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 six times to the play-off stage of the Canada West Conference in 2007, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2017 (now three times in a row since 2015). We also hosted for the first time in program's history the 2017 U Women's Soccer National Championship from November 9-12 and achieved a 6th place finish after defeating the Ontario champion Guelph with a 5-1 score. 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 U SPORTS 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 USA (FC Kansas City) and is a member of the Canadian Women’s Soccer National Team. She won two Olympic Bronze Medals with Team Canada (London 2012 and Rio 2016). She 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 U SPORTS 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 Sports 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) Amanda Wong - Second Team, Midfielder (2016)

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) Desiree Scott (2007: Bangkok, Thailand and 2009: Belgrade, Serbia)

PROFESSIONAL SOCCER Desiree Scott (2013 and 2016: NWSL, USA and 2014-2015: FA Women’s Super League)

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

2016-2017 (11) 2015-2016 (7) 2014-2015 (8) 2013-2014 (6) Martina Arran Martina Arran Chelsea Dubiel Emma MacLennan Chelsea Dubiel Chelsea Dubiel Sarah Haiko Jessica Lukasiewicz Shaylyn Dyck Brittany MacSween Robyn Kastner Daniella Scerbo Brittany MacSween Bruna Mavignier Emma MacLennan Meagan Sparrow Bruna Mavignier Elyce Molyneaux Brittany MacSween Laura Stewart Jamie Newall Sara Schur Bruna Mavignier Chloe Werle Camille Plett Alanna Shaw Kaylan Strang Sara Schur Amanda Wong Alanna Shaw Hayley Ward Amanda Wong 2012-2013 (6) 2011-2012 (11) 2010-2011 (11) 2009-2010 (12) Sarah Haiko Paula Fast Jasmine Duthie Kathryn Ateah Julie Lafreniere Alison Flintoft Paula Fast Dana Baker Rhoni Mackenzie Sarah Haiko Alison Flintoft Lianna Bestvater Alyssa Robinson Jaime Lacoste Sarah Haiko Jennifer Campbell Daniella Scerbo Julie Lafreniere Jaime Lacoste Paula Fast Meagan Sparrow Rachael Lau Julie Lafreniere Michelle Kliment Rhoni Mackenzie Rhoni Mackenzie Jaime Lacoste Carrie Nash Carrie Nash Julie Lafreniere Danielle Rocan Danielle Rocan Rhoni Mackenzie Meagan Smith Meagan Smith Caley Miskimmin Chloe Werle Stefanie Welscher Carrie Nash Meagan Smith 2008-2009 (9) 2007-2008 (7) 2006-2007 (8) 2005-2006 (9) Kathryn Ateah Dana Baker Kathryn Ateah Kathryn Ateah Dana Baker Lianna Bestvater Camilla Bereznay Andrea Bogar Lianna Bestvater Jennifer Campbell Lianna Bestvater Jennifer Campbell Kendall Bishop Nancy Feir Jennifer Campbell Nancy Feir Nancy Feir Jennifer Campbell Cara Isaak Jill Kazuk Chera Kirkpatrick Paula Fast Michelle Kliment Jennifer McLaren Sheila Kocay Jaime Lacoste Jaime Lacoste Tristen Perras Stephanie Krebs Meagan Smith Jennifer McLaren Lesley Worsnop Tristen Perras