Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – What a difference a day makes.
Heads hung as the MacEwan Griffins men's soccer team walked off the pitch after falling 1-0 to Saskatchewan on Saturday, allowing the Prairie Division cellar dwellers to snap a four-game losing streak.
But Sunday, they gathered in a circle post-game, cheering loudly as they celebrated rookie goalkeeper Oleksandr Popravka's 32nd birthday, already in a jovial mood after punishing the Lethbridge Pronghorns 4-0.
Yes, that's the same Pronghorns team which hadn't allowed more than one goal against in a game all season and came into the Edmonton Scottish Soccer Dome on Sunday as the second stingiest squad in Canada West.
But the Griffins just wanted it more.
They wanted it as badly as they've wanted any game this season.
"We've played probably six or seven really thorough and holistic games, but the last couple weeks we unfortunately weren't getting the results we probably deserved," said head coach Adam Loga. "You're going to have a one-off stinker and that was the one yesterday.
"So, how do we respond? What's the character, what are we about? Yesterday was over and done with and we needed a big performance today. We challenged the boys to see 'how do we respond?' And they did very well."
With the result, the Griffins kept themselves in the playoff race, improving to 3-6-1, while dropping the fourth-place Pronghorns – whom they're chasing for a post-season berth – to 2-3-6. They are now two points back with a game in hand.
M⚽️| RECAP
— MacEwan Griffins (@MacEwanGriffins) September 30, 2024
Ali Yildiz scores twice, Ricky Yassin nets three more program records and rookie GK Oleksandr Popravka earns his first @CanadaWest shutout on his 32nd birthday as @GriffinsMSOC blanks the @UofLPronghorns 4-0.#GriffNation
�� Norman Bo
STORY➡️https://t.co/7o0sZSQ1p5 pic.twitter.com/EKTytMNOkm
"The final stretch of the season is huge," said Griffins' veteran Rakan Yassin. "We know the last half of the season is kind of where it matters. It's not how you start, it's how you finish.
"You want to come out firing since we felt we deserved better from yesterday."
That they did as the Griffins took a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute as Yassin sent a cross back post to Ali Yildiz, who corralled it, turned and masterfully planted it far corner past Lethbridge goalkeeper Tegan Romaine.
Yassin became the Griffins' career Canada West points leader on the play, netting his 19th point to move past Lahai Mansaray.
"It means a lot," he said. "I think it's more a testament to the commitment of being here for five years.
"I think it's more a testament to the consistency and commitment every season. It's a good feeling, but I'm glad to get the win."
GOAL��
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Soccer (@GriffinsMSOC) September 29, 2024
Ali Yildiz opens the scoring for the @MacEwanGriffins vs @UofLPronghorns in the 21st minute off a great cross from Ricky Yassin!
With the assist, Ricky Yassin is now the @MacEwanU career @CanadaWest points leader with 19. Congrats!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/64ju0f4oxb
After Chance Carter was taken down just to the left of the box in the 38th minute, Kayden Dugas' free kick was headed home with authority by Logan Klapstein, knifing it through Romaine, who got a piece. It was his first career goal.
Popravka made a tone-setting save at the end of the first half – one of three on the day – laying out to stop a blast by 2023 Canada West second team all-star Will Hughes, who had slipped a defender and got all of one from 15 feet away.
The Ukrainian goalkeeper fittingly earned his first Canada West shutout on his birthday.
Logan Klapstein, left, celebrates his first career Canada West goal with Ricky Yassin and Philip Wutzl on Sunday (Norman Bo photo).
Yildiz struck for his second of the game in the 78th – another no doubter ripped low corner – as Dugas picked up another assist.
"Ali helps us tick," said Loga. "There's a couple guys we need them to be going for the collective group to be going. He didn't maybe have his best game yesterday and he wanted it back, and he responded well today."
Yassin rounded out the scoring in the 90th minute with another memorable moment. After being taken down in the box, he converted his fourth career PK, moving past Stefan Gajic for the most by a Griffin in Canada West play.
When the smoke cleared on the evening, Yassin also put his name in another part of the program record book as he finished with eight shots, matching the Griffins' single-game mark set by Zibusiso Moyo in 2017 … also against Lethbridge.
"He's so consistent now and I think he's just scratching the surface," said Loga. "We always knew he had so much potential when he came into the program and to see his improvement and development over the last couple of years has been tremendous.
"It's a testament to his hard work and dedication."
The Griffins will head out on the road next weekend, visiting Calgary and Mount Royal next Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
