Eoin Colquhoun, Pronghorn Athletics
LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - Looking to build off a win the day prior, the Lethbridge Pronghorns were unable to crack the Manitoba Bison defence and dropped a 3-0 decision to the visiting Manitoba Bisons.
Florin Wagner scored twice and Celeste Gallego scored the other Bison marker.
A day after creating some space on the teams below them in the standings, the Lethbridge Pronghorns couldn't pick up back-to-back wins and the Bisons moved back within two points of the Pronghorns. With their 1-0 win over the Winnipeg Wesmen yesterday, the Pronghorns had moved five points ahead of the Bisons and six clear of the Wesmen in a battle for playoff positioning.
The loss drops the Pronghorns' record to 3-4-1 and with Calgary's win over the Wesmen, drop back to fifth place in the Prairie division. The Bisons improve to 2-4-2 and take control of sixth place, the final playoff spot in the division.
Throughout the match, the Bisons defence stifled the Pronghorn attack, only allowing five shot attempts with four on goal but none of them truly challenged the Bison keeper Justina Jarmoszko, who made four saves for her third shutout of the season. The Bisons finished the day with 12 shot attempts, eight on goal.
After a foul on the goalkeeper negated the game's opening goal, the Bisons would hit the scoreboard in the 20th minute. The initial cross was stopped by 'Horns keeper Micaela Stone, the ball was spilled in the box and Celeste Gallego was in the perfect spot to capitalize on the rebound for her first goal of the season.
Still pushing forward, the Bisons had a great look at doubling the score but Micaela Stone made a stellar diving save off of Sara Schur to keep the Pronghorns within one.
From a set piece only two minutes into the second half, the Bisons would double their lead. Florin Wagner's shot from 37-yards just floated over top of Stone's outstretched arms and into the back of the net.
In the 59th minute the Bisons would strike again. With a loose ball in the penalty area, Stone charged off her line but could not control the ball, and Schur fed Wagner for a wide open tap-in for her second of the game.
Looking to get back into the game, the Pronghorns best chance of the day came with 20 minutes remaining. Lindsay Amatto and Nikki Furukawa nearly got the Pronghorns on the board but Furukawa was just a step behind in reaching Amatto's cross near the 6-yard box.
The Pronghorns will get a chance to cut into the Calgary Dinos lead for fourth place next weekend, facing the Dinos in a home-and-home series. First game goes in Calgary Saturday afternoon with the back half coming back to Lethbridge on Sunday. The Bisons will also compete in a home-and-home series with crosstown rival Winnipeg Wesmen.