Mon Sep 23 22:22:21 UTC 2024: ## Female Football Pioneer Inspires Young Kicker to Chase Her Dreams
**Winnipeg, MB** – Maya Turner, the first woman to play and score in a regular-season university football game in Canada’s U Sport league, has inspired a young woman from Montreal to follow in her footsteps.
Amélie Beauregard, a rookie kicker on the Sherbrooke CEGEP men’s football team, flew across the country to watch Turner play for the University of Manitoba Bisons on Saturday. Beauregard, who considers Turner her idol, was determined to meet her and get advice.
“I do admire you. I was watching your video and I want to meet this girl and I want to do the same as you do,” Beauregard said to Turner after the Bisons’ 22-17 victory. “It’s a men’s world but we can take our place in it.”
Turner, who has been breaking barriers with her consistent performance as a kicker, was humbled by Beauregard’s admiration. “I’m so humbled that she looks up to me and wanted to come out and see me play,” she said. “I love to see other girls kicking footballs and playing on men’s teams. I definitely didn’t see a lot of that growing up at all.”
Turner’s success has been a game-changer for young female athletes like Beauregard. “I think like a lot of girls saw her and was like, ‘Holy shit, she can do it. I can do it too,'” Beauregard said.
Bisons coach Brian Dobie, who is retiring after this season, has been a strong supporter of Turner. He praised her dedication and skill, noting that she has earned the respect of her teammates and the entire program.
“It is so symbolic of what anybody can do regardless of race, gender, etc,” Dobie said. “Anybody leading the way and taking a risk and putting themselves out there, getting out of their comfort zone and attacking something. And that’s what Maya has done.”
Beauregard spent the weekend with the Bisons team, receiving a tour of the university and even meeting Turner’s teammates. The experience was a dream come true for the young kicker.
“The future show me that I can accomplish anything. I just need to put the effort in and put all the hard work and I can do this,” Beauregard said.
As Turner continues to make history on the field, her inspiring story is encouraging young female athletes to pursue their dreams, no matter how unconventional they may seem.
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