Three Stars: Gajic, Lemoine, Berget earn honours

Stefan Gajic, left, celebrates a goal with teammate Michael Enes during MacEwan's 2-2 draw with the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Aug. 25 (MPP Photography).
Stefan Gajic, left, celebrates a goal with teammate Michael Enes during MacEwan's 2-2 draw with the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Aug. 25 (MPP Photography).

MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Men's soccer student-athlete Stefan Gajic is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week for his three-point performance in the Griffins' opening weekend of the season.

The second-year midfielder scored a goal in MacEwan's 3-2 loss at Saskatchewan on Aug. 23 before producing a goal and an assist in the Griffins' 2-2 draw at Lethbridge two days later.

Other athletes recognized on the first three stars list of the 2019-20 season include second star Meagan Lemoine of the women's soccer team and third star Justin Berget of the men's golf team.

1st star: Stefan Gajic, M, men's soccer

Edmonton, AB, second-year, Commerce

Gajic was a driving force behind the MacEwan Griffins' offence during the opening weekend of the Canada West men's soccer season, netting three points in a pair of road games.

At Saskatchewan on Aug. 23, the second-year Edmontonian scored MacEwan's opening goal – a one-hop volley past the keeper in the 26th minute – during a 3-2 loss to the Huskies.

Gajic followed that up with a goal and an assist in the second game of the weekend Aug. 25 – a 2-2 draw against the Lethbridge Pronghorns. He volleyed a bouncing ball into the top corner just past the 16-minute mark and then set up Michael Enes for a tally six minutes later.

Gajic, who also paces the Griffins with seven shots – including four on goal – through two games. He leads the squad into home opening action vs. the University of Calgary Dinos on Saturday (2:30 p.m., Clareview Field).

2nd star: Meagan Lemoine, F, women's soccer

Edmonton, AB, fourth-year, Commerce

With three goals in the first 19 minutes of a non-conference game against the University of Winnipeg on Aug. 22, Meagan Lemoine recorded the fastest hat-trick in program history.

Lemoine later added an assist to help complete MacEwan's 6-0 rout of the Wesmen in their opening match of the University of Regina's Great Plains Challenge preseason tournament.

The veteran forward also contributed throughout the preseason, helping the Griffins complete a challenging schedule with a 6-1-1 mark.

The fourth-year Edmontonian is in top form as the Griffins head into a new Canada West season on Saturday vs. Mount Royal University (12 p.m., Clareview Field).

3rd star: Justin Berget, men's golf

Spruce Grove, AB, third-year, Commerce

Picking up where he left off after a strong 2018 season with the Griffins, Justin Berget paced the field during Griffins golf tryouts on Aug. 24-25.

Berget shot rounds of 72 and 72 during the two-day tryout at Par-72 Red Tail Landing GC and Par-71 Highlands GC, respectively.

The third-year player will lead a Griffins golf team that includes returners Noah Lubberding, Reid Woodman and Jarrett Bossert, along with newcomers Nate Gerhardt, Jose Lopez Peterson, Blake Caron and Stephen Christenson.