September 29 - The University of Alberta Pandas soccer came out on top, 1-0, in a highly entertaining match against the University of Manitoba Bisons, Saturday afternoon at Foote Field in Edmonton.

Both teams started slowly in the opening minutes of the first half before the Bisons put together two quality chances, both off corner kicks, at the 14 and 16 minute marks.

Alberta was provided with a gift of an opportunity mid-way through the first when the Bisons were called for a foul at the top of their own 18-yard box, setting the Pandas up with a great free-kick opportunity. The chance went for nothing as the Pandas knocked the ball around between four players and never even tested the Manitoba goal.

The teams went into the half-time break with a few chances each, but no goals.

The action continued to pick-up in the second half as the teams traded chances, shots and breakaways. Several times the lightning fast Bison strikers were able to stretch the Panda defence only to have rookie Alberta 'keeper Alecia Baldwin make the save or central defender Mickel Yuzdepski recover and make the stop. Manitoba's trio of strikers, led by Caley Miskimmin, caused fits all afternoon, but Yuzdepski, the rookie defender was equal to the task almost every time.

Mid-way through the second half, it looked like Jackie Smith gave Alberta the lead when she rose above the Bison defence and headed a corner kick on goal, only to be denied by the woodwork.

10 minutes later Alberta got on the board for good when freshman striker Salina Stanley brushed past her defender to the left side of the Bison goal and headed a great Lyndsay Stewart cross into the far right side of the visitor net.

With just six minutes remaining Manitoba began to push everyone forward looking to equalize. They flooded the Alberta 18-yard box on a corner kick and a free-kick from midfield but were denied both times, as the Pandas were able to hold onto the win.

Manitoba and Alberta, who sit first and third in Conference shots per game respectively, lived up to their billing as the Pandas managed 10 shots on goal, while the Bisons pumped eight on goal.

"What you saw out here today," said Alberta head coach Liz Jepsen, "was a direct result of the effort and dedication the players have put into their weekly training. The defence moving into the attacking half of the field and creating opportunities, the movement of the ball from the back to mids and then to the strikers, the way we played and the end result happens because of their commitment to our system of play."

The Bisons' record drops to 5-2, while Alberta improves to 3-4 in Conference action. Manitoba travels to Saskatchewan tomorrow and the University of Regina Cougars will play the visitor role at Foote Field against the Pandas tomorrow afternoon at 12:00 pm MST.

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