Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – In an incredible déjà vu moment, Grace Mwasalla played hero in extra time for the second-straight day, scoring the game-winner moments before the final whistle on Saturday to lift MacEwan past Saskatchewan 2-1.
A day earlier, of course, she netted the winner on the final play of the game as MacEwan shaded Regina 3-2.
It's as clutch as clutch gets.
"We're talking about the runner-up for Canada West player of the year last year," said MacEwan head coach Dean Cordeiro. "She's just special. We know we can always count on her. She's just such a clutch player. She knows where to be."
Mwasalla took a gorgeous pass from 69th-minute sub Bryn Mortensen, turned and fired it inside the left post to decide the contest.
"Bryn just won it," explained Mwasalla. "I knew I didn't really have time to take a touch, so I just spun my defender. I knew where the side netting was, so I just decided to take a half volley on it and thankfully it hit the side netting."
Mwasalla also had MacEwan's other goal in the contest, opening the scoring in the fifth minute on a penalty kick after Brenna Paquin was taken out in the box by Saskatchewan goalkeeper Kalin Roberts, who was assessed a yellow on the play.
The Huskies equalized in the 33rd when Marie Kilcher scored off Cheyenne Lehmann's corner kick.
"After a great start, we succumbed to a goal on a set piece that we've got to clean up, so it made it a game," said Cordeiro. "We thought we found the go-ahead goal late in the first half, but it got disallowed. We were buzzing."
Indeed. The Griffins were all over the Huskies for most of the second half, searching for a winner that just wouldn't come.
Roberts made a sensational save on Mwasalla in the 66th minute, as she got all of a blast from the top left corner of the box that was labelled bar down before the keeper got fingers on it.
Shortly after, a bicycle kick by Mariah Arnott from six feet out went up in the air and Mwasalla headed it wide.
Rookie goalkeeper Sabrina Alexander throws the ball to a teammate on Saturday (Jefferson Hagen photo).
"We never say quit this group," said Cordeiro. "We're always going to finish the match. When the game got into the later moments, our game-changers came in and positively impacted this match. We knew the longer the game went, we were going to find it."
Roberts was given a second yellow for delay of game on a free kick in extra time and, as a result, backup keeper Nadia Kalyar was in the net and Saskatchewan was down a man for Mwasalla's winner.
Rookie Sabrina Alexander earned the victory for MacEwan, who emerge from opening weekend with six points. The dramatic finishes only helps reinforce how much fight is in this squad.
"It just gives us confidence and belief," said Mwasalla. "We just never give up. We know we just have to play to that final whistle and we're going to find a way."
Next up for the Griffins is a road trip east to play Winnipeg and Manitoba on Sept. 2-3.
