Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
REGINA, Sask. – With their back story providing the fuel, the Griffins women's soccer team caught fire for three first-half goals to defeat the Regina Cougars 3-0 on Sunday.
A day earlier at Saskatchewan, the Griffins were seconds away from victory when they instead were forced to settle for a 2-2 tie after conceding in stoppage time.
They came out on Sunday a determined group, scoring three times in the span of 21 minutes in the first half and rolled to their first win of the 2024 Canada West season.
"We were seconds away from a six-point weekend, so that left a bad taste in everybody's mouth," said head coach Dean Cordeiro. "But it's early days, so I just knew the team was going to respond today. Regina's a good team. They beat the U of A the day prior, and we knew they'd be up for it.
"Right from the onset, we wanted to ensure that we're getting in a good rhythm early and making the most of our opportunities. We just got off to a quick start where we scored an early one and a minute later scored again. Then we scored a great little free kick play. We really poured it on."
With the result, MacEwan improves to 1-0-1, while Regina drops to 1-1-0.
Brynn Hobal recorded her first career Canada West goal to open the scoring in the 21st minute when she took a pass from Alyx Henderson up the right side, eluded the defence and scored from a sharp angle for what would stand up as the game-winner.
GOAL!
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 8, 2024
Boom. Brynn Hobal's opening goal in Regina.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/N5IJQ4HjIc
"Most players would have cut that back, but she saw the keeper was cheating a little bit off her post and slotted it," said Cordeiro. "That was her first career goal. Super proud of Brynny. She's a big part of this team on what we're going to be accomplishing here with our goals this season."
Just 29 seconds later, Hannah Harper put the Griffins up 2-0. Grace Mwasalla played her in off slick touch from Anneke Odinga's throw-in and Harper did the rest, juking a defender and blasting it bar down from the right.
WSOC | Hannah Harper. What a tasty finish ��
— Canada West (@CanadaWest) September 8, 2024
Harper with a fantastic individual effort to put the @MacEwanGriffins up a pair in Regina!#CWSoccer x @USPORTSca pic.twitter.com/a5GVOBWKVR
"What vision by Grace Mwasalla on that one – she's just cooking since being back," said Cordeiro of the program's career points leader who missed the last half of the 2023 season with an injury. "Finds Harper, great run in behind and then she went bar down in a tight window. Just so skillful. Way to break a line, way to make a good connection so that it was a no doubter."
Harper then lined up for a free kick at the top of the box in the 42nd minute. But instead of going for a strike over the wall, she deftly played it off to Grace Schimpf, sitting unmarked on the left side of the formation. She hit the side netting to put MacEwan up 3-0.
GOAL!
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 8, 2024
Sneaky little play from Harper to Grace Schimpf, who buries to put the @MacEwanGriffins up 3-0 at half-time!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/TXzi6JrVqj
"We got her into a blind side that we knew they probably wouldn't mark against, and sure enough, we were able to find her in a little pocket and Grace made no mistake," said Cordeiro. "I'm very happy about that because we saw a couple things on film we thought we could take advantage of. And we did on that one. It's all about the execution, though. Nine out of 10 people want to shoot the ball from there because it's such a premium spot, but sometimes you've got to make that unselfish play.
"It was a helluva play by Hannah Harper to make that play on the ball and great execution by Grace Schimpf."
Elizabeth Knight made eight saves for MacEwan to earn her first win and first shutout since joining the Griffins as a transfer from Mount Royal. Cassidy Fedoruk made six saves for Regina.
Next up for the Griffins is a trip back to Edmonton to prepare for their home opener on Sept. 14 vs. Calgary (12 p.m., Edmonton Scottish, Canada West TV).
NOTABLE: Harper was named Game MVP for MacEwan … Ella White made her debut for MacEwan, getting subbed on in the 81st minute … Regina outshot MacEwan 13-12, but the Griffins had more on target (9-8).
