It was a story punctuated in Minute 77, but one that was more than four weeks in the making.

Tia Lecox scored her first career goal off a free kick in the 77th minute and lifted the Winnipeg Wesmen women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over the Regina Cougars Sunday, the team's first Canada West win of the season and one that will technically go down as a victory for Aug. 27, 2022. 

The two teams played the second half of the match that was delayed by rain 29 days earlier and it was Lecox's decisive strike that proved the difference. The third-year midfielder, who was subbed on 13 minutes prior, got her opportunity after a Regina handball more than 30 yards from goal. Lecox wasted no time in stepping up to the ball, catching Regina keeper Allyson Ford off her line and lofting a perfect strike over Ford's head, and narrowly underneath the bar, to give Winnipeg its first win since the 2019 season and first victory over the Cougars since a 1-0 win in Regina, Oct. 16, 2016.

"I'm thrilled for the players. They've been working hard since the end of last season, all winter," Wesmen head coach Amy Anderson said. "We knew we had a lot of catching up to do and we know we have to work hard, but the girls have responded. It's just nice to see the results today."

The Wesmen played without Jazmyn Castro (concussion protocol) and Jessica Munoz (knee), both of whom were on the original scoresheet and unable to be replaced. That in itself played a role in Lecox being in the right place at the right time to get the chance for glory after the Wesmen used a mighty northerly wind that kept possession in the Regina half of the pitch for most of play. 

"I think our confidence has grown with being on the ball and not panicking," Anderson said. "We've been working on that in practice and having that composure and it's clear we've gotten better in that area."

Madison Priebe, the keeper of record for Winnipeg, earned her first career victory but was never truly challenged in the final 45 minutes. She finished with five saves, three on Sunday. 

Ford was also responsible for three saves. 

Winnipeg generated two corners in the second half and forced Regina into taking nine second-half fouls, which helped the Wesmen threaten throughout. 

The Wesmen will next host Alberta and MacEwan Oct. 1-2 at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex.