The Brandon University women's soccer team made history on Sunday by capturing the program's first-ever Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) championship.

The Bobcats beat the Red River College Rebels 3-1 in the final to cap off an undefeated season with an overall record of 9-0-3. It was BU's third consecutive appearance at the Final Four tournament, which included a runner-up finish in 2015.

"I am just incredibly happy for them that they can experience winning a league championship," said Bobcats' coach Rainer Schira. "When it all comes together and the final whistle goes and you know that you have achieved something as a team, there is no better feeling then that, especially when we came so close last year."

Brandon and Red River were tied 0-0 at the break and BU goalkeeper Sydney Carter-Squire stood tall to start the second-half. She made two big saves, including one on a Rebels' breakaway, to keep the game scoreless.

The Bobcats broke the deadlock shortly after when co-captain Jaycee Castle scored off a corner kick for BU.

Nadine Reimer recorded the equalizer for Red River, but Brandon responded quickly on a goal by Kiera Riehl to regain the lead.

The Bobcats added an insurance marker late in the contest when Aziza Kinnarath capitalized on a penalty kick.

The title game was a rematch of last year's final where Brandon dropped a hard-fought 2-1 decision against the Rebels. The Bobcats believe that experience was vital in helping them emerge victorious.

"We had the sense over the course of the season that we were not going to be denied," added Schira. "The team was ready to do this and sometimes you have seasons where it just comes together. In the end it all comes down to this one game and in this one game they showed up and they did it."

The conference also recognized Castle with the tournament's most valuable player award. She finished the regular season tied for the team-lead with eight goals and she added three more at the Final Four tournament. Castle scored twice in the Bobcats' 2-0 semifinal win over St. Boniface on Saturday.

"I had such a great team supporting me and giving me the ball to score those goals. I would like to share the MVP award with them," said Castle. "We were counting down the final seconds and there was definitely happy tears flowing. We are so excited to have accomplished this goal."

 

photo courtesy Brandon University Athletics