Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Playing their best soccer in the stretch drive of the season, the Griffins will look to continue their momentum when they visit cross-town rival Alberta this weekend.
After defeating then-U SPORTS No. 9 Calgary last Sunday with a sharp, detailed effort from a lineup that included six rookie players, they're aiming to string together another strong outing on Saturday (2:15 p.m.) at Foote Field (Canada West TV).
Even though their season has been marred by injuries throughout the lineup, they are showing they can salvage some pride with strong play in their final few regular season games.
"I think we're up to 66 man games (lost)," said head coach Adam Loga. "And we had six first-years feature in a game against the best team in the division at the time and ninth ranked in the country. So, in two months those players that were not in the picture, per se, are featuring in a game of that magnitude on Sunday and us getting three points is showing the development and that the process is working.
"For this game, it's much the same: keep doing what we're doing because it is working, record aside. Hopefully we can get in there and get three points."
Their record (1-7-3) doesn't show how close they've been with their opponents throughout the season. For example, they outplayed Mount Royal last Saturday but lost 2-0 when they ran into a hot goalkeeper.
"It just goes off what we've been preaching all year with getting better every week," said Loga. "I think we've done that. We may have felt a little bit of a lull against TRU and UBCO (on a one-point weekend Sept. 20-21). We're going to have off days, and I think that was a little bit of an off day there. The boys have heard about it, and we came out this weekend and corrected rather quickly and well."
While they are a longshot to catch a playoff spot – (they're six points behind Lethbridge for the fourth and final berth in the Prairie Division) – the Griffins have the right mindset to try and finish the season strong.
"I think it's much the same – keeping the boys and the atmosphere at training light and bright," said Loga. "It's been a very positive environment. I've said to the staff I've never been on a team with this type of a record that if you remove that out of the equation you'd never know. The atmosphere, the dressing room, the practices, for the most part, have been super positive, super energetic.
"The boys are working hard, the staff's working hard. You wouldn't know. For me as the head coach, just keep doing what we're doing."