Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – In a terrific early season battle between two of the top women's soccer teams in Canada West, the visiting Calgary Dinos hung on for a 3-2 victory over the MacEwan Griffins on Saturday afternoon.

Statistically, the Dinos were full marks for the win – outshooting the Griffins 30-14 (17-7 on goal) and holding a larger share of the possession – but the result was still in doubt throughout five minutes of stoppage time.

Ultimately, MacEwan couldn't find the tying goal.

"We just ran out of time.," said Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro. "I felt if there was a bit more time we'd probably find the equalizer. But that's the game. We've got to clean some things up. 

"Early on, it's a litmus test, if you will, to see where things are at. We'll be ready for them when we see them again in a month's time. It was definitely a good contest. I feel like the fans got some good entertainment today, for sure."

With the result, the Dinos improve to 3-0-0, while the Griffins drop to 1-1-1.

Reigning conference all-rookie team member Sabrina Alexander made her season debut for MacEwan, coming off an injury, and wound up setting a new Griffins program record for the most saves in a Canada West game with 14.

She had a mix of routine and highlight-reel saves, including a point blank stop on Ella Djuranic in the 69^th minute. Alexander's total topped the old record fo 12 set by Emily Burns in 2017.

Sabrina Alexander finished with 14 saves to set a new record for the most in a Canada West match by a Griffins goalkeeper (Norman Bo photo).

"She went in and responded really well and did well for herself," said Cordeiro. 'A couple goals she didn't really have a chance on, but a couple of those saves weren't just routine saves. She was tasked at times. That's going to happen in games. We have confidence in all our keepers. I thought it was a solid performance for Sabrina."

The teams traded penalty kick goals in the first half as Calgary's Aislin Phillips opened the scoring in the 34^th minute before MacEwan's Anneke Odinga cracked her PK attempt bar down past Calgary goalkeeper Anna Demarbre to equalize in the 43^rd.

GOAL!
Anneke Odinga cracks it bar down a PK as the @MacEwanGriffins tie things up with @UCDinos 1-1 heading into half-time.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/Z1XAduVx8A

— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 14, 2024

Jayden Berg put the visitors ahead again in the 66^th minute on a bit of a broken play. Alexander charged out to stop Djuranic's initial point blank shot only to have the ball deflect off her into traffic where Berg found it and hit a rebound that deflected off a defender and in.

Inspired by the go-ahead goal, the Dinos kept pouring it on, leading to Isabella DiPalma's game-winner in the 82^ndminute.

Suddenly, the Griffins found new life in a desperate bid to get back into the game as Grace Mwasalla – who was robbed by Demarbre in the 85^th – flicked a pass out wide to Mariah Arnott, who went in alone from the left. Instead of shooting, though, she hit Sophie Lavallee back post for a tap in.

"Sophie just kept pushing on," said Cordeiro of his Game MVP, who led MacEwan with five shots after subbing in late in the first half. "She had two or three chances as soon as she got on and then scored to get us within one. 

"The energy and work rate she brought (was top level). Sophie's a great player and she stepped up when we needed. It's too bad we ran out of time, but it was exciting nonetheless."

The Griffins return to action on Sunday vs. Lethbridge (12 p.m., Edmonton Scottish, Canada West TV), while the Dinos visit the Alberta Pandas.