Second-year goaltender Karina Bagi and rookie defender Stefanie Young wear numbers one and two on the pitch for the Bisons women's soccer team respectively. It's very fitting for a duo that have been side by side for the vast majority of their playing careers.

The pair, who are enjoying strong 2019 campaigns for the U of M, are both natives of Kelowna, BC. They first met playing for Kelowna United when Bagi was 11 and Young was ten and have been on the same teams together ever since.

Interestingly, the latter's mom was the coach of Kelowna United and can be credited with helping to instill the six-foot tall Bagi's passion for goaltending.

"Everyone did rotations basically and [Young's mom] put me in [net] and was like 'you know what, you could just keep on doing this and see how it goes. You're tall and have all the abilities.' So I did and here I am. Going forward with it it's really fun. I like the risks. Throwing your body around is something that people don't really do but it's honestly a lot of fun and I do like the adrenaline you get out of it."

Defending the rangy netminder is Young, a versatile back line player with speed, strength and grit who isn't afraid to attack offensively. Just six games into the Canada West season she already has four goals and two assists, good for the fourth-most points in the conference and was recently named the conference's Female First Star of the Week.

"I like the way it feels to get up there and be involved in the play," she says. "Even the assists. It's just a good feeling in general."

Both athletes went to Okanagan Mission High School and were integral in helping the school win its first-ever Okanagan Senior Girls' AA title in 2016. They also matured at an early age due to playing in the BC Soccer Premier League for Thompson Okanagan.

"The travel definitely taught you to be disciplined," Bagi says of her experience in the Premier League. "Especially from a young age, because going into it, you're 13 or 14 and you're travelling every Sunday on a bus to Vancouver to play and then coming right back."

Being a year older, the goalie was the first who had to make a choice as to where she would play university soccer. She chose the U of M in large part due to the experience and expertise of head coach Vanessa Martinez Lagunas, who she respects immensely.

As Bagi's high school career began to wind down, the realization began to sink in that she may not ever play with Young again. The two embraced following one of the last games of the 2017 season, with the defender — whose mom had been in her ear about going to Manitoba to continue playing with her close friend — changing the tone with two simple words.

"I was just crying saying this was the last time I was going to be able to play with Stef," noted Bagi. "I ran to her and hugged her and we both started crying and she was like 'just wait.' It's not over yet.'"

Young's statement is true, as the pair have re-joined forces this year. Bagi earned the starting spot for the regular season opener and her long-time teammate has been a fixture in Manitoba's starting 11.

And while both athletes have stellar physical traits, it's their toughness that really stands out.

Bagi, who doesn't shy away from contact, has overcome three concussions. Young has played on a torn meniscus for most of grade 11 before finally having surgery in May of 2017. She was back before her senior season ended, however, and hasn't missed a beat with the Bisons.

"It wasn't anything like a sharp pain," Young says nonchalantly regarding playing with a serious knee injury. "It was just an ache and I didn't think much of it. There was lots of physio and my mom constantly nagging me to do my exercises. I feel stronger than ever now."