Coming off the 2-1 loss against the MacEwan Griffins on Sept. 27, where the herd had chances of tying the game but failed to capitalize their opportunities, the Bisons soccer team decided to prove themselves against the Alberta Pandas whom they played against on Oct. 3 and 4 at home.
On Saturday, the Bisons won the game 3-2 and on Sunday, 4-1.
Reflecting upon the Bisons’ track record with the Pandas, since October 2024, the herd has managed to remain undefeated against them.
However, there was one instance that cannot be overlooked. At the 15-minute mark, the ball was rolling just outside the penalty box toward the Bisons goalkeeper, Kailey Johnston-Krulicki. There was a misunderstanding where the Bisons defender may not have been aware of the opponent and waited for the ball to go to Johnston-Krulicki.
Noticing the opponent player, Johnston-Krulicki ran toward the ball, however, finding herself outside the penalty box. Just then, the Pandas striker swooped in. The ball without a touch from the Pandas’ player went past the goalkeeper. Although Johnston-Krulicki dived, she could not grab the ball. Hence, it was a simple tap-in goal for Pandas’ Erin Hope, the first goal of the game, 0-1.
At the 26-minute mark, Malaya Fernandes gave a lofted pass that Bianca Cavalcanti received, setting the ball up beautifully for Sarina Mann to tap into the net – an equalizing goal for the Bisons.
Cavalcanti seemed not to be done. Three minutes later, the forward intercepted a pass from the Pandas’ defence just outside the opponent’s penalty box and placed it right into the corner of the goalpost, giving the Pandas’ goalkeeper no chance at saving. Suddenly, the Bisons were leading 2-1.
However, the first half ended with the score of 2-2.
In the second half, around the 57-minute mark, Mann brilliantly dribbled across the heavily guarded midfield and switched the play to the right side of the field. The ball eventually ended up with Lily Polet, who sprinted past the Pandas’ defender and shot it into bottom corner.
The Bisons were now back in the lead, 3-2.
Although this was the final score, the herd did not stop attacking. In the last 10 minutes of the game, they had three more shots on target.
Bisons soccer interim head coach Fabio Capone, said the season has had both “ups and downs,” but there were “more ups than downs.”
Capone commented, “In today’s game, as much possession that Alberta had, once we got an opportunity to get on the ball, we are very dangerous in our transition.”
Despite the injuries that have been plaguing the squad, the team went all-in on Saturday’s game, which was shown in their tougher physicality, an element that has been relatively absent this season.
Capone also addressed the player injuries, saying, “I guess there’s always going to be knocks.” He added, “We started the season with a smaller roster, only because it was about three or four girls with some really serious knocks, but I would say we’re about as healthy as we’re going to be with five games left in the season.”
“Everybody wants to be part of this story that we’re writing,” said Capone.
Compared to the previous week’s games against the Griffins, the Bisons switched from their strategy of attacking from the centre to attacking from the wings.
Talking about using the strategy of attacking from the wings, Capone explained, “[It] really started with our backline, so Elana, who was pulling out of the centre back, was skipping past a few players and felt more comfortable delivering on a right foot to that open side and then again player profiles, the girl that was on the second half on that wing is very quick.”
The Bisons are set to play the Mount Royal Cougars in Calgary, Alta. on Oct. 17 and 18.
