‘We were very sad’: University of Winnipeg soccer players caught off guard by decision to suspend season

CTV’s Michelle Gerwing has reaction from players at the U of W after the women’s soccer program was suspended.

Players on the University of Winnipeg women’s soccer team are feeling sidelined and blindsided after learning they won’t play this year.

The university announced cuts on Tuesday that included the soccer program, saying it won’t return for the 2025 season.

Team captain Sydney Arnold said the team found on Tuesday morning, noting first there was silence, then questions about scholarships and what happens next.

“We signed for a five-year program, and now that’s being taken away from us. So it’s pretty unfortunate. We were very sad and upset and also caught off guard,” said Arnold.

Camille Forbes, who is completing her master’s at the U of W, came out of retirement last season and was looking forward to another chance to hit the pitch and also explore the option of turning pro.

“I was really hoping I could continue that and see how far I could go, and now it’s just ended. I’m done,” said Forbes.

Arnold also pointed out how this decision would impact new recruits who were set to commit to the program this coming week.

“They completely cancelled on them, and now those players have nowhere to go. (It’s) probably too late to sign to any other schools because a lot of recruiting is done in your Grade 12 year,” said Arnold.

USports, the national brand of university sports in Canada, told CTV News in a statement that it is allowing academically eligible students to transfer to another school immediately.

Unfortunately, that isn’t an option for either Forbes or Arnold who are close to graduation, and this season would have been their last.

It’s also a blow to their chances to get noticed by scouts working for professional teams expanding into Canada.

“With the uprise of that, it’s sad to see a university program go down.”

Renee Cable, Minister of Advanced Education, said it was tough to see this decision be made.

“It’s clear nobody feels good about this decision. University community, players, administration, nobody feels good about this. Women’s sports are incredibly important, and it’s disappointing that this is where we are. We know that the programs build community on campus and contribute to student life in a really meaningful way,” said Cable in an interview with CTV News Winnipeg.

Peter Miller, the president of the University of Winnipeg Faculty Association, said this cut is a blow to morale.

“I agree with the administration that the kind of core academic mission of university is teaching research, it’s the work my members do. But also a university campus is about more than just teaching research, and it’s about a whole host of different activities that take place on it, and athletics is a central part of university campuses across Canada,” said Miller.

The only sports left at the U of W are the men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams.