After clutch opening weekend, Mwasalla earns fourth career Canada West Player of the Week award

Grace Mwasalla recorded three goals - including two game-winners - an assist and eight shots in MacEwan's first two opening games (Joel Kingston photo).
Grace Mwasalla recorded three goals - including two game-winners - an assist and eight shots in MacEwan's first two opening games (Joel Kingston photo).
Posted: Aug 29, 2023

MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – After scoring back-to-back game-winning goals on the opening weekend of the Canada West season, MacEwan's Grace Mwasalla has been named the conference's women's soccer player of the week.

It's the fourth time in her career that Mwasalla has earned the honour – once in her rookie season in 2021 and twice in 2022.

"Great players find ways to help their team to big victories," said Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro after Mwasalla scored on the final play of Friday's home opener to lift MacEwan past Regina 3-2.

She also had an assist in the contest, which kicked off the season on the right foot for MacEwan. Her winning goal set a new MacEwan program record for career Canada West goals, breaking a tie she held with Meagan Lemoine at the top.

In Saturday's contest against Saskatchewan, Mwasalla opened the scoring in the fifth minute on a penalty kick after Brenna Paquin was taken out by the Huskies goalkeeper in the box.

After Saskatchewan equalized, the teams appeared headed for a draw until Mwasalla sent a strike inside the left post in extra time for another dramatic game-winner. 

Even Mwasalla didn't expect it to happen like that.

"No, not really," she said with a laugh afterward. "I would have liked to score, but just not in this kind of fashion, leaving it to last minute. But a win's a win and we finished with six points, so that's what matters."

UBC's Sebastian Dzikowski was announced as the Canada West men's soccer player of the week after leading the Thunderbirds to a weekend sweep of UNBC with four goals and two assists.

The Griffins women's soccer team hits the road this weekend for games at Winnipeg on Saturday (2 p.m. MT, Canada West TV) and at Manitoba on Sunday (12 p.m. MT, Canada West TV).

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