Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – All the rehabilitation, physical therapy and hard work over many months turned into an indescribable joy on Grace Mwasalla's face as she returned to lineup for the first time since suffering a season-ending knee injury last September.
She hit the pitch on Aug. 28 against local ACAC school NAIT, scored a highlight-reel goal on a diving header and helped the Griffins win 9-1.
"Anyone who's gone through an injury can attest to this," said Mwasalla. "Throughout the rehab process, you dream of your first game back. All of a sudden, the game had come. I felt really prepared.
"It was a very emotional day for me, but I was also just so excited to finally be back on the pitch," she added. "Once I scored that goal, obviously, I celebrated with my teammates, but I ran to the sidelines and hugged Nicky Noble, Ruth Adekugbe and Amy Runquist. They're all Calgary girls and – at least for Nicky and Ruth – they've seen me at my lowest and have been with me throughout the rehab process in the summers at ORKA. Just to have those three with me to celebrate that moment was really special."
Since that moment, Mwasalla recorded a goal and two assists in the Griffins' first two regular season games and became the program's all-time Canada West regular season points leader, now with 39.
W⚽️| FEATURE
— MacEwan Griffins (@MacEwanGriffins) September 12, 2024
"Every time I put that MacEwan jersey on, it's a privilege. I think this has amplified that even more for me."
-Grace Mwasalla on returning from a knee injury to become @Griffins_WSOC career points leader on this assist.#GriffNation
STORY➡️https://t.co/m8IBWnJu1t pic.twitter.com/LgoQ0EzuIq
"Honestly, I'm just proud of her," said teammate Anneke Odinga, who is co-captaining the Griffins this season with Mwasalla. "You don't want Grace Mwasalla off the field. You want her on the field at all times, and nothing makes me more excited than to see her back and not miss a season playing together.
"Since first year, we've always wanted to finish off together, so I'm so excited she's able to get back and score a goal in her first game back."
The Griffins are set for their home-opening weekend on Saturday vs. Calgary (12 p.m.) and Sunday vs. Lethbridge (12 p.m., both Edmonton Scottish Dome, Canada West TV). Admission is free.
Saturday marks the first home regular season game for Mwasalla since that fateful day last Sept. 17 at Clarke Stadium when she suffered a major knee injury.
Grace Mwasalla kicks the ball during action against Victoria at Clarke Stadium last September. She later suffered a knee injury in the contest (Joel Kingston photo).
Locked in a 1-1 battle with Victoria as the match headed into the final moments, the Griffins lost possession at midfield. With the Vikes poised to move into a threatening attacking position, Mwasalla flew back from her forward position and planted her leg in a bid to steal the ball back.
She kept moving, her knee didn't.
Her season was over eight games in.
Devastating news, especially considering Mwasalla was on pace to challenge for U SPORTS and Canada West player of the year honours after recording a ridiculous eight goals – including five game-winners - and 11 points in eight games.
There were no words to describe what her loss meant to the Griffins. Although the team suffered the most man games lost to injury since head coach Dean Cordeiro first joined the program in 2013, hers was the most calamitous to their championship contention.
Without Mwasalla's clutch scoring, MacEwan wasn't the same team and their season ended with an upset loss to Victoria in the Canada West quarter-finals.
"To have Grace back is obviously a huge boost," said Cordeiro. "It's just great to have her back in the fold. She's off to a great start – three points in two games.
"We're very happy with where she's at and what she's going to do for this team moving forward."
GOAL!
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 8, 2024
Hannah Harper makes it 2-0 Griffs after a great buildup from Grace Mwasalla off a throw-in!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/D1FHHq6P6r
The road back has been anything but easy, though. Mwasalla described her lowest point and how teammate Nicole Noble was her rock in support.
"We were both sidelined with season-ending injuries in January," she said. "We would always drive to workouts and physio together. Nicky's one of the only people I could be vulnerable with. She's honestly seen me at the lowest of my lows. Just knowing that we had each other and we were always there to motivate each other throughout the process (was huge).
"She just always helped me and gave me a safe space to talk through my emotions, which I sometimes struggle with. She was always there to push and motivate me – one of my biggest supporters throughout the whole process."
Mwasalla calls the months after her injury as the toughest time of her life so far.
"Just being removed from the on-field aspect of the team was really hard for me," she said. "There have been girls on the team who have been very supportive and who've seen me at my absolute lowest.
"Honestly, just being sidelined for so long and watching the team, it was difficult at first. But as I continued to watch the training session and games, it kind of just gave me that motivation to hopefully one day return.
"Thankfully, I'm at that position now where I'm back and will hopefully be able to contribute to the team again."
Grace Mwasalla heads the ball during action at Saskatchewan last Saturday in her first regular season back from injury. She had two points in the game to become the program's career CW points leader (Electric Umbrella photo).
Her words came in an interview prior to the season, but they rang true on the Griffins' opening weekend as Mwasalla scored and had an assist in a 2-2 draw at Saskatchewan before producing another assist in the Griffins' 3-0 win at Regina. She entered the season tied with Suekiana Choucair (2015-19) for the program's career points lead (36) and now holds the mark outright.
"It's pretty remarkable, to say the least," said Cordeiro. "That's done a little past halfway through her career. We all know her season last year was cut short halfway through, so to be a little into her fourth year and still have a full season remaining and already be the program career record holder in points just goes to show you the type of player and person she is.
"It's a special accomplishment, although I'm not surprised. I'm excited to see where she'll end up. It will be a very tough record to beat for a long time, I'm sure."
Throughout everything, Mwasalla has gained perspective.
"Every time I put that MacEwan jersey on, it's a privilege," she said of what she's taken out of the experience. "I think this has amplified that even more to me. You never know. The first eight games of last season was probably the most consistent soccer I ever played. Then it all just came to an end.
"Just knowing in the back of my mind, there could be challenges you face, and you never know how long you could be sidelined for, so every training session, every meeting, every film session, give it your all and that's what I'm going to continue to do. Because you never know when it could be the last time."