Dyck, Collier join BU women’s soccer team

Nicole Dyck and Becca Collier both feel they’re the soccer players they are today because of the steps they took to keep their goals within reach.

Or, they’ve succeeded despite limited opportunities.

Both Westman products are more excited than ever for the opportunity ahead of them, as the latest recruits to the three-time defending champion Brandon University Bobcats.

They’ll suit up for the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference powerhouse this fall.

“It’s going to be really exciting. It’s going to be pretty challenging going into something new and as fast-paced but I think it’ll be really good for me,” Dyck said.

“University soccer has always been a really big goal for me. BU, playing on this team is perfect for everything I want to do.”

“I’m elated. I’ve been working up to this point, going to so many ID camps with them for a couple of years. It’s really where I’ve wanted to go for a long time so I’m very excited,” Collier added.

“Lots of familiar faces, and the team culture I quite like. They make it a really enjoyable experience.”

Dyck is about to start her final season with the Neelin Spartans, as city teams compete in the spring, while Collier and the Virden Golden Bears played in the fall.

The five-foot-four fullback also has experience at centre-back and in the midfield, and feels she reads the game and anticipates plays well.

What stood out to coach Diego Rodriguez Sr. was her passion for the game.

“She is trying to fight for the ball, she never gives up and she’s a coachable player,” he said. “She can play fullback or play winger; this is one of the things I’m looking for.”

Dyck didn’t feel there were enough opportunities for girls in the area growing up, so she tried out for Westman FC boys teams, and practised with Brandon Youth Soccer Association boys’ squads to develop her game.

Dyck is entering the BU nursing program and will have a chance to compete on the national stage as the Bobcats seek a fourth straight MCAC title.

“It’s just the fact that I never let lack of opportunities get in my way,” Dyck said.

“Around Brandon, there haven’t really been a lot of opportunities for girls my age, at least to have potential to grow in soccer outside of high school.

“Going out there … trying out for boys’ teams, getting myself into private sessions with coaches definitely helped me get to be the player I am today.”

Collier followed a similar path, first playing for Westman FC but joining the Minnedosa Mustangs when Westman didn’t have girls’ teams for her.

She didn’t start playing soccer until Grade 5, then had to stop for the COVID-19 pandemic, so she didn’t really get into the game until Grade 8.

She admitted she felt behind other players at first, but it didn’t deter her.

“I definitely did feel that gap but I feel that I’ve worked pretty hard to try and catch myself up,” Collier said.

The five-foot-three goalkeeper gravitated to the position for a simple reason — “I didn’t want to run when I was in Grade 5” — and now she has to overcome the hurdle of being undersized at the one position where height matters.

She learned she had a lot of work to do at her first Bobcat ID camp two years ago.

“When I was in Grade 10 and I went to my first one, it totally exposed me. I was the youngest one there and it showed,” Collier said. “I’ve definitely grown a lot since that point.

“Working on positioning and speed, definitely, when you’re not that tall, you’ve got to be a lot faster and you’ve got to know where to be and when to be there.”

Rodriguez Sr. isn’t too concerned about Collier’s height. A couple of years ago, the Bobcats went to nationals and watched Ontario’s Seneca Sting win the national title with a five-foot keeper.

“With shorter goalkeepers, it’s more positional. It’s quick reactions, good agility,” he said.

“Becca is one of those players. She can help me with that. She is a rookie, obviously, she needs to improve in some things, but she is going to be a really good addition.”

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com