Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – MacEwan Griffins women's soccer head coach Dean Cordeiro wishes the 2019 Canada West season would start next week.
That's because his team is playing inspired footie at the moment, keeping their undefeated winter season intact by rolling through four matches against three different NCAA teams without a loss during a recent Reading Week trip to Hawaii.
"The girls right now – we have an undefeated winter season," he said of a 7-0-2 run that also includes the University of Alberta's Snow Cup title. "It's pretty remarkable. The girls are playing very well as a team and we're starting to see some individual success. It comes because of how much everybody's pushed. We're really excited. I wish our 2019 season was starting sooner."
In Hawaii, they opened the trip on Feb. 17 with a 3-0 win over Hawaii Pacific University – a solid NCAA Div. 2 side. Salma Kamel scored twice to lead the effort, while Ashtyn Haycock chipped in a goal and Emily Burns earned the clean sheet.
"Salma Kamel, in particular, really got the team to another level, scoring two highlight-reel goals," said Cordeiro. "She's really coming into her own as one of the top forwards in our conference. It really paved the way."
On Feb. 18, they rolled over another Div. 2 team, shutting out Chaminade University 5-0 on goals by five different players – Suekiana Choucair, Meagan Lemoine, Kaylin Hermanutz, Raeghan McCarthy and Cassidy Hodgson, while Bianca Castillo got the clean sheet in net.
Then their coup de grace of the trip: a 2-2 draw with NCAA Div. 1 squad, the University of Hawaii on Feb. 22. The Griffins rallied back from 2-0 down against a top-100 team in the U.S.
"We competed, but we went down 1-0 at half-time on a corner kick," said Cordeiro. "Early in the second half we go down 2-0 on a corner kick as well. We weren't giving them a whole lot in the run of play. We were hanging with them and creating chances, we just weren't executing.
"At that moment, we had the opportunity to say 'it's not our day' and move on or fight back under these adverse conditions. Salma got things rolling again. She scored a highlight-reel goal to make it 2-1. We just needed to get that first goal. Ten minutes later, we had Meagan Lemoine off a very crafty play by newcomer Myah Jalal to thread her in. She kind of bullied her way in and put one top corner to tie it. We had momentum on our side and Kaylin Hermanutz almost won it at the death of the game. But what a comeback against a very talented team, so 2-2 was really good."
MacEwan finished up the trip with a 4-2 win over Hawaii Pacific University on Feb. 23. Samantha Gouveia led the offensive effort with two goals, while Brittany Costa and Haycock also found the back of the net.
"We went three wins, one draw and no losses against some very good competition," said Cordeiro. "Even the coaches I spoke to were very surprised. They said most Canadian schools that come up there can't handle the physicality and usually aren't very successful. All of them had great things to say about our side and how disciplined and organized we were.
"It's great to see and hear those things as well. Ultimately, just a great experience for our crew in preparation for 2019."
While the Griffins' winter season continues this month at the Foote Field Dome with an alumni game on March 8 and a match against the U of A Pandas on March 16, at least three players have other opportunities to look forward to as well.
Burns, Choucair and Jamie Erickson have been invited to try out for Team Canada's entry in the 2019 FISU Summer Universiade in Italy this summer. They're off to a training camp in Toronto on March 8-9 and will participate in the selection camp April 27 to May 2, also in Toronto, before finding out if they've made the squad.
"A lot of girls over the years have been getting recognized," said Cordeiro, adding that it's possible a couple other Griffins players also get invited to the camps. "Emily and Suekiana have already had exposure to FISU at the futsal level. It's great for these girls to get the invite and be in the mix. I think they've got a really good shot. We'll see what comes of it.
"It's awesome that MacEwan has that much representation when it's the best of the best in the country."
