MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Men's golf student-athlete Justin Berget is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after winning the ACAC men's golf individual championship over the weekend.
Berget impressively shot 2-under over three rounds in 2-degree weather to win the men's title by nine shots at Coal Creek Golf Resort in Ryley, Alta.
Other athletes recognized this week include second star Kiana Row of the women's cross-country team and third star Sofia DiGiacomo of the women's soccer team.
Berget is being honoured for the third time this season, having previously earned third star on Sept. 3 and second star on Sept. 17. Row is being recognized for the second time in 2019-20, having been named first star on Sept. 10. DiGiacomo appears on the list for the first time.
1st STAR: Justin Berget, men's golf
Spruce Grove, AB, third-year, Commerce
MacEwan's Justin Berget completed a dominant nine-shot victory to win the ACAC men's individual golf championship at Coal Creek Golf Resort on Sunday.
With temperatures hovering just above freezing and the weather doling out snow, rain and wind during a tough three days at the Ryley, Alta. track, scores ballooned for most.
Berget, however, remarkably finished at 2-under par through three rounds of the championship, shooting 70, 71 and 73. That was good enough to finish nine shots ahead of 2018 champion Michael Harrison of UAlberta-Augustana.
For his efforts, Berget won a gold medal and plaque as the ACAC's male golfer of the year.
The Spruce Grove product also put the Griffins men's team on his back, leading them to a second-place finish and a qualification for the CCAA championship in Montreal Oct. 15-18.
2nd STAR: Kiana Row, women's cross-country
Beaumont, AB, first-year, Nursing
The first-year runner led the Griffins for a second-straight event, finishing seventh at the Victoria Vikes Invitational on Saturday.
Racing against most of the top competitors in Canada West with the conference's powerhouse teams in attendance, Row ran stride for stride with the best, finishing a muddy 6K in 23:42.
That performance puts her in good stead to contend for a spot on a Canada West all-star team later this month in Calgary.
Row is coming off of a victory in her first race, at the ACAC Running Room Grand Prix #1 on Sept. 7. She next leads the Griffins into action at the Sun Dodger Invitational in Seattle on Saturday.
Kiana Row finished seventh in a Victoria Vikes Invitational field laden with top Canada West runners last Saturday (Armando Tura photo, Victoria Vikes).
3rd STAR: Sofia DiGiacomo, M/D, women's soccer
Calgary, AB, first-year, Arts
Inserted into the Griffins' starting lineup after an injury to starting defender Samantha Gouveia, DiGiacomo logged a steady 90-minute performance in MacEwan's 1-1 draw at Lethbridge on Saturday.
Not only did she excel defensively, sticking tackles and winning battles, the rookie scored her first career goal in Canada West action, finding the net in the 39th minute.
She almost had a second goal in the match, scoring in the 60th minute, only to have it waved off by an official.
DiGiacomo will lead the Griffins into home action this weekend against Winnipeg (Saturday, 12 p.m.) and Manitoba (Sunday, 12 p.m., both games Clarke Stadium, Canada West TV presented by Co-op).
Sofia DiGiacomo celebrates after scoring her first Canada West goal against Lethbridge on Saturday (MPP Photography).