November 1 - After reaching the playoffs for the first time in their three year CIS history, the Manitoba Bison women’s soccer team continues to make history. The Bisons (10-4-0 in regular season) defeated the Alberta Pandas (6-7-1) in a Canada West Quarter Final match by a 3-2 shootout victory at UBC on Thursday, November 1.

With the exciting playoff victory, #9 Manitoba advances to play #10 ranked Victoria (10-4-0 in regular season) in the Canada West Semi-Final on Saturday, November 3 at 3:30 p.m. CT. The winner of this match will play in the Canada West Championship and earns a berth into the CIS Championship being held at Cape Breton University from November 8-11.

In the conference quarter final match, Manitoba scorers were Carrie Nash and Caley Miskimmin. After two 15 minute scoreless extra time settled nothing, the Bisons prevailed in the shootout by a 4-2 margin. Netminder Ashley Forbes made two saves for the Herd while Miskimmin, Stephanie Rurak, Dana Baker and Desiree Scott found the back of the net.

Bison women’s soccer assistant coach Gary Johnson commented after the game from UBC, “The girls are excited about the result and happy to earn our first playoff win in the program’s history. It was a hard fought match and we will rest, recover and be ready for Victoria on Saturday.”

The Bisons played Victoria twice during the 2007 regular season and split the season series. Manitoba won 2-1 on Sept. 8 at home and lost 1-0 on the road on Oct. 20.

Manitoba is the third seed in the Canada West playoffs and stayed in the CIS Top 10 for seven consecutive weeks. The Herd was ranked number nine in the country heading into the Canada West Championship playoffs.

The team establishes new team records for most wins at ten (old record: 6 in 2006) and points at 30 (old record: 19 in 2006) in their three year history in CIS action. The Bisons also scored 28 goals in 2007 to break old team record of 24 goals scored in 2006.

Complete statistics...