After opening the season with a 43-19 stomping of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies on Aug. 30, the U of M Bisons football team got a taste of its own medicine Friday in a 49-21 loss at Griffiths Stadium.
With a pair of national championship appearances in the rear-view, the Bisons welcomed the 2019-20 season with fresh new faces and a two-game sweep at the hand of the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns.
The club went from a fourth-place finish in the conference standings and hosting a playoff series, to seventh-place and out of the playoffs. A massive graduating class hurt the herd even more, but according to fifth-year Bisons defender Adam Henry, the team will be just fine heading into the 2019-20 season.
Manitoba had the lead at halftime and Regina clawed back to take the lead late, but Matt Riley played the hero in a 27-26 win.
There was no love lost as the U of M Bisons men’s hockey team locked horns with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns on the weekend. The series was tough, physical and full of goals as both sides earned a win.
With thunderclouds rumbling outside, the U of M Bisons women’s soccer team headed inside to the Winnipeg Soccer Federation South Complex for a pair of games against a pair of basement-dwelling Pacific Coast opponents this weekend.
This quiet sky turned out to be a sign for the day’s Canada West football action, as the visiting University of British Columbia Thunderbirds were silenced by a 37-19 U of M Bisons win.
Often when U Sports programs try to recruit players they offer them scholarships, playing time or even rely on the name recognition and pedigree of a particular team to draw in talent. For U of M Bisons women’s soccer rookie Stefanie Young, what got the ball rolling was a friend.
After a split series to open the season, the U of M Bisons women’s soccer team headed to British Columbia looking to pick up some valuable points in the standings. Instead, after a pair of losses, the herd came home empty handed.
Manitoba finished 12th for saves in Canada West with 53, showing that strong defensive play also had a big impact. But although the old adage says “defence wins championships,” the objective of the game is still to outscore your opponent. Thankfully for the herd, it has just the pieces required to take the club to the next level.