Quest for program's first Canada West playoff spot kicks off on Aug. 23

Kapri (Marcus) Simmons battles against two Saskatchewan defenders during a match last season. The Griffins will kick off their 2019-20 Canada West campaign with a visit to Saskatoon to face the Huskies on Aug. 23 before hosting them Oct. 20 (Chris Piggott photo).
Kapri (Marcus) Simmons battles against two Saskatchewan defenders during a match last season. The Griffins will kick off their 2019-20 Canada West campaign with a visit to Saskatoon to face the Huskies on Aug. 23 before hosting them Oct. 20 (Chris Piggott photo).

MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Once again, the MacEwan Griffins men's soccer team will be in action on the opening day for any sport in the Canada West conference when they kick off their 2019-20 campaign Aug. 23 with a visit to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

The newly released soccer slate calls for the Griffins to also play in Lethbridge on Aug. 25 before a layoff ahead of their home-opening weekend Sept. 7 vs. Calgary (2:30 p.m., Clareview Field) and Sept. 8 vs. Mount Royal University (2:30 p.m., Clarke Stadium).

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE MACEWAN GRIFFINS 2019-20 MEN'S SOCCER SCHEDULE

"The lads are keen to get going," said head coach Adam Loga. "They've put in a shift this off-season and, as a staff, we're proud of them. Hopefully, this momentum carries into the season."

A highlight of the schedule sees the Griffins play a home-and-home series against cross-town rival Alberta on Oct. 5 (2:30 p.m., Clarke Stadium) and Oct. 6 (2:15 p.m., Foote Field).

"That's always a tough weekend," said Loga. "I'm sure it will be a great test for us."

Included in MacEwan's 14-game regular season schedule are home games in Clarke Stadium against UBC (Sept. 21), UNBC (Sept. 22), Lethbridge (Oct. 19) and Saskatchewan (Oct. 20)

Fielding a lineup largely comprised of rookies last season, MacEwan was in the running for the first Canada West playoff spot in program history until the final weekend of play in the 2018 campaign, finishing just outside the post-season picture at 3-9-2.

Should they take the next step and qualify for the playoffs in 2019, the Griffins would be in action on Oct. 26 in a quarter-final match.

Canada West Final 4 action – hosted by the highest remaining Pacific Division seed – is slated for Nov. 1-3, while the U SPORTS national championship runs Nov. 7-10 in Montreal.

For fans looking to watch the action, 2019-20 Canada West TV passes are now on sale, with the best early-bird pricing available until the end of June. An all-access pass ($79.99), or a soccer sport pass ($31.99), can be purchased by clicking here.