Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
-With files from Pronghorns Athletics
LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – Dinner was served at Kiann Bohnert's grandparents' place as they graciously hosted the entire MacEwan Griffins women's soccer team on Friday night for a feast featuring spaghetti and meatballs, and many other goodies.
A day later, they were the ones being treated to a smorgasbord of delights as Bohnert made the first trip to her hometown as a Griffin an unforgettable one.
The 16-year-old rookie centre-back scored her first U SPORTS goal, added another and locked down the Lethbridge Pronghorns' offence in an outstanding 90-minute performance at centre-back, pacing the Griffins to a 5-0 victory.
"She was our POG and not just because she scored twice," said Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro. "What a 90-minute performance and she helped keep a clean sheet. She breaks up so many plays, is first to everything – drives our play from the back.
"It's hard to imagine this is a 16-year-old playing out there. She plays like a seasoned vet. What a story – gets the game-winner for us by getting on a header on a corner and makes it 1-nil. It set the tone for the game today. I'm super proud of Kiann."
Bohnert scored MacEwan's opening goal of the contest in the 25th minute when she climbed the ladder on an Anna McPhee corner kick and headed home her first career U SPORTS goal.
Her second came in the 89th minute as she got on the end of a looping ball by Mariah Arnott into the Pronghorns' box and headed it home.
89'|��GOOOAAALLLL��
— MacEwan Soccer (@GriffinsSoccer) September 24, 2022
@kiannbohnert heads her second banger of the game from a great effort from @mariaharnott to get the ball in the box.
Griffs 5, LETH 0 pic.twitter.com/VVavWnCmEK
"It felt really great," said Bohnert, who is the youngest U SPORTS student-athlete in MacEwan history. "Just being back in Lethbridge and having a calm day feels so great to play soccer. Then knowing that I had a lot of support from people who have never seen me play before – my great aunt was able to come because she was nice and close.
"(That gave me) motivation to put something (on record) even further than I ever have. And the team around me was so great pushing forward."
Bohnert moved into a six-way tie for the Griffins' single game rookie goal scoring record with two alumni (Nicole Palladino and Isabelle Dobbin) and three of her teammates (Grace Mwasalla, Nikki Brodeur and Alyx Henderson), who all netted two in a match vs. Lethbridge last season.
With the win, their third-straight, the Griffins move to 5-2-0 on the season as they begin to create some separation at the top of the Prairie Division.
Saturday's overall team performance was one to behold for the Griffins, who outshot the Pronghorns 34-6 in the contest (14-0 on goal). And they did it by getting 17 players into the match – including centre-back Selynna Simao, who made her Canada West debut, coming in for 23 minutes.
"To get everybody going and get some people some important minutes, I think it really sets us up to successful down the road," said Cordeiro.
Griffins players celebrate Maya Morrell's fourth goal of the contest in the 62nd minute (Lethbridge Sports photo).
Grace Schimpf scored for the second time in three games (and third of the season) in the 37th minute, collecting a ball from McPhee at the top of the penalty area and curling a shot just inside the far post. McPhee had two assists in just her fourth game back from injury.
Erin Van Dolder then scored her fourth goal of the season just three minutes later.
Maya Morrell made it 4-0 in the 62nd minute, forcing a turnover and going in on a breakaway before slotting it in the low right corner. Morrell was a force in 74 minutes on the pitch, taking eight shots, just two shy of the program's single-game record.
Bianca Castillo earned her third shutout and fourth win of the season.
"We talk about being consistent and we're growing day-in and day-out," said Cordeiro. "We had another quality performance across the board. We showed our strength in numbers.
"It is the midway point of the season now – that was Game 7 – so we're halfway there. We've got some goals we want to achieve.
"We're going to enjoy this one for a bit," he added. "Now we've got to regroup and get ourselves ready for a very tough Mount Royal team tomorrow."
The Griffins are off to Calgary on Sunday to visit the Cougars (1 p.m., Canada West TV).
