FEATURED POLL
See Results Bison Julie Lafreniere named to 2013 Summer Universiade Canadian women’s soccer team
Lafreniere earns spot on 20 person national roster after five year career at Manitoba
April 18th, 2013 9:00am
Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) announced 20 student-athletes who will represent Canada in women’s soccer at the 2013 Summer Universiade (the 27th edition of the World University Summer Games) in Kazan, Russia from July 6-17. Manitoba Bisons defender Julie Lafreniere was selected to the national squad.
Lafreniere, 22 (turning 23 on April 21/13), completed her fifth and final season at Manitoba in the 2012-13 season. She was a team captain for three consecutive seasons (2010-12) and was a solid defender at the back for the Bisons during her career. In 2012, she started and played in all 12 regular season games and one playoff game while adding four shots on goal. Overall in five Bison seasons, she played in 70 of 72 overall games (regular season and playoff games) while starting 68 games plus added two assists with 21 shots on goal. The Winnipeg native and Science student-athlete is also a three-time CIS Academic All-Canadian. “I am humble by the invitation to play on the national team. Soccer has been a really big part of my life for the last 15 years and to be selected for this team is a real honour,” said Lafreniere. “My selection is a tribute to my coaches and all those who have supported me during my soccer journey.” This will be Lafreniere’s first time in her career to represent Canada at a Summer Universiade and only the second Manitoba Bisons women’s soccer player named to a Canadian Universiade roster (Desiree Scott, 2007 and 2009). Canada is coming off a strong performance at the 2011 Universiade in Shenzhen, China, when the team finished fifth out of 12 countries to equal its best-ever result at the biennial tournament. The Canadians had also placed fifth in 2005 in Turkey as well as in 1993, when the sport made its Universiade debut in Buffalo.
In Kazan, the Maple Leaf squad will compete in the preliminary round in Pool B against Mexico (July 5), Ireland (July 7) and China (July 9). The gold medal final of the 12 team competition is scheduled for July 15. Summer Universiade website: http://kazan2013.ru/en
Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer/2013
Lafreniere, 22 (turning 23 on April 21/13), completed her fifth and final season at Manitoba in the 2012-13 season. She was a team captain for three consecutive seasons (2010-12) and was a solid defender at the back for the Bisons during her career. In 2012, she started and played in all 12 regular season games and one playoff game while adding four shots on goal. Overall in five Bison seasons, she played in 70 of 72 overall games (regular season and playoff games) while starting 68 games plus added two assists with 21 shots on goal. The Winnipeg native and Science student-athlete is also a three-time CIS Academic All-Canadian. “I am humble by the invitation to play on the national team. Soccer has been a really big part of my life for the last 15 years and to be selected for this team is a real honour,” said Lafreniere. “My selection is a tribute to my coaches and all those who have supported me during my soccer journey.” This will be Lafreniere’s first time in her career to represent Canada at a Summer Universiade and only the second Manitoba Bisons women’s soccer player named to a Canadian Universiade roster (Desiree Scott, 2007 and 2009). Canada is coming off a strong performance at the 2011 Universiade in Shenzhen, China, when the team finished fifth out of 12 countries to equal its best-ever result at the biennial tournament. The Canadians had also placed fifth in 2005 in Turkey as well as in 1993, when the sport made its Universiade debut in Buffalo.
In Kazan, the Maple Leaf squad will compete in the preliminary round in Pool B against Mexico (July 5), Ireland (July 7) and China (July 9). The gold medal final of the 12 team competition is scheduled for July 15. Summer Universiade website: http://kazan2013.ru/en
Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer/2013
