Jefferson Hagen /MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Next step: nationals.
For two-straight seasons, the MacEwan Griffins women's soccer team has come within a game of that elusive goal, settling for fourth in the Canada West conference both times.
Armed with perhaps the most depth he's had since the program joined the Canada West ranks in 2014, head coach Dean Cordeiro will lead his team into another season this weekend with fresh optimism that that lofty ambition can be a reality.
"The competition in camp is off the charts right now," he said. "It's the best it's been since I've been here, which is exciting. There's a lot of tough decisions to be had. It's a good position to be in, it really is.
"If we want to take that next step – we've been close, consecutive final fours and coming one game short of going to nationals in two consecutive years – we needed to upgrade our talent pool and depth within our program."
The Griffins' 2018 journey begins in B.C. this weekend when they open the Canada West regular season at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops on Saturday (2 p.m. MT, Canada West TV) and at UBC-Okanagan on Sunday (2 p.m. MT, Canada West TV).
"There's a lot of excitement within the group right now," said Cordeiro. "Games are for real, so we're excited. We're coming off a stellar preseason and the group's really coming into form, so now we've got to step up our game to another level.
"Thompson Rivers and UBCO are in our division and we've got to be at our best. It's always harder on the road. They're two very good sides that are going to be ready. We've got to take it one game at a time, but we're looking forward to the competition this weekend."
MacEwan is entering the second and final year of their rotation competing in the Pacific Division.
A conference preseason coaches' poll pegged the Griffins to finish fourth in the Pacific behind traditional powerhouses UBC, Trinity Western and Victoria. Those were the three teams that finished above them in the Canada West Final Four last season, so the Griffins know the bar they need to reach to accomplish their goal.
"We only lost our fifth-year captain Kristen Skrundz and pretty much returned everybody else," Cordeiro said of a team that features 16 returners and 14 newcomers. "And we've made some substantial improvements.
"The bottom line is you've got to bring it on a weekly basis and it starts this weekend for us, so we want to get off to a quick start," he added. "Our expectation is to compete, get back to the final four and hopefully take that next step."
While the veterans will still lead the charge for the Griffins, Cordeiro expects at least a couple of his newcomers to get shots at significant playing time.
"There's going to be some tough (lineup) decisions, but this weekend I fully expect a couple first-years to not only be in the 18 but to contribute," he said. "It's going to be exciting for them and exciting for our group as well."
The Griffins will return to Edmonton for their home opener on Sept. 14 vs. Saskatchewan (6 p.m., Clarke Stadium).
