Bianca Cavalcanti's Hat Trick Leads Bisons to Comeback Win
The Manitoba Bisons didn’t just steal three points in Lethbridge. They ripped up the script.
Down 2–0 with less than 10 minutes to play on Sunday at Community Stadium, Manitoba exploded for three late goals — all from Bianca Cavalcanti — to stun the Lethbridge Pronghorns 3–2 and hand interim head coach Fabio Capone his first win in charge.
A day after a tight 2–1 loss to the same opponent, the Bisons looked headed for another frustrating result. Lethbridge struck first in the 25th minute and carried that 1–0 edge into halftime, then tightened their grip in the 73rd with a second goal that seemed to put the match out of reach.
Manitoba refused to accept it.
The spark came in the 81st minute. Cavalcanti finally broke through, cutting the deficit to 2–1 and injecting life into a team that had been chasing the game for most of the afternoon. The pressure rose. So did the belief.
Just over two minutes later, she did it again. Another finish from Cavalcanti, and suddenly the Bisons were level at 2–2, the momentum ripped away from the home side and firmly in Manitoba’s hands.
Lethbridge wobbled. Manitoba pounced.
With the Pronghorns reeling, Cavalcanti completed a remarkable hat trick in the 88th minute, slotting home the winner and completing a three-goal blitz in under seven minutes. From 2–0 down to 3–2 up, the Bisons had turned a bleak afternoon into a statement comeback and their first conference victory of the season.
Cavalcanti finished with all three Manitoba goals, the clear spearhead of an attack that refused to fade. At the other end, goalkeeper Bridget Murphy earned the win, steady in a match that swung wildly in the final stages.
For Capone, the result carried extra weight. It wasn’t just his first victory as interim head coach; it was proof of character.
“This one means a little more than just a result. There have been a lot of challenges, lessons and moments behind the scenes that have made this journey so meaningful. I'm incredibly proud of this group and grateful to be part of their journey. This is only one chapter. The story continues to be written. And the best part is, we're writing it together. One training, one game, one moment at a time. This group is starting to believe in what we can become and I couldn't be prouder to be on this journey with them,” Capone said from the road after the win.
The Bisons head back to Winnipeg with a split from the weekend series and a surge of belief that only a comeback like this can bring. Next up is homecoming on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Princess Auto Stadium, where the Herd will walk out in front of their own fans — all of whom get in for free — carrying the kind of momentum that can change a season.
