Bisons kicker splits uprights to secure spot in record book

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This article was published 25/08/2022 (852 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On paper, it’s a 25-yard field goal in a university football pre-season game, but Maya Turner’s kick Thursday night in Saskatoon against the Saskatchewan Huskies holds far more significance.

The first-year Manitoba Bisons kicker secured a place in the record books when she made the three-pointer in the third quarter, becoming the first female in U Sports football history to score in a game.

“Our media person, Mike Still, told me after the game that I was the first and I was like, ‘Wow, really?’ I guess it didn’t cross my mind,” Turner said Friday.

“I knew other girls have played university football before, but to be the first (in Canada) to score points, it feels really good. I think it’s great for girls to see if football is your sport and that’s what you love to do, then yeah, you can play at a men’s university and compete and get on the field.”

The Bisons eventually lost the game10-9. The squad begins the Canada West conference regular season Friday at IG Field (7 p.m.) against the Regina Rams.

Turner, 20, who hails from from Maple Grove, Minn., used to play NCAA Div. I soccer at Loyola University (Chicago).

Bisons head coach Brian Dobie has liked what he’s seen from his new kicker to date. She won’t start this year, as Winnipeg product Niko DiFonte, a fifth-year player who spent four seasons at the U of Calgary, transferred to his hometown school. DiFonte made a name for himself back in 2017 when he kicked a 59-yarder as time expired to win the Hardy Cup.

DiFonte is the present, but Dobie sees Turner as a strong possibility in the future.

Turner will likely battle for the 2023 job with Ethan Homan, another new recruit who previously played junior football in Chilliwack, B.C., for the Valley Huskers.

“She hit that thing smoothly and accurately with lots of height, lots of distance. She could’ve hit it from 20 more yards out. It was a great kick. It just happened to be her one opportunity in the game as that’s just how the game went,” said Dobie.

“I’ll bet you that there’s X number of university teams around the country where she might start. Honestly, if we didn’t have DiFonte, it’d be a real interesting competition between her and Homan. Homan is a good kicker, but he’s a better punter. Maya’s a better kicker and an OK punter. If I look ahead to next year, DiFonte’s gone. Hey, it will be a battle. She has every reason to compete for that and believe she can take the starting job as the kicker.”

Turner has been money in training camp from 45 yards and under. Dobie, who’s heading into his 27th season leading the Herd, gets a lot of emails from players looking for opportunities. When Turner reached out, he did his homework and compared her film to the other kickers in his inbox before responding back.

“Hers was better,” Dobie said. “And then I reached out to her and we had a great first meeting over the phone. Probably an hour and a half and I learned a lot about her in that conversation and was super impressed with who she was.”

Turner made her first trip up to Winnipeg in the spring with her parents to check out the campus and kick in front of Dobie. The field was still frozen (welcome to Winnipeg), but it didn’t slow Turner down.

“It was not great field conditions… we had a number of our players out and they were all like, ‘Wow. Coach, she’s the real deal.’ They were impressed,” said Dobie.

The 5-9 Turner, who’s attended kicking camps in Chicago and Texas, felt burnt out in soccer and wanted to try something else. She’s always been a big fan of football, so she joined a club team at Loyola, loved the experience, and has been pursuing the sport ever since.

After meeting Dobie and a few players, she felt the U of M was where she needed to be.

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve been treated like everyone else on the team. A lot of the guys are really friendly and supportive and treat me like anyone else on the team. It’s been really good,” Turner said.

“Obviously, this is my first year playing on a team this good and in this high pressure of an environment. But I’ve definitely learned so much from Niko and the other kicker and punter, Ethan. And you know, I’ve only been at this for probably like a year. I think there’s still a lot of room for improvement and I’m excited to see where this can take me.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31