Bobcat women aim for more than title defence
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/09/2024 (579 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Something changed between the Brandon University Bobcats’ last women’s soccer title in 2017 and their drought-ending win in 2023.
The Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference final was no longer the pinnacle of the season. There’s no doubt last season was a success, but for a veteran group that flew to Prince Edward Island and lost all three games at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championship, just returning to nationals is the new bar.
They begin their title defence at home on Saturday against the Providence University College Pilots.
“The fact that we did win last year, it just makes us even more excited to come back. We got a taste of nationals and we just want to go back,” said fourth-year midfielder Kenadie Janzen.
“Yes, our first game’s the first step to it but our main goal is getting back to nationals and doing well.”
Janzen joined the Bobcats for the 2021 season, amid a large rebuild due to high roster turnover during — but not related to — the COVID-19 pandemic.
The young, talented group was great when games started well but struggled to overcome early mistakes. BU reached the league final that year, then fell in the semifinals in 2022.
Last season, the Bobcats went 10-2-0 with an astonishing eight clean sheets before defeating Canadian Mennonite University 5-1 in the semifinals and Providence 2-1 in the final.
“Our coach [Orlin Chalmers] definitely brought more tenacity to the group and will to win. If we had a rocky moment, we were able to come back from it last year,” Janzen said.
“We came together a lot more last year than other years. The other years, we were just trying to figure everything out.”
Chalmers stepped down after nationals, leaving Diego Rodriguez in charge. For co-captain Molly MacPherson-Blair, it’s important to remember what Chalmers taught the team last season.
“With Orlin, it was good because he came from a French soccer background and that provided a lot of structure,” MacPherson-Blair said. “Diego has a Colombian soccer background, so his focus is a lot more creativity and moving the ball. Having that structure to build off of will be really good for us, then having fun on the field will be upping our level of intensity by itself.”
The Bobcats have plenty of continuity entering this 12-game campaign. MacPherson-Blair has familiar faces in Tarin Ballan playing centre-back beside her, Ireland Staples and Emilie Dornez at fullback and senior goalkeeper Josie Black behind her.
The midfield is loaded with all-conference team members including Brogan Henry, Ashley Robinson and Janzen, with Mackenzie Boyes, Keashae Masters and Jorja Hoad ready to threaten defences from all sides.
“Everybody’s at a whole new level than they would have been at last year,” MacPherson-Blair said. “Jorja Hoad has put in so much work and her touch on the ball and her ability to move the ball up high is really exciting to see.”
BU has a balanced schedule, never playing more than two home or road games in a row. It doesn’t have to stay away from home overnight until the Oct. 24-25 championship weekend, which the MCAC elected to hold at the Winnipeg Soccer Association North and South indoor complexes again this year.
The championships were delayed and moved inside due to unplayable field conditions last October, so as long as the necessary highways are open, the risk of rescheduling is no more.
The Bobcats went 1-1-1 in their pre-season trip to Red Deer, Alta., beating Medicine Hat 3-1 and falling 4-2 to Red Deer Polytechnic with a 2-2 draw against the St. Albert Impact club team in between.
MacPherson-Blair said the team would have liked to have a few minutes back each game but learned a lot, especially about the strength of BU’s rookies.
Janzen felt good about it as well.
“The whole group is very lively and connected,” Janzen said. “Our passing’s usually on point, we see more of the field. I feel for us the game slows down a bit.
“We’re able to see our passes more and it’s a lot less chaotic and when we do lose the ball, we actually have the drive to win it back right away.”
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com
» Instagram: @thomasfriesen5