Ryan Stelter, Bison Sports

WINNIPEG – On a frigid evening, the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves beat the University of Manitoba Bisons 1-0 at the U of M West Turf Fields on Friday, Oct. 13 in women's soccer.

With the loss, the Bisons drop to 3-5-3, while the Timberwolves improve to 3-7-1 in Canada West play. 

The Timberwolves struck first in the 20th minute when Timberwolves forward Sidney Roy scored from in close. Manitoba put the pressure on for an equalizer and came closest in the 29th minute when Bison midfielder Amanda Wong fired a low, hard shot from the 18-yard line but Timberwolves goalkeeper Brooke Molby dived to make the stop.

Roy almost had another goal in the 32nd minute. Bison defender Kailyn Balfour mishandled a pass and Roy swooped in to take the ball on goal. With no one to beat but Bison goalkeeper Maddie Wilford, Roy chipped the ball just over the bar.

With the temperatures dropping, the teams headed into half time with the visiting Timberwolves up 1-0.

The second half was largely dominated by the Bisons, desperate to tie the game to keep their four game unbeaten streak alive. In the 74th minute, Bison forward Alyssa Daley forced her way into UNBC's 18-yard box and dropped a pass for midfielder Rebecca Martin. Martin took a touch, and curled a shot just wide of a diving Molby. 

"We need to be lethal, you have one or two chances you need to make sure you put it in, because if you don't and the other team scores on their chances then you lose the game," Bison head coach Vanessa Martinez Lagunas said of her team squandering their chances. 

Molby was called into action a few more times before the final whistles, making some crucial clearances. UNBC was stout in their defence, not allowing a lot of Manitoba scoring opportunities.

"If you do not score you can not win, and of course if you make one mistake you are punished," Martinez Lagunas said. "We need to learn from this and have our heads up, tomorrow is a new game and another opportunity."

Manitoba will stay at home and host the MacEwan Griffins on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m. CT, while UNBC will play the Winnipeg Wesmen at 7 p.m. CT the same day.