The University of Manitoba Bison soccer team got a jump start on its 2018 season preparations by winning the 2018 Spring Tournament the club hosted this past weekend.
Manitoba beat the University of Saskatchewan Huskies 2-1 Friday, then the Junior Bisons 5-1 Saturday. The Bisons capped off the weekend by beating the University of Regina Cougars in a penalty shootout after drawing 1-1.
“One of our biggest goals coming into this tournament was consistency,” said Bison head coach Vanessa Martinez Lagunas. “Our team has shown that they can beat any team at any given moment, our problem was not keeping a consistent level.”
The Bisons showcased that ability to beat any team when they shocked the University of Guelph Gryphons 5-1 at the 2017 U SPORTS National Championships in Winnipeg in November.
In their final game on Sunday, Manitoba found themselves down but after some consistent pressure found a late equalizer through Rebecca Martin. The herd then got the job done on penalties.
“We got the win after being down by one goal,” Martinez Lagunas said. “It was another thing, mental toughness, no matter if we’re down we can still change the result. They believe in that and we pushed and pushed.”
The tournament was a chance for Martinez Lagunas to try some new things tactically and get ready for the upcoming season.
“It was a great opportunity for me to give every single member of the roster playing time,” she said. “All of them contributed to this successful tournament and I’m really proud of them.”
Another team Martinez Lagunas is proud of is the Junior Bisons. Consisting of players from Grades 9 to 12, it was a big jump to play university competition. The Junior Bisons may have lost all three of their games, but they did not look out of place.
The Junior Bisons only lost 1-0 to both Regina and Saskatchewan, before getting thumped 5-1 by the senior Bison team.
“I am really proud of them, they were not afraid, they held their own,” Martinez Lagunas said. “For them it’s a great opportunity because ahead of their university years they got to experience this level they got to experience the tactics and formations you have to deal with.”
