Bobcats dominate but drop opener to Les Rouges

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This article was published 11/09/2023 (938 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon University Bobcats were the better team in every way but one on Saturday. That one, however, was finishing.

The St. Boniface Les Rouges buried their only good scoring chance to take the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference women’s soccer opener 1-0 at the Healthy Living Centre field.

Brandon had chance after chance, hitting a few posts and forcing clutch saves. St. Boniface jumped on one through ball as Rachel Mann tucked it off the right post and in midway through the second half.

It’s tough to say who should feel better about the result.

“Honestly, (I prefer) feeling like we got robbed right now,” said Bobcats forward Brogan Henry.

“We played a better game than them so just moving forward we’re going to work on our finishing and hopefully next game we can come out and finish.”

“At the end, it’s the point that matters,” replied fullback Emilie Dornez. “It doesn’t matter how many chances … it’s how many goals you have. But it was still a good game.”

The first half was fairly uneventful but Brandon wasted no time testing goalkeeper Alexi Gagnon in the second. Kenadie Janzen fired a shot past her just three minutes into the second half but it bounced off the post and sat on the line for a defender to clear. Kylie Van De Woestyne’s ensuing corner kick required another goal-line clearance.

Brandon crossed the ball into dangerous spots and forced a few more big saves before Mann pounced on a through ball on a quick counterattack.

“We had multiple opportunities we could have finished. They had this one opportunity and they finished. It’s unlucky and we were all pushed forward, it was a good ball through and they finished,” said Dornez, who’s playing a huge role in new coach Orlin Chalmers’ system as a fullback that regularly pushes up into the attack.

“I like it. I worked a lot on my fitness over the summer so it pays off in this kind of position. I can do a bit of everything, defending, attacking.”

Gagnon recorded 16 saves for the clean sheet while Bobcats keeper Josie Black turned aside seven shots.

The Bobcats got back on track Sunday, defeating the host Assiniboine Community College Cougars 7-0 at the Sportsplex.

Ashley Robinson collected a hat trick for Brandon, while Bien Van Berkel, Henry, Mackenzie Boyes and Pia Bokingkito scored a goal each.

The Bobcats return to action next Sunday at home against the Providence Pilots. The Cougars visit the Canadian Mennonite University Blazers on Saturday and cap a home-and-home the following day.

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