Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
WINNIPEG, Man. – Scoring in the 10th minute to quickly spoil the festivities early in the University of Manitoba's home opener, the Griffins women's soccer team never relinquished the lead, en route to a 3-1 victory on Saturday.
With the result, MacEwan improved to 3-1-1, dropping Manitoba to 1-4-0 in the Canada West standings.
Just 9:20 into the contest, Sophie Lavallee busted through the middle of the defence, made a move to freeze keeper Holly Dyker, went around her and tapped in her third goal in as many games.
Since coming on as a 35th-minute substitute against Calgary in MacEwan's home opener, Lavallee has been on fire.
"Sophie's been in great form," said Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro. "She just has a nose for the net right now. She broke through and had a quality finish. It put us out to a great start. Nine minutes into the game.
"It's always nice when you can get yourself going like that, especially on the road. It was their homecoming, so they had a big crowd, good turnout. So, to be able to quiet the crowd was what we were looking for."
Sophie Lavallee got the party started early on Saturday!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/YILAGPkWQA
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 21, 2024
The great start continued when Selynna Simao hit Alyx Henderson, who streaked up field and buried a laser under the bar to put MacEwan up 2-0 in the 17th minute. It was coincidentally, her 17th career goal, tying her with Suekiana Choucair for the third-most in program history.
"Selynna (Simao) had her first career assist," said Cordeiro. "Hell of a weighted pass. Alyx got out on the left and she cut in, and, man, what a shot. She just smashed it top half of the net, no doubter.
"We're up 2-nil 16 minutes into the match. Dream start."
Selynna Simao picks up her first career assist as Alyx Henderson scores her third of the season and 17th career @CanadaWest goal, tying her for third in program history!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/Bt2NF5gxQC
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 21, 2024
Manitoba woke them up a bit, though, when they cut the lead in half off a broken play at the 35:00 mark. Chloe Morin got credit for the goal that came off a scramble out of a free kick – a shot that was initially stopped by Elizabeth Knight, but the ball bounced off the post, off a Griffins player and in.
"Credit Manitoba, they fought back and now it's game on," said Cordeiro. "So, we made some adjustments at half-time. I'm really proud of the overall depth of the team. We got all our game-changers in, and they just lifted us. We were persistent in the second half."
That led to the signature moment, perhaps, of the contest as Ella Fownes scored a highlight-reel double bar down beauty off a 35-yard free kick in the 76th minute.
"Ella Fownes with just a banger free kick – a double bar down – bar down, off the bar and in," said Cordeiro. "Just a hell of a free kick."
We like to call this order the 'Large Double Double Bar Down'
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 21, 2024
�� Ella Fownes#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/MnaA55gZ6y
Fownes was named Game MVP for the Griffins after also logging 90 minutes at the centre-back position. She's the fifth different player of the game for the team in five games so far this season.
"Ella Fownes had a quality game, scoring a great goal and just being a rock defensively for us," said Cordeiro. "She was a vocal leader for us back there and really driving play. We're happy with Ella's performance."
Knight finished with six saves, while Dyker allowed all three shots the Griffins had on goal.
MacEwan continues their road trip on Sunday, playing at Winnipeg (12 p.m. MT, Canada West TV).
