Karina Bagi was just 11 when she first tried her hand as a goalkeeper.
Six years later, with a Canada West career and university education on the horizon, it鈥檚 pretty safe to deem the experiment a success.
Bagi, 17, will head to Winnipeg next month to begin preparing for her freshman season with the University of Manitoba Bisons鈥� women鈥檚 soccer program.
A keeper for both the BC Soccer Premier League鈥檚 Thompson Okanagan FC U18 squad and the Okanagan Mission Huskies, Bagi is excited about the latest chapter in her soccer career and education鈥攅ven if means experiencing her first Prairie winter.
鈥淚鈥檓 expecting a lot of cold weather,鈥� Bagi said with a laugh. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 excited for the change, because that was one of my initial thoughts鈥ot that I wanted to escape 麻豆精选 or B.C. per se, but I just wanted a new experience, to get away and see where it all takes me.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited for the soccer, the school and getting to know my new teammates.鈥�
With several schools鈥攊n both Canada and the U.S.鈥� showing a keen interest in recruiting her, Bagi connected with the University of Manitoba program last year at a Whitecaps鈥� showcase camp in Vancouver.
Then, after a visit to the Manitoba campus and further contact with Bisons鈥� coach Vanessa Martinez Lagunas last May, the 麻豆精选 keeper was pretty much sold on the move to Winnipeg.
鈥淭he coach (Vanessa), her knowledge of the game is so massive, she鈥檚 played in Europe and on the Mexican national team and I鈥檓 really looking forward to learning from her,鈥� Bagi said. 鈥淭he team was really welcoming, the university is really nice, and the facilities are amazing. It really was everything I was looking for.鈥�
As a university freshman, Bagi knows she鈥檒l be on a learning curve in Winnipeg, both on the soccer pitch and in the classroom.
If her work ethic and enthusiasm are any indication, TOFC executive director Kai Tolpinrud expects the 17-year-old Bagi to have success in the next phase of her athletic career and education.
鈥淪he鈥檚 extremely willing to train hard, she rarely misses training session, and she鈥檚 striving to improve all the time,鈥� said Tolpinrud, who also coaches Bagi. 鈥淪he鈥檚 aware of where she needs to improve and if she works on those areas, it should fall into place.
鈥淕etting good education is No. 1,鈥� Tolpinrud said of the benefits of playing university soccer, 鈥渂ut the soccer part of it is a great bonus, getting to play at the highest level Canada has to offer.鈥�
Along with playing the keeper position comes the inevitably of dealing with injuries and Bagi has had her share.
But while a wrist injury and three concussions have kept her on the sidelines at different stages of her soccer life, none have discouraged her from pursuing
鈥淚 know concussions come with a risk and they add up, but I made the decision to go on, as one would,鈥� said Bagi, who has a clean bill of health heading to Manitoba. 鈥淚 have a passion for it, I鈥檝e been playing soccer since I was four and I don鈥檛 want to give it up. I鈥檝e spent so much time on the field, training and preparing for this opportunity, I鈥檓 going to stick it out and see it through.鈥�
Bagi will see several of her TOFC teammates on the pitch next season in the Canada West conference. Eleven of 14 players on the U18 squad have signed on with U Sports soccer programs across the country.
Bagi, who will live on campus at the U of M, is enrolled in the Health Sciences program.
She鈥檒l head to Winnipeg July 14, then join the Bisons when they travel to North Dakota July 17 for a preseason tournament.
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