Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Griffins women's soccer head coach Dean Cordeiro has had his share of deep, talented rosters since he first started with the program at MacEwan in 2013 – including two teams that have won national championships.

So, these words about his current roster hold some serious weight.

"We've got a lot of talent, and this team is maybe the deepest we've had since I came here," said Cordeiro.

The challenge will be if 'deep and talented' can turn into 'championship contender.'

"This is a really deep roster and every day you see girls fighting for position not only in our starting lineup but in the 18, as well," said veteran forward Grace Mwasalla, who will serve as co-captain of the team with Anneke Odinga. "I think just having so many different options will really help us throughout the season because we have a lot of big goals, and we want to go far.

"Knowing that we have a lot of different options and different pairings can really make us a dangerous team."

The defending Prairie Division champions are amped up on optimism as they get set to kick off a new season this weekend with a road trip to Saskatchewan on Saturday (2 p.m. MT) and Regina on Sunday (12 p.m. MT, both Canada West TV).

Brenna Paquin, left, Grace Mwasalla and Nicole Noble are among several veterans the Griffins will be counting on in 2024 (Jefferson Hagen photo).

Saturday is a date they've had circled on the calendar ever since being upset in the Canada West quarter-final by Victoria on a bitterly cold October day at Clareview Field.

"Last year kind of left a bad taste in my mouth, so I'm ready to go," said Odinga. "I feel like after October 28, it's such a long time and I could not be more excited to get the season rolling and achieve higher than we did last year."

Doing a deep dive into what this roster has backs up Cordeiro's comment. The roster is so deep it's going to be a tough challenge for the coaching staff just to decide who makes the 18 each day, let alone who starts and plays big minutes.

"Our depth chart is strong, it's so close at every position," said the coach. "If you want to be the last team standing, you need to be deep, you need to be talented. It's a long season and injuries happen. You've got to expect the unexpected."

Especially after last year. Injuries took their toll with the most man games lost the program has perhaps ever had. So, Cordeiro bolstered the squad with an exciting influx of talent.

"Staying healthy is going to be a big theme for us," said Cordeiro. "Last year we went through a lot of different lineups and starting 11s. Sometimes you need consistency and that helps forge chemistry. I'm excited about the players back in our line-up. Don't get me wrong, we've got some bumps and bruises with people out, but not to the level we experienced last year."

When Mwasalla was lost for the season with an injury in mid-September last season, the Griffins' offence took a nosedive, scoring 19 goals fewer than in 2022.

Not only is Mwasalla back, scoring a goal in her first preseason game last week, but the group also has Nicole Brodeur – a member of their 2021 U SPORTS national championship team – healthy again after she missed all of the 2023 season with a knee injury.

Nicole Brodeur, left, Grace Schimpf and Alyx Henderson will all be key to the Griffins' potent attack this season (Jefferson Hagen photo).

"We're very excited about our forward group this season," said Cordeiro. "Last year we probably would have liked to score a few more goals – a little closer to what we were able to accomplish the year prior to that – but with the additions we were able to make and our returning players, it's very exciting times right now."

University of Calgary transfer Ruth Adekugbe is set to make a big impact for the Griffins up front, while veteran returners Alyx Henderson and Brenna Paquin have 31 career points between them. Sophie Lavallee, Keyanna Charpentier, Jaycee Krushelniski and rookie Amy Runquist will also push for minutes.

The MacEwan midfield was young last season, but that's set to pay off big for them in 2024.

Second-years Hannah Harper, Bryn Mortensen and Brynn Hobal got valuable minutes last season that helped to accelerate their growth. Along with veterans Grace Schimpf, Mariah Arnott and Nicole Noble, promising rookies Paige Colby and Ella White, the Griffins' midfield depth is enviable.

"The way we play our game, our midfield is our engine," said Cordeiro. "Those players are ready. The number of reps the young core got (last season) was huge.

"We're really focused on getting faster, quicker and tougher to play against in the midfield. Our athleticism is definitely going to be a strength."

Transfers Sofia Andrade, left, and Ruth Adekugbe are among a strong wave of incoming talent on the Griffins (Jefferson Hagen photo).

The back line endured some of the toughest losses from last season as veteran starters Hannah Supina and Abbey Wright graduated. But the group is still anchored by Odinga – an elite wide defender and offense generator who has twice been named to the Canada West first all-star team.

"Canada West put out that she's one of the fastest in the league and I definitely agree with that," said Mwasalla. "When she gets involved in our attack, it can make opponents' lives a lot more difficult. I think she just brings that explosive intensity in attack that we can really benefit from."

Former Canada West All-Rookie team member Amelia Russo is available to play centre-back or holding mid, while rookie Ella Fownes – who started all but two games in 2023 – is also back to lead the defence. Third-year student-athlete Selynna Simao is ready to take the next step, while Genevieve Bachand is primed for more minutes.

Then there's the additions. First-years Kate Scholz and Kiera Inglis bring poise and promise, while Alyson Bodner – who has previous U SPORTS experience at Dalhousie – and Sofia Andrade, a transfer from three different NCAA programs, will have a shot at carving out big roles as well.

"I think we've made quick work on revamping things back there with us graduating some key players," said Cordeiro. "We're excited about that group. They're going to do some amazing things and do their part to keep us in games and help in our buildup phase and put up numbers. We're going to see some significant output from our back four this season, which is going to really kick-start things for us up top."

Goalkeeper Toni Gill is nearing a return to full health after an injury cost her the 2023 season (Jefferson Hagen photo).

Finally, in goal, the Griffins are in great shape, especially if Toni Gill, a member of MacEwan's 2021 U SPORTS national championship squad, is able to return to form after being nearly fully recovered from an injury that cost her the 2023 season. Reigning Canada West All-Rookie team member Sabrina Alexander is back, as well, along with promising Mount Royal transfer Lizzy Knight and third-year Kate Prince.

"It's going to be an awesome competition to see throughout the season," said Cordeiro. "Injuries have been a concern over the last few years, but we have full confidence in anybody who gets the nod. The team is in an exciting place, for sure."