Three Stars: Brodeur, Mazaheri, Hunter earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Women's soccer student-athlete Nikki Brodeur is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after her performances in leading the Griffins to a sweep of the Mount Royal University Cougars on the weekend.
Brodeur had a goal and an assist to pace the Griffins to a six-point road weekend with 2-0 and 2-1 wins over the Cougars.
Other athletes recognized this week include second star Alvin Mazaheri of men's soccer and third star Mason Hunter of men's basketball.
It's the first honour of the season for all three student-athletes.
1st STAR: Nikki Brodeur, F, women's soccer
Edmonton, AB, first-year, Arts
A true driver of the Griffins' offence during a weekend sweep of Mount Royal University, Brodeur constantly beat Cougars defenders one-on-one during 108 minutes of work in the two games.
Just three minutes into Saturday's 2-0 victory, the rookie striker cracked a shot off the crossbar and Meagan Lemoine headed in the rebound for the contest's game-winning goal.
With the Griffins going against a stiff wind and trailing 1-0 in the first half of Sunday's rematch, Brodeur scored the equalizer in the 44th minute when she took a through ball from Grace Mwasalla and beat MRU keeper Katrina Greenley.
In eight games this season, including two starts, Brodeur has produced two goals and three points for the Griffins.
She will lead the 7-1-0 seventh-ranked team in the nation into its final regular season home action of the campaign when they host the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Saturday and Sunday (both 12 p.m., Clarke Stadium, Canada West TV presented by Co-op).
Alvin Mazaheri looks for an opening in a game against Saskatchewan earlier this season. He scored goals in both of MacEwan's games at Mount Royal University on the weekend (Joel Kingston photo).
2nd STAR: Alvin Mazaheri, F, men's soccer
Copenhagen, DEN, first-year, Commerce
The rookie Danish striker scored a goal in each of the Griffins' weekend games at Mount Royal University, upping his total to three on the season.
In Saturday's 4-1 loss, Mazaheri got the Griffins on the board in the 90th minute when he one-timed a back-post cross from Nick Stefansson into the net.
In Sunday's 12-3 defeat, Mazaheri scored MacEwan's third of three goals within a five-minute span early in the game.
For the season, he's pacing the Griffins' offence in goals (3) and points (3) in six starts.
Mazaheri leads MacEwan into its final home action of the 2021 campaign when they host Lethbridge on Saturday and Sunday (both 2:30 p.m., Clarke Stadium, Canada West TV presented by Co-op).
Mason Hunter moves the ball up the court against UBC-Okanagan in MacEwan's preseason opener on Oct. 8. He scored 36 points in a pair of weekend non-conference games (Robert Antoniuk photo).
3rd STAR: Mason Hunter, W, men's basketball
Sherwood Park, AB, fourth-year, Commerce
In a promising start for the MacEwan Griffins men's basketball team as they kicked off their 2021-22 preseason schedule over the weekend, the veteran Hunter led the way with 36 points in two games.
In Friday's 77-64 loss to UBC-Okanagan, Hunter tied for the team-high with 13 points, while adding four rebounds and an assist.
In Saturday's 83-78 victory over UNBC, the Sherwood Park product scored a game-high 23 points, adding five rebounds, three assists and four steals. His escape out of double coverage with a pass to Joshua Edwards for the key three-pointer with just over a minute left was key in securing Saturday's win.
One of four team captains for the Griffins, Hunter will lead the team into another weekend of home preseason action when they host Winnipeg on Friday (6 p.m.) and UBC on Saturday (3 p.m., both David Atkinson Gym).
