WINNIPEG — A goalline scramble in the second half left both the Winnipeg Wesmen and Fraser Valley Cascades with a point, yet with both sides lamenting the loss of three.
Sarah Parker's shot in the 51st minute inched across the line and proved the final tally Friday as the Cascades pulled even in a 2-2 draw with the Wesmen in Canada West women's soccer action at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex.
And while both teams secured a point in the conference standings – the first of the season for the Cascades (0-2-1) – both sides felt like they deserved a better fate.
"We're scoring goals and we're competing," Wesmen head coach Amy Anderson said. "I feel like we were better today than we were (last Sunday) against Regina so that's a positive for sure. Any time you can grab a point in this league it's good. Generally we feel good, but we want the three points. And I think we're going to be able to get better and better as we go."
On the other side, UFV head coach Rob Giesbrecht sang a similar tune.
"I thought we had (the momentum) for most of the game. I thought we had a lull in the last 15 or so of the first half and kind of took our foot off the gas," UFV coach Rob Giesbrecht said. "You can't do that in Canada West. … Second half, I thought we were the better team but I don't think we created enough high-quality chances. At the end of the day, our execution let us down. I think it was more frustration that we didn't do more to get the three points."
The Cascades were on the board first when Tavia Jasper found a loose ball in the six-yard box after the Wesmen were unable to clear and scored 10 minutes in.
The Wesmen swung possession their way late in the half and were rewarded with a pair of goals. First, Jasper was yellow-carded inside the 18-yard box in the 37th minute, which led to a penalty kick from the spot for Maeghan Lindsay. The fourth-year forward struck with confidence and the Wesmen pulled even at 1. It was Lindsay's second goal of the season and second straight game with a tally.
"I think it did take us a bit to get into the game, for sure," Lindsay said. "I think for our home-opener there's always a bit of nerves, but once we got in it we were fine. I feel with our team we were a lot better than we have been. We're progressing for sure. I think It was a bit disappointing that we didn't get a win, for sure, but a point is everything in this league."
Six minutes later, second-year forward Shae-Lynn Dodds benefited from a rebound to her foot and she one-timed in for her second goal of the season.
Madison Fordyce made four saves on six shots on goal for the Wesmen (0-1-2), while Andrea Perkovic made five saves on seven shots for the Cascades.
The Wesmen host the No. 1-ranked Trinity Western Spartans on Saturday night, while the Cascades head across the city to play the Manitoba Bisons.