MacEwan Athletics
In a new world of social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are announcing all 2019-20 Griffins award winners online over the next few days. Here is our schedule:
March 25: Most Improved winners for each team (Find the story here)
March 26: Most Outstanding winners for each team (Find the story here)
March 27: Team of the Year (Find the story here)
March 28: Academic Team of the Year (Find the story here)
Today: Female Rookie of the Year
Tuesday: Male Rookie of the Year
Wednesday: Female Athlete of the Year
Thursday: Male Athlete of the Year
Our Female Rookie of the Year goes to the women's student-athlete (in good academic standing) who had the greatest impact in their first year with the Griffins.
The 2019-20 winner (as voted on by MacEwan Athletics' coaches and staff) is women's soccer player Sofia DiGiacomo.
Making the Canada West and U SPORTS all rookie teams after a hugely impactful season for the Griffins, DiGiacomo offered a tantalizing taste of her potential in the Canada West women's soccer ranks.
Starting the final eight games of the season at centre back after Samantha Gouveia suffered an injury, DiGiacomo scored four goals and added an assist, while consistently shutting down the top forwards in the conference.
She then scored one of MacEwan's two playoff goals, tallying in the Griffins' bronze medal game loss to Trinity Western.
"What an impact she made as a rookie," said head coach Dean Cordeiro. "It's hard to do with such an established team. For her to step into a huge role at centre back for us, as a first year, is the most difficult task we can ask of any outfield player. She's always been a defensive midfielder, so for her to step in for an injured Samantha Gouveia at a critical time of our season, there was no looking back."
Defensively, the rookie was a major reason why the Griffins had the second-best goals against in Canada West (eight allowed in 14 games). And offensively, she was used as a threat on corner kicks, using her size and leaping ability to become a dominant presence in the box.
"Sofia led the conference at the centre back position," said Cordeiro. "It's pretty remarkable that our centre-backs were the most prolific in the whole conference in terms of offensive production. Obviously, they're doing their part to keep the ball out of the back of the net, but they're also contributing offensively, which is huge."
As a result, DiGiacomo became the second in program history to make both all-rookie teams, following teammate Hannah Supina, who also earned U SPORTS and Canada West honours in her first year in 2018.
"What Sofia, out of position, was able to accomplish this year was truly special and hence why she was a finalist for Canada West rookie of the year and made it onto the U SPORTS all-rookie team as one of the top-10 rookies in the country," said Cordeiro. "It's a very difficult feat. We had Hannah Supina do it last year and that speaks to the quality of these players.
"To see Sofia have that much success, it's definitely given us a little cameo of what she's capable of achieving over the next four years she has with our program."
DiGiacomo is the third-straight Griffins women's soccer player to win the female rookie of the year award, following Brittany Costa (2018) and Hannah Supina (2019).
