for them to get off to a better start on Sunday; and that they did. The Bisons scored three goals in the first 12 minutes of play and never looked back. The three goals came off the feet of Miskimmin, Nancy Feir, and Carrie Nash. Scott and Colpitts added goals later in the half to seal the victory. Elizabeth Hudon scored the Huskies’ two goals.
The Bisons have now set new team records in wins and points in a season, and they still have four more games to go. Two of those games come next weekend, when they travel to B.C. to take on the University of Victoria Vikes and the UBC Thunderbirds.
Women’s basketball:
Pack the Place Pink Night a huge success; Bisons take silver at Garbonzo’s Invitational
A raucous, energetic, pink-clothing-wearing crowd was treated to a pair of entertaining basketball games Saturday evening, all in the name of a good cause. It was Pack the Place Pink Night, and thanks to the hard work of women’s basketball head coach Pam Danis and her squad, Bison Sports was able to donate $10,000 to CancerCare Manitoba.
The real action was on the court, however, as the Bisons found themselves locked in battle with the Toronto Varsity Blues in Saturday’s first game. The action was back and forth throughout the game, with both teams taking turns acquiring, then squandering, double-digit leads. For Manitoba, it was the play of their guards that kept them in the game, with Tessa Klassen, Michelle Hynes, and Leigh-Anne Legal-Young combining for 43 points. However, with the game winding down, and the Bisons down by a basket, it was their centre Melanie Schlichter who scored the game-tying points to push the game into overtime. With the home crowd abuzz, and momentum on their side, the Bisons made easy work of the Blues in the extra frame, to win 92-82.
In the second of Saturday night’s games, the Simon Fraser Clan defeated the Concordia Stingers 79-65.
Saturday’s results nearly mirrored Friday night’s opening-day results. Friday’s action saw the Bisons take care of the Stingers 91-77, with the Clan taking down the Varsity Blues 69-51. Schlichter had a stellar line in the Bisons victory, finishing with team-highs in points (20), rebounds (nine), and blocks (three), while adding three assists and a steal.
That set up the gold-medal deciding game between the Bisons and the Clan, last year’s CIS champions. Simon Fraser used their obvious size advantage to dominate play inside the paint enroute to a 95-70 victory. Centre Matteke Hutzler had a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Kait Flett led the Bisons with 12 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
The Bisons continue to gear up for the regular season this weekend with a pair of games against the Lakehead Thunderwolves. Regular season action begins Nov. 1.
