Dear Potential Bison:

You should consider the University of Manitoba Bison Women's Soccer program as a viable option while you are looking at choices for post-secondary education and a place to continue developing your soccer career.

The University of Manitoba is an excellent school that has many educational opportunities and a variety of choices to suit your needs and career aspirations. In this environment, our student athletes receive many benefits here on campus including athletic awards to cover tuition costs, access to early registration, access to the learning assistance centre, help with study groups and a variety of other services to help make the transition as a student-athlete from High School to Post-Secondary education as smooth as possible.

On the field, our program has made it four times to the play-off stage of the Canada West Conference in 2007, 2008, 2012 and 2015. Several of our players have also achieved remarkable individual honours both in athletics and academics. Two excellent examples of these players are Desiree Scott and Julie Lafreniere. During her tenure with the Bisons (2005-2009), Desiree Scott’s individual achievements were: first team CIS All-Canadian in 2009, one first team (2008) and two second team (2005 and 2006) Canada West All-Star honours, and Canada West Rookie of the Year award in 2005. She currently plays professional soccer in England and is a member of the Canadian Women’s Soccer National Team. She won the Bronze Medal with Team Canada at the 2012 London Olympics and also played in the 2011 and 2015 FIFA Women's World Cups. Julie Lafreniere (2008- 2012) was selected to represent Canada at the 2013 Summer in , and was a three-time CIS Academic All-Canadian holding a GPA = 3.5.

We are determined to continue working hard to build and grow our soccer program. Our vision is to become one of the best University women's soccer programs in the nation. Thus, this is an exciting transition period for this program as our University is starting to invest more financial and human resources to support the further development of our program. Furthermore, the fact that several matches of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 were hosted at our Investors Group Field located in the heart of our University Campus left a great legacy for the further development of women's soccer in Canada and it also helped us immensely to increase the interest and awareness of our soccer program in our community. It also facilitated us the opportunity to host the first ever official University women's soccer game at a former World Cup stadium on October 9, 2015 (read more at: story 1 and story 2). This was a dream become true for our players and coaching staff. We hope to continue hosting at least one league game at this world-class facility each year.

Finally, I would encourage you to examine all of your options as you make a decision on where to begin your future, but look closely at staying in Canada and in particular, the University of Manitoba. I am confident that our coaching staff, our world-class athletic facilities, our current players, and our University environment will all be conducive to giving you a valuable educational and soccer experience. My coaching staff and I are continually looking for good people that will make good student-athletes and subsequently help make our program stronger. Our goal is to continue to build and grow this program making it a top choice for national and international student-athletes looking to further their education and soccer goals.

Sincerely,

Vanessa Martínez Lagunas Head Coach University of Manitoba Bison Women’s Soccer Team [email protected] 204-881-1089

Vanessa Martínez-Lagunas Head Coach Bison Women’s Soccer Team

SOCCER COACHING CREDENTIALS AND EXPERIENCE UEFA Pro License through the German Soccer Federation (DFB) – highest certification level worldwide NSCAA Premier Diploma USSF National A License USSF National Youth Coaching License USSF National Goalkeeping License

Former Assistant Coach of the U17/U16 German Women’s National Team Coaching experience in Mexico, USA and Germany

SOCCER PLAYING EXPERIENCE Mexico: Mexican Women’s Soccer National Team Mexican Women’s Soccer University National Team (2001 Universiade in Beijing, China) Women’s Soccer and Indoor Soccer Varsity Teams of the Tec de Monterrey (ITESM), Campus Monterrey and Toluca USA: Women’s Soccer Varsity Team of the University of Texas at Austin (NCAA Div. I) Germany: 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig Leipziger FC 07 Bayern Munich

EDUCATION PhD in Science, University of Leipzig (In Progress) M.A. in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology, University of Texas at Austin B.S. in Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Fitness, University of Texas at Austin

OTHER RELEVANT AFFILIATIONS FIFA Women’s Soccer and Grassroots Instructor FIFA Technical Study Group Member UEFA Technical Expert BISON WOMEN'S SOCCER INDIVIDUAL HONOURS AND AWARDS

CIS ALL-CANADIAN Desiree Scott – First Team, Midfielder (2009)

CANADA WEST ALL-STAR Desiree Scott – Second Team, Striker (2005) Desiree Scott – Second Team, Striker (2006) Karli Colpitts – Second Team, Striker (2007) Stephanie Rurak – Second Team, Halfback (2007) Desiree Scott – First Team, Striker (2008) Caley Miskimmin - Second Team, Striker (2008) Desiree Scott – First Team, Midfielder (2009) Caley Miskimmin - Second Team, Striker (2009) Dana Baker - Second Team, Fullback (2009) Carrie Nash - Second Team, Midfielder (2010) Alison Kastner - Second Team, Midfielder (2012)

CANADA WEST AWARDS Desiree Scott – Rookie of the Year (2005)

NATIONAL TEAM Desiree Scott (debut in 2010) Caley Miskimmin (debut in 2010)

YOUTH NATIONAL TEAMS Desiree Scott (Canada U-16 to U-20)

FISU UNIVERSIADE NATIONAL TEAM Julie Lafreniere (2013; Kazan, Russia)

PROFESSIONAL SOCCER Desiree Scott (2013; NWSL, USA)

BISON WOMEN'S SOCCER CIS ACADEMIC ALL-CANADIAN (GPA OF 3.5 OR HIGHER)

2015-2016 (8) 2013-2014 (6) 2012-2013 (6) 2011-2012 (11) Chelsea Dubiel Emma MacLennan Sarah Haiko Paula Fast Sarah Haiko Jessica Lukasiewicz Julie Lafreniere Alison Flintoft Robyn Kastner Daniella Scerbo Rhoni Mackenzie Sarah Haiko Emma MacLennan Meagan Sparrow Alyssa Robinson Jaime Lacoste Brittany MacSween Laura Stewart Daniella Scerbo Julie Lafreniere Bruna Mavignier de Chloe Werle Meagan Sparrow Rachael Lau Vasconcelos Rhoni Mackenzie Kaylan Strang Carrie Nash Amanda Wong Danielle Rocan Meagan Smith Chloe Werle 2010-2011 (11) 2009-2010 (12) 2008-2009 (9) 2007-2008 (7) Jasmine Duthie Kathryn Ateah Kathryn Ateah Dana Baker Paula Fast Dana Baker Dana Baker Lianna Bestvater Alison Flintoft Lianna Bestvater Lianna Bestvater Jennifer Campbell Sarah Haiko Jennifer Campbell Kendall Bishop Nancy Feir Jaime Lacoste Paula Fast Jennifer Campbell Cara Isaak Julie Lafreniere Michelle Kliment Paula Fast Michelle Kliment Rhoni Mackenzie Jaime Lacoste Jaime Lacoste Jaime Lacoste Carrie Nash Julie Lafreniere Meagan Smith Danielle Rocan Rhoni Mackenzie Lesley Worsnop Meagan Smith Caley Miskimmin Stefanie Welscher Carrie Nash Meagan Smith 2006-2007 (8) 2005-2006 (9) Kathryn Ateah Kathryn Ateah Camilla Bereznay Andrea Bogar Lianna Bestvater Jennifer Campbell Jennifer Campbell Nancy Feir Nancy Feir Jill Kazuk Chera Kirkpatrick Jennifer McLaren Sheila Kocay Tristen Perras Stephanie Krebs Jennifer McLaren Tristen Perras