Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – For the second time this season, a late goal against turned a win into a tie for the MacEwan Griffins women's soccer team.
They were about to beat Saskatchewan 2-1 in their season opener in Saskatoon when the Huskies found the equalizer on the last play of the game off a corner kick.
This time, Alberta tied Saturday's game off a 90th-minute throw-in, as Adrienne Poulin corralled it and knifed a pass through the middle of the MacEwan D to a streaking Tara Simonot, who deked around keeper Sabrina Alexander, tucking it in to seal a 2-2 final.
Alberta was certainly much happier about the single point than MacEwan was after the Griffins created far more dangerous chances in the game – hitting two crossbars in the first half, having two other goals overturned on offside calls and seeing a 76th-minute point-blank chance by Ruth Adekugbe go through keeper Autumn Wynn's legs, only to be saved off the line by defender Mila Van der Veen.
"It's disappointing," said MacEwan head coach Dean Cordeiro. "The score wasn't indicative of the game. We created a lot, and we had them where we wanted them. We just couldn't get that next goal. It's on us. We've got to put the team away.
"Credit them, they're dangerous, they made the most of their opportunities today and a hell of a finish on the game-tying goal. But we can't concede the equalizer in extra time. That will be our post-game reflection."
The Griffins never trailed in the contest, opening the scoring in the fifth minute when Grace Schimpf shimmied a defender 30 yards out and sent in an inspired ball onto the boot of Hannah Harper, who made no mistake for her seventh goal of the season.
Hannah Harper opened the scoring in the fifth minute on Saturday off a gem of a pass from graduating senior Grace Schimpf.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/azwPFDQhRh
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) October 12, 2024
Grace Mwasalla hit the crossbar in the 12th minute from the middle of the box that would have given MacEwan a 2-0 lead, but it went bar down and stayed out.
Alberta then tied the contest in the 21st, as Wanda Czebreszuk fed Makenna Van der Veen, who found a pocket of space in the middle of the attacking zone and had all day to pick the corner with a strong strike on Alexander.
Sophie Lavallee scored in the 40th minute, but she was offside, before Schimpf hit a crossbar from distance in the 42nd, again going bar down but staying out. Then Brynn Hobal scored on a breakaway in the 61stminute, but it was called offside.
Griffins players surround Hannah Harper in celebration after she opened the scoring in the fifth minute on Saturday (Norman Bo photo).
Finally, Hobal put the Griffins out front 2-1 in the 84th, as Mwasalla leapt into the air to corral a long pass from Paige Colby, turned and hit her on the right wing, and she made no mistake with a far side strike.
"That's what Grace can do, and Brynn Hobal was breaking lines all game," said Cordeiro. "I can't wait to see how many kilometres she ran today.
"Grace, when the ball's at her feet, she magic, she's special" he added of his Game MVP, who recorded her 44th career regular season point, tied for 17th best in Canada West women's soccer history. "Today, there was more. She created a couple other good looks."
Alexander made nine saves for MacEwan, while Wynn stopped seven for the Pandas.
With the result, MacEwan is now 8-1-2, and trails Calgary (9-1-1) by two points for top spot in the Prairie Division, although the Dinos are favoured against Lethbridge later on Saturday.
Alberta, meanwhile, got a key point to move to 6-3-2 and would officially clinch a playoff spot if Regina loses to Saskatchewan on Saturday night.
The teams will meet again on Sunday (12 p.m., Foote Field, Canada West TV).
"We were off the mark a little bit today, but listen, we're playing the game the right way," said Cordeiro. "This is football. Sometimes these things happen. I'm excited about how this team's going to respond tomorrow. It looked like a hell of a play that gave us the lead for a time. It's too bad we couldn't hold on."
EXTRA POINTS
Saturday was Senior Day for the Griffins, who celebrated six graduating players following the match – Nicole Noble, Mariah Arnott, Schimpf, Brenna Paquin, Alyx Henderson and Mwasalla.
"It's hard to find words," said Cordeiro when asked to reflect one more time on what they've meant to the program. "Every year we graduate and honour so many special student-athletes that have meant so much to the program and the legacy that they'll leave is incredible. All six of them were young players on our national championship team. Many of them played big roles, even then. It's crazy how quickly it goes.
"The cool thing is there's still lots of season left – regular season and playoffs. Our goal is to try and go as far as possible. These six seniors are going to have a say in that. I'm just excited to see them the rest of the way and continue to add to their illustrious careers.
"They're six of the best who have ever worn the jersey. I've been fortunate and blessed as a coach to work with so many amazing student-athletes. These six will be missed."
