Canada West Communications
EDMONTON – MacEwan Griffins women's soccer player Samantha Gouveia was named as one of three finalists for the Canada West Female Athlete of the Year award on Friday.
The talented centre-back, who, earlier this month, was named MacEwan Female Athlete of the Year, joins fellow soccer student-athlete Montana Leonard of the University of Calgary and field hockey competitor Anna Mollenhauer from Victoria as finalists for the prestigious award.
It's the first time in MacEwan Athletics history that a Griffins student-athlete has been a finalist for a Canada West Athlete of the Year award.
On the men's side, Alberta basketball guard Tyus Jefferson, Mount Royal hockey forward Nolan Yaremko and Trinity Western volleyball setter Derek Epp are the top three vote-getters.
Canada West's Athletes of the Year, which are selected via vote by the conference's 17 members, will be announced Monday, May 2 at 11 a.m. The CW winners will move forward as nominees for the national awards.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL CANADA WEST RELEASE
Griffins' captain Samantha Gouveia had a huge final season for the U SPORTS national champions (Chris Piggott photo).
The honour is another capper on a banner year for Gouveia and the Griffins women's soccer team after they captured the 2021 U SPORTS national championship.
The Griffins' team captain played every minute of every game, commanding one of the stingiest defences in the country, while also scoring three goals and two assists from the centre-back position.
She rose to meet every big moment, standing out as the player of the game in the national finals to cap off a season in which she earned her place on the Canada West first-team all star and U SPORTS second-team all star rosters.
The Edmontonian was also named the Most Valuable Player of the U SPORTS national championships.
Gouveia's credentials are just as impressive off the field. She's a four-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian, most recently ranking in the country's top eight after maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA.
She led a variety of student-athlete community campaigns this season, while providing support for youth in their toughest moments through Canada's Crisis Text Line. She also makes time to help veterans, Paralympians and youth, all while serving on the Student Athletic Council.
