Golf
The Bison men’s golf team were successful in their first event of the season, capturing the team title at the 2011 Concordia Invitational two-day tournament at Village Green Golf course in Moorhead, Minn. Sept. 2-3. The Bisons shot an overall score of 572 (282-290) and -4 on the par 72 course, lifting the team to their 15th team title since the program began in 1999.
Bison student-athlete Josh Wytinck won the individual title, shooting a score of 139 (69-70) for a -5 final result, clinching a three-stroke victory. His performance was good enough to earn him Smitty’s Bison Sports Male Athlete of the Week honours for the week ending Sept. 4.
Joining Wytinck on this year’s Bison golf team are Jesse Skelton, Charlie Boyechko, Bryce Barr and Bobby Wiebe. The Bison men were in action this past week, as they took part in the Augsburg Invite held at the Majestic Oak Golf Course in Ham Lake, Minn.
Football
After allowing the Calgary Dinos (1-0) to come back to steal the victory in the Canada West season home opener, the Bisons football team traveled to Edmonton to take on the U of Alberta Golden Bears in their first road game of the season. Both teams came into the game desperate to avoid dropping to 0-2 in what looks to be a very tight CIS conference battle early on.
The first half was a mess, as the two teams turned the ball over a total of nine times and could only manage a safety and a punt single combined. The Bisons headed into halftime leading 2-1, with both teams needing to get their offences jumpstarted.
After Alberta got the second half scoring started with a field goal, the Bisons offence got rolling, as QB Khaleal Williams hooked up with WR Brandon Bowman for a huge 73-yard TD. Three minutes later, Bison WR Tyson Takasaki scored on a 21-yard passing play, extending the Bison lead to 12 before the Bears returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.
The game remained close through the fourth quarter. Bison kicker Nick Boyd nailed his only two field goals of the game, including the game winner in the last three minutes, as the Bisons squeaked out their first win of the season 22-20.
The Bisons host the U of Saskatchewan Huskies this weekend at the annual Homecoming Game.
Soccer
Bison women’s soccer announced the team captains for the 2011 season on Sept. 7. Fourth-year midfielder Meagan Smith and fourth-year defender Julie Lafreniere were selected for the second consecutive year by their coaches and fellow teammates just as the team finished up training camp before kicking off the season at home, hosting Fraiser Valley Cascades and Victoria Vikes this past weekend.
Playing at the U of M East Field, the Bisons lost their season opener Saturday to the defending Canada West champion Cascades 2-1. After a scoreless first half, the reigning champs struck first late in the second half. Bison forward Paula Fast responded five minutes later, but the Cascades would score the deciding goal and hold on for the one-goal victory.
One day later, the Bisons dropped their second game of the season, as the Vikes shut out the home team 2-0.
The Bisons hit the road for their next games against Trinity Western and UBC.
