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) 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)

2015-2016 (7) 2014-2015 (8) 2013-2014 (6) 2012-2013 (6) Martina Arran Chelsea Dubiel Emma MacLennan Sarah Haiko Chelsea Dubiel Sarah Haiko Jessica Lukasiewicz Julie Lafreniere Brittany MacSween Robyn Kastner Daniella Scerbo Rhoni Mackenzie Bruna Mavignier de Emma MacLennan Meagan Sparrow Alyssa Robinson Vasconcelos Brittany MacSween Laura Stewart Daniella Scerbo Elyce Molyneaux Bruna Mavignier de Chloe Werle Meagan Sparrow Sara Schur Vasconcelos Alanna Shaw Kaylan Strang Amanda Wong

2011-2012 (11) 2010-2011 (11) 2009-2010 (12) 2008-2009 (9) Paula Fast Jasmine Duthie Kathryn Ateah Kathryn Ateah Alison Flintoft Paula Fast Dana Baker Dana Baker Sarah Haiko Alison Flintoft Lianna Bestvater Lianna Bestvater Jaime Lacoste Sarah Haiko Jennifer Campbell Kendall Bishop Julie Lafreniere Jaime Lacoste Paula Fast Jennifer Campbell Rachael Lau Julie Lafreniere Michelle Kliment Paula Fast Rhoni Mackenzie Rhoni Mackenzie Jaime Lacoste Jaime Lacoste Carrie Nash Carrie Nash Julie Lafreniere Meagan Smith Danielle Rocan Danielle Rocan Rhoni Mackenzie Lesley Worsnop Meagan Smith Meagan Smith Caley Miskimmin Chloe Werle Stefanie Welscher Carrie Nash Meagan Smith 2007-2008 (7) 2006-2007 (8) 2005-2006 (9) Dana Baker Kathryn Ateah Kathryn Ateah Lianna Bestvater Camilla Bereznay Andrea Bogar Jennifer Campbell Lianna Bestvater Jennifer Campbell Nancy Feir Jennifer Campbell Nancy Feir Nancy Feir Cara Isaak Jill Kazuk Chera Kirkpatrick Michelle Kliment Jennifer McLaren Sheila Kocay Jaime Lacoste Tristen Perras Stephanie Krebs Jennifer McLaren Tristen Perras

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Photos by Jeff Miller Brazilian Bruna Mavignier was a perfect fit for the Bisons

ast season, Bruna Mavignier helped make Brazil (the weather being one thing Mavignier L history for her head coach. was quick to mention), the Brazilian sensation is By committing to the University of Manitoba enjoying her time with The Herd, and should be Bison women’s soccer program for the 2014-15 in for yet another strong year. With a full season campaign, the Brazilian-born-and-raised Ma- under her cap, and a more experienced group vignier became the first international player to around her, there is no telling how good she – join the squad during Coach Vanessa Martinez- and the Bisons -- will be. Lagunas’s tenure. “I love that we get everything we need to be a While Mavignier’s mere recruitment was successful team,” Mavignier said. “Things such intriguing, her background, and how she came to as psychology sessions, nutritional sessions, be a part of a team on the cold Canadian prairie athletic therapy, a great strength and are even more interesting. Before attending Manitoba, the then 21-year old had actually never played the game of soccer. She grew up at the club and high school level playing futsal, a variant of , which is played mainly indoors, and on a far I love that we get smaller field. Mavignier thrived playing futsal. In 2012, she everything we need to be a produced six goals in four games with Taça Brasil successful team. Things such as U-20 (Brazil Cup under-20). From 2008-10, she was also the captain of her high school team. psychology sessions, During the off-season, in preparation for nutritional sessions, athletic 2014-15, Mavignier decided it was time to try the Canadian game, and personally reached out to therapy, a great strength and Martinez-Lagunas, for a shot to become a Bison. conditioning room, “Before coming to Winnipeg for the first time, I searched on the Bison women’s soccer website and great coaches. for coach Vanessa’s email,” Mavignier said. “I sent her an email asking if I could do a tryout for the team. I did well in the tryout, and then I joined the team.” Fate worked out perfectly in Manitoba’s favour, as Mavignier transitioned effortlessly to the larger, outdoor game. It ended up being a perfect fit for both parties. Not only did Mavignier impress in her rookie season, she flat out dominated, scoring a team conditioning room, and great coaches.” leading eight goals, and providing a There is no question that the love is reciprocal. much-needed spark to a young Manitoba Obviously, Martinez-Lagunas and the rest of her squad which had trouble finding the back of squad are pleased that Mavignier went online the net the previous year. and found the found the University of Manitoba While things are definitely different from women’s soccer program last year. WOMEN’S SOCCER Manitoba’s international head coach Vanessa Martinez Lagunas has a wealth of energy and experience, and her players are buying in.

t’s hard to find someone as enthusiastic about soccer as the U of M’s “Our goal for the upcoming season is to improve the record from last year, I women’s head coach, Vanessa Martinez Lagunas. Of course, when you and also try to make it to the playoffs,” Martinez Lagunas said. “Those are the consider nothing, other than her history in the game, that’s no surprise. two main goals, and we’re going to work really hard to reach them.” For one thing, Martinez Lagunas is from The Toluca, Mexico. She was a member of Mexican women’s national team from 1999-2004 and also competed for her country at the 2001 Summer Universiade, in Beijing. At the university level, she played for her home country until 2002, before transferring to the University of Texas, where she was a member of the Longhorns from 2002-04. While at Texas, Martinez Lagunas was on the Big 12 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll in both 2002 and 2003. In 2007, Martinez Lagunas continued her soccer journey, travelling to Germany to play for a number of teams, including FC Bayern Munich (2007-08), Lepziger Fussball Club 07 (2008-09), and FC Lokomotive Leipzig (2009-11). Perhaps the most important thing Matinez Lagunas ever did, however, was to take coaching courses through the U.S. Soccer Federation while she was a player. “For me I think that was key for my development as a coach, and also my development as a player,” she said, “because when you start understanding the game as a coach, you become a better player automatically.” Due to her extensive playing experience, Martinez Lagunas has been able to relate to the struggles her players face, both on and off the field because she’s been there herself. When she was hired as head coach of the Bisons for the 2013 season, the positive relationship she had with her players was immediate and evident. “I think it’s very helpful because you have been in those shoes,” she said. “So you know exactly what the demands are, and then you try and be empathic with the players. “When they know that you have been there, you have more credibility, and I think that’s the value of it.” While Martinez Lagunas is entering just her third season with the Bisons, her impact has already been felt throughout the program. The Bisons immediately bolstered one of the youngest teams in the conference when Martinez Lagunas was hired, but time and experience have also helped. Manitoba went from a one-win campaign in 2013-14, to a four-win season last year, narrowly missing out on the playoffs. With another year under her belt and a number of returning players, 2015-16 could be a breakout season for The Herd. Building better Bison athletes

New High Performance Centre is perfect place to train the next generation of athletes.

he training space for Bison athletes tucks neatly who arrived at the U of M in 2013. “Those milliseconds of helping better prepare future generations of athletes. The T into a corner of the Active Living Centre. The usual difference, breaking a personal best, a team record—that window of their success can be fleeting, so he wants to suspects of pumping iron, like barbells and dumbbells, really motivates players.” see them make the most of it. dominate its roughly 7,300 square-foot expanse. And Years of playing university, national and professional- “[An athlete’s career] is a very short time of their Olympic-style lifts such as squats or clean and jerks form level soccer in her native Mexico and in Europe, along lives,” says Barr. “It’s also quite often the best time of the bedrock of strength-building routines. with coaching professional men’s squads in Germany, their lives.” But in a room off to the side you’ll find the unusual: exposed Martinez Lagunas to the cutting-edge union of Starting with his arrival in 2012 at the U of M, Barr high-tech devices that turn all the players’ reps and regi- and technology. She wants to bring all that “know” focused on football—a sport where strength is necessity. mens into meaningful data. The High Performance Centre, from the pros to her developing Bison players—one giz- His first job, he says, was changing the team culture to or HPC for short, is not your average gym. mo and gadget at a time. one that saw training sessions as mandatory. Players who Spindly tripods, capped by what look like ball Sets of pocket-sized devices cover the desk space of missed sessions met with the scorn of teammates and tubes filled with LED lights, lie in wait in a corner—this her compact Frank Kennedy office. One, about the size of repeat offenders got cut. is the Smart Scan system. When an athlete logs in us- a pager, slots into the back of a vest that players wear “[Strength and conditioning] has become a lot more ing a unique wristband, it can record their acceleration and tracks their acceleration and distance travelled us- structured and a lot more scientific,” says Barr, 34, who along the centre’s 30-metre track or, in the case of a soc- ing GPS. Another, strapped around their ribcage, monitors did his master’s at Western before completing a PhD from cer player, measure how quickly their head swivels from their heart rate. They too provide data to help coaches one of the meccas of strength and conditioning educa- side-to-side in time with a random sequence of lights. and training staff tailor each player’s training regimen. tion: Australia’s Edith Cowan University. “Now, it’s at the Vanessa Martinez Lagunas, Bison women’s soccer Their efficiency and precision are a boon to athletes, point where it’s an essential part of the training that’s coach, and today’s tour guide, opens another cabinet to whose long-term training goals might be measured in incorporated.” reveal a bank of what look like miniature winches. When tenths of a second or centimetres. It’s also becoming a useful recruitment tool. attached to a barbell an athlete lifts, they record the Complementing all this tech at the HPC is a dedicated Martinez Lagunas says the first thing she did this year weight and speed of the exercise, helping players and strength and conditioning team led by alumnus—and with recruits in her spring camp was take them on a tour coaches track progress and make minute adjustments for Martinez Lagunas’s fellow technophile—Matt Barr of the Active Living Centre, including the HPC, and In- optimal benefit. The goal is to build power, which trans- [BESS/06]. He and his colleagues Shawn Preston and vestors Group Field. “I cannot have better facilities than lates into speed and agility—the most important compo- Cole Scheller work primarily with Bison men’s football that,” she says. nents of soccer, she says. and women’s soccer to help them with everything from On her wish list of acquisitions? A portable spirometer Martinez Lagunas says the U of M is the only Canadian strength and fitness to the nuances of proper footwork (essentially a backpack an athlete wears to measure university with this suite of technology and equipment— and coordination. Barr, who says the new Active Living their oxygen consumption while exercising). Barr says he adding that not many NCAA programs south of the border Centre is “unquestionably the best facility in the country”, would love to have a cloud-based data solution that each do either. It’s a big help for our athletes,” says Martinez is also helping the teams incorporate injury prevention player could access before a training session to report Lagunas. measures into their training. how they are feeling, check off areas of their bodies that She’s bringing a new level of objectivity to coaching. Tears of the ACL are common in women’s soccer—the are sore, and basically give his team more details to help Don’t expect her to spout some hackneyed quip like “You Bison squad had three last season—so players like sec- tailor a player’s workout and protect them from injury. gotta give 110 per cent” to inspire her players. The soccer ond-year midfielder Amanda Wong say they are eager to As Martinez Lagunas, fellow coaches and the strength skipper—whose off-field pursuits include completing her work with Barr to protect their bodies from such traumas. and conditioning team collaborate on athlete develop- PhD in sport science—says a good player must first be a She’s also seeing how training in the HPC is adding to her ment, she sees even greater integration of sport and good athlete. Creating the latter is most effective when game-day toolkit. science within the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation technology merges with training. “Building strength [in my lower body] means I’m able Management as another means to take things to another She says fitness tests, aided by the Smart Scan sys- to push someone off the ball or jump higher,” says Wong, level—for players and researchers alike. tem, are her “best tools” and uses an example from her who’s been in the strength and conditioning program for “Our students and researchers can help us make Bison team’s recent spring ID camp for returning and prospec- about a year. athletes better,” says Martinez Lagunas. “[And in turn] tive players—when Speedy forward Selina Speranza Barr’s own path into this field was partly in response to they get that practical experience. When they get out [of broke the team record for the 30-metre dash—to illus- the absence of such resources when he played rugby for school] they are ready to do that type of work.” trate the point. team Canada. An injury ultimately led to his retirement “That makes a difference,” says Martinez Lagunas, from the sport but at the same time stoked his interest in JEREMY BROOKS

22 UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA BISONS | 2015-16 SEASON DUCKWORTH CHALLENGE 25TH ANNIVERSARY

vs.

WOMEN’S SOCCER OCTOBER 10 - 6:00PM AT WINNIPEG FEBRUARY 4 WOMEN – 6:00PM MEN – 7:30PM AT WINNIPEG FEBRUARY 5 WOMEN – 6:00PM MEN – 8:00PM AT MANITOBA

For additional ticket and schedule information visit: #GOBISONS2015 SEASON | UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA BISONS 23 ALUMNI

Desiree Scott: From the Bisons to the world

uring a friendly match between the United States and Canada last summer at Investors Group Field on the U of M campus, a young girl held out a sign for Desiree Scott to autograph. It read: “This is what dreams are made of.” Scott smiled, signed her name and tapped the young soccer player on the shoulder. You could tell, the former University of Manitoba star, who is now a veteran member of Team Canada, was once in exactly the same place. Known as The Destroyer by her teammates and coaches on the Canadian women’s national team, the 5-foot-2 midfielder has become one of the most important players on Canada’s Women’s Olympic and World Cup side. But when people watch her play a tough, hard-nosed game against the best players in the world, many don’t know that she learned the game at the University of Manitoba. Even more incredible is the fact that until the year Scott graduated from high school, the U of M didn’t even have a women’s varsity soccer team. Now it can claim, among its soccer alumni, one of the greatest players in the world. These days, the 27-year-old from Winnipeg spends most of her time as the only Canadian play- ing in the English women’s league. “I didn’t know what to expect going over there,” she said. “It’s definitely competitive and a good- quality league and it’s only improving.” Her resume has become lengthy. In fact, after first making the national squad in 2010, she’s become one its most impactful players. In fact, her nickname, The Destroyer, is quite appropriate. She was a member of the Canadian women’s team that won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, where she started and played every minute for Canada during the six matches en route to the third place finish. She was Canada’s Soccer Female Player of the Month for January 2012 after helping Canada qualify for the London 2012 Women’s Olympic Tournament. During the qualifying tournament, she earned Photos by Jeff Miller three-straight “Player of the Match” awards. She started six of seven matches at the 2012 Pan Am Games, a tournament in which Canada won gold. She is the first Manitoba-trained player to participate in a FIFA Women’s World Cup. Scott has won 94 caps since making her Canadian debut at age 22 in February of 2010 and she played in 49 consecutive Canada matches from 2011 to 2014. She once told the Canadian Press that she considers herself “a homebody,” so it hasn’t been easy playing in England. Amazingly, when she’s not playing the game she loves, Desiree is a certified Zumba instruc- tor. “I love to dance,” she said. “If I had not played soccer, I think I would have gone into dance.” It’s not surprising then that Scott’s pre-game routine is to do a little dance, just to get the nerves out. Interestingly, she followed her brother Nick into soccer. “I wanted to be like my big brother,” she said with a laugh. “He always says I’m living his dream. And to think, my big dreams started at the U of M.” ATHLETICS AND RECREATION

FOLLOW YOUR HEART

ADVENTURERS DO. Bruna Mavignier de Vasconcelos is known for her strength and determination, both on and off the field. The international student hails from Brazil and contributes her strong technical skills and passion for sports to the Bison women’s soccer team.

“I’ve had a love for the game from a young age. Leaving Brazil to study and play soccer at the U of M has definitely been an adventure. It has been challenging to balance my athletics and my studies, but all worth it. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.”

BRUNA MAVIGNIER DE VASCONCELOS Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management