DAVID LARKINS, Wesmen Athletics

The Manitoba Bisons have drawn the first points in the annual Duckworth Challenge. 

Emma Friesen scored her first career goal for the Winnipeg Wesmen, but the Bisons got two goals in the first 15 minutes to come away with a 5-1 Canada West conference women's soccer victory at the U of M Thursday night.

The match served as the soccer portion in the Duckworth Challenge, giving the Bisons an early advantage in the five-game event that will include men's and women's basketball and volleyball in January 2022. 

Friesen, who largely played on the back end as a freshman in 2019 but has been threatening in the attack at times through five games this season, found herself free inside the 18-yard box and beat Bisons keeper Karina Bagi in the 82nd minute for her first goal as a Wesmen. Friesen, who had four shots as a first-year defender, has already doubled that total in 2021. 

"I'm thrilled for Emma," Wesmen head coach Amy Anderson said. "She's worked hard, she's worked hard on her own and she's been in the gym doing things right. She did well."

Bianca Cavalcanti (2', 15' PK) and Jenna Kunkel (51', 60') had the Bisons goals before reserve Paris Sidhu scored in time added on in the second half.

Kunkel and Friesen were named the players of the game. 

"They scored two really quick and I think it was mentally really hard for us to recover," Anderson said. "Bisons played well but we made some mistakes that we've been trying to focus on in practice and that was disappointing. At the end of the day, I think we disappointed ourselves, so I'm hoping that we come out better on Saturday. ... We fought 'til the end, but that's a disappointing game for us today."

The teams meet at UWinnipeg's home pitch — Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex — Saturday at noon. 

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