Box Score
Home Game:

WSOC: MAN (0) at MRU (2)


The Mount Royal Cougars women's soccer team has finished a record breaking regular season for their program after a 2-0 win over the University of Manitoba Bison's today.

MRU finished with more wins than ever before (7), more points (25) and a winning record of over 0.500 (0.577) for the first time in their USPORT history.

Manitoba had an almost instant opportunity 14 seconds into the game when Jenna Kunkel ran onto a long ball sent into the MRU box. The shot was barely saved with a toe block sent left by Lizzy Knight.

A whistle in the 4th minute robbed the Cougars of the first goal of the game, when Monet Alonso-Cruz sent it in to Athena Fourlas who was just offside.

An absolute rocket of a shot from Alonso-Cruz came in the 13th minute to secure her the goal she clearly wanted. It came after a free kick was taken by Fourlas and was headed by Bryn Barrett to Alonso-Cruz who was waiting patiently and fired low throw traffic. The shot just clipped the fingers of the MAN goalie, Karina Bagi, on its way into the right corner.

The Bisons had a near opportunity in the 19th, just sneaking over the top of the cross bar.

Bagi made a miracle save and rejected Catriona McFadden's goal opportunity in the 26 minute. The penalty came after Manitoba took a goal scoring opportunity from the Cougars on a quick approach up the left side.

A second penalty kick was awarded in the 68th minute for MRU. Alexi Watson stepped up to the spot and sent her shot with speed into the bottom left corner.

Keilyn Stabler also made her mark today with a goal line save to back Knight in the 85th, keeping Manitoba off the scoreboard.

Sydney Danielewicz shared the Cougar love with two shots in extra time, keeping the pressure high against MAN to seal the shutout win, both going just outside the posts but not allowing the Bisons an opportunity.

The Cougars couldn't be stopped today. Their on field connection and communication was textbook, with precision passing and picture perfect defence, repeatedly intercepting and stripping the ball off Bison offence.

Mount Royals offence was just as satisfying to watch, with incredible runs down field and constantly being in the right position to collect a pass or a rebound.

This Cougars performance shows the team coming together in the exact way they need for a successful playoff run.

The women have clinched a second place finish for the regular season, a program high, and will now host a playoff game Sunday, October 29. This allows them home field advantage for their first playoff appearance this season. The match will take place at Stadium Field against the University of Calgary Dinos for one last Crowchild Classic soccer match-up.

Come out and cheer on the team live, or catch the game online at Canada West TV as they move one step closer to their Championship goal.

Today also marked Senior Night for the Cougars. Alexi Watson, Monet Alonso-Cruz and Ashytn Haycock all dressed for their last regular season home game representing MRU.

"It felt really good, I think just playing with the team, we had a lot of energy and came out wanting to win this game," said Watson. "I think it was awesome because we just played for each other today."

Alonso-Cruz agreed with her teammate, saying "today we definitely played together and honestly it was a great last home game."

To wrap it up, Haycock looked forward to the playoffs, saying "we definitely have the opportunity to do well, we just have to keep playing as a team and bring this energy again."

Go Cougars. 


Players of the Game: Alexi Watson, Monet Alonso-Cruz, Ashtyn Haycock.


Away Game:

MSOC: MRU (2) at LET (2)