VICTORIA - The Manitoba Bisons delivered the University of Victoria Vikes women's soccer team a scare in Canada West play on Saturday at Centennial Stadium, building a 2-0 first-half lead before #Nathalie Scharf# lifted the Vikes with a goal and assist in the second half en route to a 2-2 tie.

UVic earns a valuable point and improves to 4-4-3, while the Bisons earned a point to move up to 2-6-1.

The Vikes host the Regina Cougars (0-7-1) on Sunday at 12 p.m. at Centennial Stadium.

BOX SCORE / VIDEO

The Bisons had goals from Alison Flintoff (6th minute) and Gillian Sidon (36th minute) to build a 2-0 lead at the half, while Scharf (Salmon Arm, B.C.) scored once and assisted on Carsen Machin's game-tying goal in the 54th minute to help the Vikes claw back.

In the sixth minute, Flinthoff (Neepawa, Man.) took a ball off an initial shot off a Sidon shot that richocheted off the post and hammered it in. Flintoff needed some help of her own as her shot first hit the post before deflecting into the net past Vikes keeper #Stephanie Parker# (Chemainus, B.C.).

Manitoba extended the lead to 2-0 when junior fullback Sidon (Winnipeg) joined the rush and took a pass from midfield substitute Jaime Lacoste (Winnipeg), turned and fired it into the net with eight minutes remining in the opening half.

The Vikes were not pleased and responded with a purpose in the second half.

Scharf, a first-half substitute, scored on a shot from 35 yards out that bounced and gave Chloe Werle difficulty, eventually bouncing over her outstretched arms to pull the Vikes within one. Then three minutes later, Machin deflected a cross from Scharf to tie the game at 2-2. As Machin turned, she connected the outside of her boot with the ball putting a nice spin on it and the ball bounced freely into the goal.

The Vikes had several more opportunities to go ahead but could not find the back of the net. In the 60th minute, #Jaclyn Sawicki# (Coquitlam, B.C.) saw her chance sail high. Then in the final seven minutes, Scharf's shot was blocked by Manitoba senior defender Julie Lafreniere (Winnipeg).

Four minutes later, freshman forward #Emma Greig# (Tofino, B.C.) was also robbed by Werle who did well to keep the game at a 2-2 tie.