MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Salma Kamel is the MacEwan Athletics first star of the week after leading the women's soccer team in playoff action over the weekend at Foote Field.
The third-year forward led the Griffins with two goals and an assist in games against Regina (4-0 win) and Alberta (2-1 loss) and is tied for the Canada West playoff scoring lead.
Other athletes recognized this week include second star Brett Smythe of the men's hockey team and third star Nikki Reimer of the women's hockey team.
All three student-athletes are being honoured on the three stars list for the first time in the 2018-19 season.
1st star: Salma Kamel, F, women's soccer
Edmonton, AB, third-year, Arts
After finishing the 2018 campaign on a tear with four goals and six points in MacEwan's last six games of the regular season, Kamel picked up where she left off in the playoffs.
With two goals and three points in two weekend playoff games, she's tied for top spot in the Canada West women's soccer post-season scoring race.
In Friday's 4-0 win over Regina in the Play-In game at Foote Field, the third-year forward was all over the pitch, recording a goal and an assist, while firing four shots on goal.
Just 17 minutes into the game, she kicked off the play that led to the game-winner, beating a defender and firing a point-blank blast that went off keeper Kylie Bolton and right to Raeghan McCarthy for the tap-in rebound. She then scored the team's fourth goal in the 64th minute, running onto a Jamie Erikson free kick from 55 yards out and touching it into the cage.
In Sunday's 2-1 loss to Alberta in the quarter-final, Kamel scored the lone goal for the Griffins in the 83rd minute – dusting the entire left side of the Pandas defence in an inspired run down the sideline before cutting in and beating keeper Rebecca Reif from a sharp angle with a blast that went inside the far post.
2nd star: Brett Smythe, F, men's hockey
St. Albert, AB, second-year, Commerce
The reigning MacEwan male rookie of the year is picking up where he left off in a fantastic freshman campaign a season ago.
He recorded three goals – all on the powerplay – and an assist in MacEwan's two 6-2 wins over Red Deer College on the weekend.
In Friday's victory at the Downtown Community Arena, Smythe had a goal and an assist as the Griffins ended the Kings' unbeaten run to start the season.
On Saturday in Red Deer, he scored the first and sixth goals – both with the man advantage – in another 6-2 victory.
Smythe now leads the Griffins with seven goals in eight games this season and is tied for third in team scoring with 10 points.
Brett Smythe had a four-point weekend in a pair of games against Red Deer College (Matthew Jacula photo).
3rd star: Nikki Reimer, F, women's hockey
Winnipeg, MB, fifth-year, Science
The captain had a tremendous weekend for the Griffins in a pair of victories over Red Deer College.
Besides the rearguard's terrific defensive play in 5-1 and 2-0 wins, she also contributed a goal and three assists over the weekend.
In Friday's 5-1 triumph in Red Deer, Reimer drew assists on the first and fifth goals, both scored by her sister Jordyn Reimer on the powerplay.
With Saturday's game at the Downtown Community Arena scoreless and in doubt nearly halfway through the third period, Nikki Reimer took matters into her hands, scoring the game-winner on a powerplay before setting up Chantal Ricker for the insurance marker just over two minutes later.
For the season, the two-time ACAC all-star is among the Griffins' scoring leaders with seven points in eight games.
Griffins captain Nikki Reimer had four points in a pair of wins over Red Deer College over the weekend (Matthew Jacula photo).
