The Bison women's soccer team starts their 12th season in the Canada West conference and fourth season with women's soccer head coach Vanessa Martinez Lagunas at the helm. The squad is pleased to announce one team captain for the upcoming 2016 season.
Bison second year midfielder Amanda Wong will be a team captain for this season. This is the second consecutive season that Wong will wear the 'C' for Manitoba as she was co-captain in 2015 and then occurred a season-ending injury.
Martinez Lagunas stated, "Amanda is a wonderful leader on and off the field. She earned the captain band for the first time last year during her second year with our program due to her outstanding soccer and academic performance as well as the leadership qualities she showed during her rookie year. Amanda did a fantastic job leading the team last year although she suffered a season-ending injury at the beginning of the season. She worked extremely hard all year long to be back even stronger that she was before and did all she could to support and lead the team off the field. I know she is ready and excited to be back on the playing field. We missed her a lot and she will make an immediate positive impact on our team to have a strong season."
Wong, 20, begins her second season of eligibility at Manitoba in 2016. In 2015, she played in the first regular season game of the season when Manitoba won 4-0 over Thompson Rivers on Sept. 4/15 and had two shots before suffering the season-ending injury. In 2014, the 5'5" midfielder had a strong rookie campaign by starting and playing in all 12 regular season games for the Bisons. Wong, a Winnipeg native, was tied for fourth in team scoring with three points as she notched a goal and two assists with 15 shots on goal in 2014.
Bison women's soccer notes: The Herd finished their pre-season action and now prepare for the opening of the 2016 Canada West regular season with two games during September 9-11 weekend on the road. Manitoba starts by travelling to play the Alberta Golden Bears on Friday, September 9 at 6 p.m. CT. The team then flies to meet the UNBC Timberwolves on Sunday, September 11 at 2 p.m. CT.
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2016 Canada West women's soccer season preview
Manitoba Bisons
2015 CW regular season record: 7-5-2/ 4th place In East Division; 9th in conference
2015 post-season record: 0-1 / lost in Canada West Regional Playoffs to MacEwan (L 2-0)
Last CW championship / total CW championships: none / none
Last CIS championship / total CIS championships: none / none
2015 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 24 goals, 6th in conference
Defence: 22 goals against, T-10th in conference
2015 CW regular season leaders:
Goals: 6 –
Bruna Mavignier, Forward
Assists: 6 –
Megan Graca, Midfielder
Points: 8 –
Bruna Mavignier, Forward;
Megan Graca, Midfielder;
Selina Speranza, Midfielder
Wins: 5 – Maddie Wilford, Goalkeeper
Shutouts: 4 – Maddie Wilford, Goalkeeper
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Kati Rados / Midfielder / 1 / Victoria, BC / Victoria Highlanders
Hayley Ward / Defender / 1 / West St. Paul, MB / FC Northwest SC
Sarah Lyle / Defender / 1 / Winnipeg, MB / Winnipeg Phoenix FC
Hailey Lavarias / Midfielder / 1 / Winnipeg, MB / FC Northwest SC
Rebecca Martin / Midfielder / 1 / East St. Paul, MB / FC Northwest SC
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Chloe Werle / Goalkeeper / Winnipeg, MB / 5
Elyce Molyneaux / Defender / Winnipeg, MB / 5
Megan Graca / Midfielder / Thunder Bay, ON / 5
Alyssa Robinson / Midfielder / Winnipeg, MB / 5
Key performer:
Selina Speranza
Midfielder
Year 5
Winnipeg, MB
In the 2015 campaign, Bison midfielder
Selina Speranza had a breakout season. She tied for the team lead in scoring (T-14th in conference) with eight points on five goals and three assists while starting and playing all 14 conference regular season matches. The Winnipeg native had only scored six points combined during the three previous played at Manitoba. Speranza was another strong offensive threat, especially after forward
Bruna Mavignier went down with a season-ending injury midway through 2015, and continued her consistent play on the defensive end.
In 2016, Speranza will again be leaned upon to score on a regular basis but also provide the experience and leadership as one of only two fifth year veterans on a young Bison squad. The 5'2" sparkplug has been around as the program has continue to build towards being one of the top teams in the conference as the team wants to help build on a playoff appearance last season and make a push towards a national championship in her final season with the Bisons.
