Playoff rematch, conference-wide format highlight Griffins' 2022 schedule

Rakan Yassin and the Griffins won't have to wait long for a rematch of their 2021 playoff tilt against Victoria as the Vikes visit Edmonton on Sept.17 (Armando Tura photo).
Rakan Yassin and the Griffins won't have to wait long for a rematch of their 2021 playoff tilt against Victoria as the Vikes visit Edmonton on Sept.17 (Armando Tura photo).

MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – After making the Canada West playoffs for the first time last season, the MacEwan Griffins men's soccer team will be looking to get back to the dance when they open the 2022 season at home against Mount Royal University on Aug. 27 (2:30 p.m., Clareview).

MacEwan's 14-game slate – unveiled by the conference on Monday – features home-and-home matches against all five of their Prairie Division rivals.

But, unlike last season's regional format, the Griffins will also have four regular season games against Pacific Division teams for the first time since 2019.

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE HERE

Greatly anticipated amongst those dates, is a rematch against Victoria (Sept. 17, 2:20 p.m., Clareview) after the Vikes beat the Griffins in overtime in the quarter-finals last season.

"I imagine it will be another great match, but more importantly we hope to build off our momentum and growth from last season," said Griffins head coach Adam Loga. "We understand there is much more work to be done, together we are aware of this and keen to progress.

"We're looking forward to getting back at it."

UBC-Okanagan will also visit on Sept. 18, while MacEwan's B.C. road trip – a real doozy crisscrossing the province – goes Sept. 23 (Trinity Western in Langley) and Sept. 25 (UNBC in Prince George).

Matches against cross-town rival Alberta are split more than a month apart – Sept. 10 (12 p.m., Clarke Stadium) and Oct. 15 (2:15 p.m., Foote Field).

MacEwan wraps up the regular season on Oct. 22-23 in #YYC with matches at Calgary and MRU. They would qualify for the post-season by finishing among the top-four teams in the Prairie Division.

The Canada West Final Four tournament will be hosted by the highest-remaining Pacific seed after the quarter-finals.

The U SPORTS national championship is set for Kamloops, B.C. hosted by Thompson Rivers University Nov. 10-13.