The Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association (MSSA) have announced the finalists for Manitoba's Team of the Year and Athletes of the Year for 2011. The University of Manitoba has one nominee. Bison women’s soccer assistant coach and former Bison player Desiree Scott has been nominated for 2011 Manitoba’s Female Athlete of the Year.

The winners will be announced at the 56th annual Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Dinner at the Delta Winnipeg Hotel on Sunday, January 29, 2012.

Scott, 24, represented Canada in three international events while joining the Manitoba Bisons women’s soccer team as an assistant coach in 2011. The Winnipeg native started the year as part of the Canadian National Women’s Soccer team winner of the 2011 Cyprus Women’s Cup in March 2011. Scott played in the finals and then also played in the other three matches that Canada won.

She became the first Manitoba-trained player to participate in a FIFA Women's World Cup. Scott played in two Cup games, after being selected to the 21 player roster, during the end of June in the world's biggest women's sporting event.

Finally to end the year, Scott was on the pitch for the full 120 minutes in the Pan Am Games final as the Canadian National Women’s Soccer team earned their first-ever gold medal at a Pan American Games after securing a 1-1 (4-3 victory on penalty kicks) against Brazil in the finals at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico at the end of October. She started four of five games (played in all five) and started both of the playoff matches at the Pan Am Games.

In addition, she is now part of the player pool for Team Canada women’s soccer team attempts to qualify for the 2012 Olympics. This has been an extremely busy season for Scott as she has now made 31 national appearances over her career.

The former Bison Sports Female Athlete of the Year (2009-10), Scott made a huge imprint on the Manitoba Bisons women’s soccer program as a player during her illustrious five-year career. She earned four total conference All-Star recognition (First Team: 2008, 2009; Second Team: 2005, 2006) along with being named 2005 Canada West Rookie of the Year. The Winnipeg native registered 58 points (32g, 26a) in 64 conference regular season games.