Women's Soccer | 9/15/2016 1:30:00 PM

SATURDAY: at Winnipeg, 6:30 p.m. CDT
SUNDAY: at Manitoba, 5:30 p.m., CDT

The University of Regina women's soccer team is set for the first road games of the 2016 Canada West season this weekend, as the Cougars will head to Winnipeg to face off against the Winnipeg Wesmen and Manitoba Bisons.

The Cougars enter the weekend with an 0-1-1 record, after tying Fraser Valley 1-1 and falling 1-0 to Trinity Western at home last weekend. Brianna Wright scored the lone Regina goal on the opening weekend, nailing a perfect strike from 30 yards out to help the Cougars earn a point in their conference opener.

"I liked the consistency with which we played for large stretches of both games, and the mentality that our athletes carried through two very tight matches," head coach Bob Maltman said. "We were able to settle down and get back into rhythm after getting scored on on Saturday and we remained organized for the majority of the game against a nationally ranked opponent on Sunday."

Winnipeg earned points in both of their games last weekend on the road, topping the University of Northern British Columbia 4-0 in their first game and then playing Alberta to a 0-0 draw the following day. Wesmen keeper Taylor Thorkelsson earned Canada West Second Star of the Week honours after stopping three shots against UNBC and making 11 saves against Alberta.

The Cougars and Wesmen played an exhibition match in Regina on Aug. 19, which saw the Cougars earn a 2-1 victory at Leibel Field. Wright and Shayla Kapila scored in that match, while rookie striker Claire Preston replied for the Wesmen.

The Bisons played the same opponents as Winnipeg, falling 2-0 to Alberta before bouncing back for a 5-0 drubbing of UNBC on Sunday. Fifth-year midfielder Selina Speranza led the charge for the Bisons against UNBC, netting a hat trick in the win.

"Our mistakes through the first two games are correctable, and we know we can be tidier with the ball and take advantage of our opportunities," Maltman added. "Our fate is in our own hands moving forward - we have the talent and fitness levels as well as the togetherness as a team to compete with anybody."

The Cougars will face Winnipeg at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday evening before readying themselves for a 4:30 p.m. start time against the Bisons on Sunday.

Note: The Cougars have never lost to Winnipeg in conference play (4-0-1).