Jefferson Hagen / MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – To say the past week has been a whirlwind for Griffins women's soccer rookie Brittany Costa would be an understatement.
From appearing on viral videos to being interviewed on television to seeing her name leading the conference in game-winning goals, the Delta, B.C. product didn't quite envision this kind of start to her Canada West career when she committed to MacEwan University a year ago.
"It still doesn't really feel like it's quite real," the midfielder said. "So much has been happening and I never thought … I'm just a kid from B.C. and I never thought I'd be getting this much attention from a different city, a brand-new city to me, as well.
"It's kind of an unbelievable experience for me. It's still kind of shocking it's all happening."
But when you score the winning goal in extra time to deliver a 1-0 win for your team against bitter cross-town rival Alberta? You tend to get some attention.
The video of the Sept. 15 goal was retweeted by none other than U Sports itself, meaning university sports followers across Canada were watching her cross-field strike from 30 yards out hit the top corner past Pandas keeper Cassie Bazzarelli. Global Edmonton interviewed her about it on Monday, airing a piece that night.
Adding to the fervor is the fact that Costa has now scored the game-winning goal for the Griffins in three of their four games so far, after also potting the deciding strike against UBC-Okanagan on Sept. 8 and against Thompson Rivers University on Sept. 10.
"In four games to have three game-winning goals and score in three matches, we weren't expecting that," said Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro. "But we're not surprised either because she is a tremendous player and she's just starting her career – one that's going to be illustrious with us.
"The future's bright for her and for us as a program where we're going."
Indeed. The Griffins are off to a 4-0-0 start – putting it on the line Friday against Fraser Valley (1-2-1) at Noon, Clareview Community Recreation Centre, and Sunday against reigning Canada West runner-up Trinity Western (2-2-0) at Noon, Jasper Place Bowl.
It's been a big week for the Griffins, who sit first in Canada West and finally got some recognition from the U Sports voting panel, earning the program's first national top-10 ranking (10th). And individually, goalkeeper Emily Burns netted the first Canada West first star award in team history.
Costa notes the support of her teammates has been huge in helping her get off to the stellar start.
"We know everyone makes mistakes, so if you make a mistake they're not on top of you, they just expect you to win the ball back," she said. "They're super supportive of you, which really helps.
"Also, having a good team has built up my confidence. If I feel like I'm having a bad game, they won't sugar-coat anything. They'll tell me what I need to do.
"They stay by my side, so I think it's helped out my confidence a lot. Dean's had more confidence in me, so that's helped build me up more."
Cordeiro first saw Costa play for her club team, Surrey United, in 2015.
"If I were to forecast, I knew she'd be an impactful player for us," said Cordeiro. "I watched her play for 10 minutes at the Whitecaps Showcase a couple years ago, and knew that she was the real deal, but knew more importantly she fit our style of play and playing philosophy.
"Having some players that have graduated over the years in midfield like Erika Vecchio and Jennifer Lam, she was like a perfect mix of both of them with some of the skill-sets she had," he added. "We knew she was a player you kind of build a program around, much like some of the other cornerstone pieces we've brought in."
He reached out and built a relationship that proved key when it was time for Costa to choose her post-secondary path.
"At first I wasn't really considering it," she admitted. "I wanted to stay in B.C. or go to the States. My dad said 'you might as well give it a shot. It's just another option. There's nothing to lose.'
"So, I came out here and Dean did a really good job of selling the university, I met some of the girls and they were awesome. He just stuck with me ever since I met him. When I came to my decision, MacEwan and Dean had stuck to me from the beginning, so I just thought that's where I was bound to go.
"I could picture myself with the university, so that's why I came to (that decision)."
And it's paying off for both sides. Not only do the Griffins have a great player to add to their already-talented stable, but Costa has a great university and program that's allowing her to grow and have success.
"She's very humble," said Cordeiro. "We recruit top-level football players, but we're always looking for high character players who fit our mold and our culture here. That's one of the things we've been building over the years. Our alumni have set the foundation, but the players we continue to add have helped accelerate our program.
"Britney just brings so many different things to the table. She's a strong student, strong footballer and amazing character and person."
