Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Determined and fired up after dropping their home opener to the Calgary Dinos a day earlier, the MacEwan Griffins women's soccer team came out with a vengeance against the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Sunday.
They were up 1-0 just over three minutes in, 2-0 at the seven-minute mark and by the 15th, their 3-0 lead would prove insurmountable.
The final read 6-1 in a thoroughly dominant performance that pushed the Griffins (2-1-1) past the Pronghorns (2-2-0) in the Canada West Prairie Division standings.
"It was a quality start," said MacEwan head coach Dean Cordeiro. "This team, whenever there's a setback – and we don't suffer them too often – always responds well. I wouldn't expect any different. I'm proud of the group.
"(The start) was pretty special and we set the tone early."
Amelia Russo – a 2022 Canada West all-rookie team member – has always been a rock defensively for the Griffins. But amazingly, the third-year defender, who was starting her 20th career Canada West game, had yet to record a point.
Until Sunday.
Russo scored twice – both headers off corner kicks – and added an assist to go along with stellar defensive play in the best match to date of her university career.
"I think everything just clicked," said the Griffins' Game MVP. "I've helped set up a lot of goals but never gotten one myself. So, today I got my first one. I was able to help the team in that aspect and help us get the win today."
If second assists were awarded in soccer, Russo would have had another one after intercepting a ball and playing it in for Mariah Arnott, who sent in an inspired offering for Alyx Henderson, who drilled home the Griffins' fourth goal.
"Those are the things to me that are even at another level that go unnoticed," said Cordeiro of Russo. "Crazy to think she hadn't registered any points yet, but she's often getting that second assist on plays that just doesn't get noticed. We notice it.
"Super happy for her. Not only did she get her first, she got three in one game. Can't ask for better."
GOAL!
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 15, 2024
Amelia Russo heads home Grace Schimpf's corner for her first career @CanadaWest point, putting the Griffins up 1-0 just 3:11 into the game vs. @UofLPronghorns. Russo has since added an assist and the @MacEwanGriffins lead 3-0 just 20 minutes in. #GriffNation pic.twitter.com/qq5KccqZh2
Russo opened the scoring on a header off Grace Schimpf's corner kick just 3:11 in.
She then dished a nice pass to Sophie Lavallee, who launched a bullet from distance inside the right post past diving Lethbridge keeper Oceane McBurney at 7:05.
Sophie Lavallee's strike today!��#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/Wrh3VRI7rN
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 15, 2024
Nicole Brodeur put MacEwan up 3-0 at 14:04, jumping on a sitter after the ball was dislodged from Grace Mwasalla after a hard bump in the box.
Nicole Brodeur jumps on a loose ball after Grace Mwasalla's hard work and slots it for the Griffin's third goal!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/ffq8ZvEUsu
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 15, 2024
At the half, the Griffins swapped out six of their 10 field players as they spent the rest of the contest managing minutes.
It almost came back to bite them as their momentum stalled and Lethbridge capitalized on a corner kick in the 66thminute. Jorje Herle launched a great ball that dropped at the back post onto the boot of Chiara Duenser, who squeaked it in through a defender on the line.
That woke the Griffins up big time, though, as they poured it on again and Henderson's goal in the 80th seized the momentum back with authority.
After a great buildup by Amelia Russo and Mariah Arnott, Alyx Henderson hammers home her 16th career @CanadaWest goal.
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 15, 2024
That's fourth-best in program history.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/ykKBnP9TRh
Russo scored her second of the game in the 82nd off a Hannah Harper corner.
The header. The celly. Amelia Russo completes a memorable three-point day in a big win for the Griffins.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/Aqi1SdRQXC
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 15, 2024
Then it was Harper's turn to complete the rout as she was taken down in the box in the 87th and converted on the ensuing penalty.
Hannah Harper rips home the first PK of her @CanadaWest career to put the finishing touches on a 6-1 win.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/oMRVQ9VIk8
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 15, 2024
Elizabeth Knight made six saves for the Griffins, while McBurney stopped 13 for the Pronghorns.
"It was a good response because I think we had a lot of built up anger from yesterday," said Russo. "Every time we play the Dinos, there's that crazy competitiveness between us because I think they're one of our biggest rivals. I think that anger that was built up led us to the win today.
"We just wanted to get off to a quick start and shut them down so they couldn't hang with us for the remainder of the game."
The Griffins head back out on the road next weekend as they visit Manitoba and Winnipeg.
