Ballan, Rodriguez named BU’s athletes of month

More than halfway into the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference women’s soccer season, just one team has been able to break the Brandon University Bobcats’ defence.

Tarin Ballan is a big reason for that.

The fourth-year defender has anchored the nationally ranked Bobcats to a 6-1-0 record and was named BU’s female athlete of the month on Wednesday, along with male winner Camilo Rodriguez.

“It’s exciting, also surprising,” Ballan said. “I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in if it weren’t for my team. Their support and how we came into the season really helped.”

Ballan was the MVP of the 2023 final four, leading BU to its first league title since 2017.

While defensive players seldom end up in the spotlight, she’s there for the right reasons.

The Bobcats have five clean sheets through seven games, without the need for special games from their goalkeepers.

BU’s keepers have a combined eight saves thus far, according to MCAC stats.

However, they’ve conceded six in two games to the Providence Pilots, including four in a 4-3 loss last weekend.

The Bobcats and Pilots have pulled ahead in a two-horse race for first place and the right to host the final four.

The two meet one more time, in Otterburne on Oct. 18, with the coveted top spot on the line.

Should both win the rest of their games, BU will need a win or a draw to take the top spot, as it leads Providence 7-6 in goal differential.

“It comes down to our defensive organization, who we’re marking, really targeting who their strong players are … and stopping things before they happen,” Ballan said.

RODRIGUEZ LIGHTS UP SCOREBOARDS IN SEPTEMBER

When Rodriguez scores, the Bobcats win.

He didn’t hit the net in his first game back since 2023 — a 4-0 loss to Canadian Mennonite University — but shook the rust off soon after.

The former Crocus Plainsmen hammered home four goals in a 5-1 win over the Providence Pilots, and has a league-leading nine goals through six games.

“It felt really good. It felt like home, felt like a natural place I’m used to being in, and it motivated me to keep trying harder and harder every day,” Rodriguez said of his return to BU.

“Our aggressiveness as a team has definitely improved over the years, especially this year. Yes, I get the final touch, but not every goal … I have is because of me.

“Some goals, it’s all them and it’s not me.”

The left-footed striker has the Bobcats in second place at 5-2-0, with one more match against the first-place Blazers (6-1-0) this Saturday at the Healthy Living Centre field.

BU needs a win to take the season series, since CMU leads 4-2 in head-to-head goal differential.

Brandon hosts Assiniboine College on Sunday.

After that, it plays St. Boniface at home on Oct. 12, then visits Providence and Assiniboine on Oct. 18 and 19 to close the regular season.

The top-placing team hosts the playoffs this year. Given BU’s perfect record at home thus far, that means a lot to the team.

“We always think of it as another game, but it’s definitely a game that means a lot more than any other game because it’s a game at home,” Rodriguez said.

“We want to defend our home against (any) team … You don’t let anybody walk into your home and destroy your home.”

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