Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – From the moment a student-athlete steps through the doors at MacEwan, their journey is a special one filled with memories of great plays, big wins, unforgettable times with teammates and a transformation into the person they are today.
In five years (or less), which feels like the blink of an eye, that journey is over.
As our graduating student-athletes move on from the program and prepare for the next chapter of life, we are asking them to reflect on their time as a Griffin.
From March 15-24, we will be featuring Q&As with our graduates by sport.
Here is the schedule:
Today – Women's Soccer
March 24 – Cross Country
Samantha Gouveia volleys a ball against Victoria during the 2018-19 season. Strong play throughout her career at MacEwan has led to an opportunity in the United Women's Soccer Leagues with the St. Albert Impact this spring (Chris Piggott photo).
Samantha Gouveia
Defender (2016-21)
Graduating with … Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology
Future plans … Return in fall for fifth season; Pursue professional soccer career
What are your favourite memories from your time as a Griffin?
"It's definitely that team atmosphere. Every athlete will agree we take for granted how fast time passes. Just the team dinners and team locker-room pep talks. Especially our trips. I would never have gone to places in Europe like Amsterdam or England or Belgium, let alone Hawaii, which is probably one of my favourite trips I'll ever imagine. That was an incredible time. I'm just very grateful to spend it with my second family."
Do you have any individual highlights that stand out?
"On an individual scope, I still remember my first goal. As a player, everyone knows this, Dean (Cordeiro) knows this, I love to just move around the field – it doesn't matter what position I'm in. Even though I'm a defender, at this point I was in the No. 9 position and I got a ball over top from one of my centre-backs, had a touch to the left and I slipped to the right – for a first goal, that was a very cherishable moment for myself.
"From a team aspect, one of the most memorable moments was (Brittany) Costa's goal against our cross-town rivals the Pandas (in the 90th minute on Sept. 15, 2017 for a 1-0 win). It was the most buzzing atmosphere I've ever experienced. The stands were full. We were down a player and got to pull one through with a nifty little corner play. It's pretty surreal when you have little kids running to you and you used to be that little kid."
You've also been a leader in the classroom with three Academic All Canadians and I'm not sure you're on track for a fourth one, but how do you reflect on that?
"I am on track for a fourth one. I'm pretty happy about that. As a leader I need to set the standard on the pitch and in the classroom. I definitely do take great pride in that. We're student-athletes, so student does come first. Even when I'm talking with the team and checking in on them, I'm always lending a hand because school can be very stressful. I take great pride in my academics."
You recently signed with a new United Women's Soccer Leagues team, the St. Albert Impact. Tell me a little bit about that.
"That's probably one of the greatest accomplishments I've had so far. These five years allowed me to get to this point. Being that soccer is who I am, it's part of my life, I want to see how far I can take this. UWS recently partnered with NISA (National Independent Soccer Association) to create a women's pro league. Right now, we're in the birth of professional women's soccer, which is cool to be in this movement."
Anything else you'd like to say about your time as a Griffin?
"I just want to say thank you obviously to my teammates. I wouldn't be able to be the player I am without them. The coaching staff, everything they've done for me is beyond words. Most importantly, my support system – my loved ones, my family, everyone who has come to support me, my parents especially, my boyfriend, they've just been my No. 1 fans. I wouldn't be the player I am today."
Kaylin Hermanutz, seen making a play against Thompson Rivers University in 2018, has plenty of great memories from her Griffins soccer career, but nothing stands out more than the goal she scored in the 2017 playoffs against Alberta (Chris Piggott photo).
Kaylin Hermanutz
Midfielder (2017-21)
Graduating with … Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with French and Sociology minors
Future plans … Return for fifth season in fall; continue education with an after-degree
Favourite memories?
"The big games, the playoffs, hosting Canada West Final Four and almost making it to nationals. I think some of my favourite memories of being a Griffin are just spending time with my teammates and friends. All the time showing up to training every day, the road trips and taking flights to games, the locker-rooms, hotel rooms and team dinners – those are the memories I'll miss the most. The Reading Week trips – a couple of years ago we went to Hawaii – those will stick with me as well."
Any individual highlights that stand out – big goals, funny moments, etc.?
"When we played U of A in the playoffs (in 2017) and I got the winning goal off – I don't even know what it was – my neck or something. That took us to the Final Four. That was definitely exciting. Right spot, right time. All of my family was there. That was a big moment for sure."
If you could look back at when you first started with the Griffins until now, how have you grown as a player and person?
"What helped the most was that sense of community and belonging. The coaching staff – Dean (Cordeiro) was a big part of it. A lot of the girls on MacEwan I've played with a long time, so I think that helped. I think what also helped, too, is we were such a dedicated team. We not only had this winning atmosphere, but we made training fun. I just enjoyed myself and I just loved coming to training."
Anything else you like to say about your time with the Griffins?
"I get so emotional talking about this stuff. I guess I just wanted to say thank you to the coaching staff. This experience has been a huge thing in my life. I just wanted to say how much it means to me. It was a big part of my life and I'm so lucky I can come back for another season because I think our team is so good and we really deserve to go to nationals. We really want to be a part of it."
Salma Kamel tracks down a ball during a 2019 playoff game against Victoria. Earlier in that season, she scored four goals in a game at Mount Royal, which is a program record (Chris Piggott photo).
Salma Kamel
Forward (2016-21)
Graduating with … Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Future plans … Return in fall for fifth season of eligibility; continue playing soccer and pursue more education
Favourite memories?
"I was actually just thinking about this. My all-time favourite memory was in our third year in playoffs against the U of A when Kaylin (Hermanutz) scored that goal in the last few minutes and I assisted it. I think that was probably my favourite moment. All of the U of A games were interesting and fun. They really stand out to me."
What stands out to you for individual highlights? I imagine that four-goal game against Mount Royal in the 2019 season is never going to leave your memory.
"Yeah, that's definitely up there. That was one of my favourite games I've played. Also, against U of A again, that one goal I scored (in the 2018 playoffs). We didn't end up winning that game (a 2-1 loss). It was at Foote Field. I ran down the side and beat so many players and scored. That was one of the best goals I think I ever scored."
Going back to that four-goal game (on Oct. 15, 2019), that's a program record that I'm not sure will be touched anytime soon. Can you take me through that experience?
"That game was kind of weird because it was rescheduled for a Tuesday and we went down to Calgary. Before the game I was like 'Ugh, I'm not really used to this, I don't know how this is going to go.' It was in October and I was like 'is it going to be cold?' I hate playing in the cold. But then I went out there and the weather was amazing. It was perfect weather for playing. I remember we went down and I was just so angry. I just scored the first one and then honestly, I could not tell you how the rest of them came. Everyone was giving me unreal passes and I was always in the right place at the right time, it felt like."
If you could look back at where you were when you first came into the program to where you are now, what would you see?
"I was a lot less mentally tough and physically tough when I first came. Now, my mental game has improved so much. In my first year, every time I made a mistake I thought it was the end of the world and it would throw off the rest of my game. I definitely learned a lot about mental toughness throughout my five years."
Anything else you like to say about being a Griffin?
"It was amazing. There were definitely some hard times and times when I don't know how I'm even doing this, but it was worth it and I would 100 per cent do it all again in a heartbeat."
