Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – After tearing his ACL during a high school match in June 2023, Jamal Ajab has had an incredibly long road back to health.

It's all been worth it.

Not only did the rookie Archbishop O'Leary product make his U SPORTS debut on Saturday, he started his first full game at any level since the injury, notched an assist and led the Griffins to a 1-1 draw with the defending Canada West champion Mount Royal Cougars.

"He's been fighting his way back and he earned himself a start today, and he showed why – just a great engine in midfield," said Griffins head coach Adam Loga. "He was able to turn the corner there and find Cinho's feet there for the finish."

'Cinho' (aka Chance Carter) put the Griffins out front in the 27^th minute after converting from 10 feet out after Ajab's cross hit his feet following a beautiful juke of his defender on the wide left side.

"It was a little bit of a shimmy," said Ajab, who was named MacEwan's MVP in the game. "I think Chance faked a defender as well."

GOAL!
Chance Carter converts to give the Griffins a 1-0 lead over @MRUCougars midway through the first half after a sick move from Jamal Ajab to set up the play.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/U9CCGKwkaY

— MacEwan Griffins Men's Soccer (@GriffinsMSOC) September 7, 2024

After knee surgery last August, Ajab went through a long rehabilitation process, finally seeing a few minutes here and there in League 1 with the St. Albert Impact in the summer. The injury kept him in Canada.

"Around that time (of the injury), I was supposed to be signing for a team in Portugal, so I missed out on that opportunity," he said. "Recovery-wise, it was very tough. But it's great to be playing again around a good environment, good team. I'm happy to be back."

MRU equalized in the 39^th minute when Miguel Da Rocha's shot from the top of the box deflected off a defender and past MacEwan goalkeeper Oleksandr Popravka.

Popravka stopped nine of 10 Cougars shots on goal in the contest, while MRU goalkeeper Sjard Strass stopped three or four on target. Overall, MRU outshot MacEwan 15-11.

With the result, the Griffins pick up their first point of the season, improving to 0-2-1. MRU remains unbeaten (1-0-3) with draws in three of their first four games.

It was a fairly evenly played contest as both teams who likely both felt they could have emerged with the win.

"It's always good to score and we could have probably put a few more in today," said Loga. "Especially early in the second half, we had a lot of opportunities. We were pushing, got a couple corners – we just need to spend some time on the details and get it into the back of the net."

Of note, the match was the 100^th for Loga at the helm of the Griffins since arriving in 2016.

"I'd prefer 100 wins," he joked. "It just makes me feel old."

The Griffins are back at home on Sunday vs. Calgary (12 p.m., Edmonton Scottish, Canada West TV), while the Cougars travel across town to face Alberta (2:15 p.m.).