The UNBC Timberwolves Women’s Soccer team had some golden opportunities, coming within inches on numerous occasions of the breakthrough they were looking for, but eventually had to settle for a 3-1 loss to the Manitoba Bisons on Sunday in Prince George.
Just seven minutes into the game, the TWolves got on the board. After Paige Payne’s corner kick was cleared, defender Avery Nystedt stepped into the ball from 35 yards out, putting it up and over the outstretch arms of freshman goalkeeper Daria Reimer. The goal was the first of Nystedt’s Canada West career, and gave UNBC an early one-goal advantage.
In minute 13, the Bisons found the equalizer. Bianca Cavalcanti was in the right spot and the right time, beating UNBC’s first-year keeper Brityn Hinsche from in tight to knot the game at 1-1. Manitoba wasn’t done there, utilizing their speed to seize momentum and put the home side on their back foot. Three minutes after Cavalcanti got them going, the Bisons got the go-ahead marker as Jenna Kunkel cleaned up a rebound off a Briana Bucci arcing shot, scoring her second of the campaign and making it 2-1.
UNBC tilted the pitch in the other direction after falling behind, and nearly tied the game a number of times, including a Paige Payne blast that beat Reimer, but just curved over the crossbar, and a Kambria Mellum shot that rang off the crossbar and out. A Camryn Cline run was nearly rewarded, as the second-year’s shot trickled just wide behind Reimer, but the Bisons found themselves up 2-1 after 45 minutes.
Both teams traded opportunities in the second half, as the visitors came close off the foot of Jessica Tsai, as well as a blast from Breyanna Johnston-Krulicki that was knocked wide by a diving Hinsche.
The TWolves pressured hard late, and seized control of the match, earning chance after chance in the dying minutes. The best opportunity came in the 90th minute, off another corner kick. Paige Payne sent it in and found the head of Nystedt, who labeled it past Reimer, but it was head miraculously by a Bisons defender standing on the goalline.
With UNBC playing a fully-attacking style, Manitoba’s Chloe Morin was able to add another to the scoresheet, burying a great look for her first goal of the season, and sealing the final result for the Bisons.
With the victory, Manitoba improves to 3-1, while UNBC drops to 2-2 on the season. Reimer was credited with five saves, while Hinsche made three saves for the Timberwolves.