Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Fueled by a hunger and urgency that came from losing back-to-back matches for the first time in eight years last weekend, the Griffins women's soccer team put the pedal to the metal in a thoroughly dominant 6-0 win over the Regina Cougars on Saturday.

Scoring three times in each half, they recorded a statement victory five days after being dropped out of the U SPORTS top-10 rankings following losses to Calgary and Mount Royal.

"We had a great week of prep," said Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro. "Obviously, last weekend isn't what we expect. We've got a high standard here and it just wasn't our week. They were some good opponents. But we rolled up our sleeves and got back to work. Everything we executed at training we saw in this game today, so that really excited me. 

"It was waking up a little bit of a sleeping giant, maybe, in terms of what we expect here. I think you saw that today."

With the result, the Griffins improved to 3-2-0 on the young Canada West season, dropping Regina to 1-3-1.

Both Sophie Lavallee and Nikki Brodeur finished with three points in a half (first and second, respectively), tying them for the third most ever by a Griffins player in a Canada West half.

Anneke Odinga recorded two assists, Emma Clark got her first career Canada West point and Grace Mwasalla scored her 33^rd career regular season goal, moving her within one of the conference's all-time top-10 list.

"I think once we get going, we get rolling," said Lavallee, who opened the scoring with the game-winner in the 23^rd minute, depositing Clark's corner kick into the net. "We got into our momentum today. We had a huge prep this whole week to turn it around from last week. So, I think it just goes to show how much we've improved in the last five days. 

"We want to keep the streak going into the next game and the games to come. Our depth is strong, and we've all been working extremely hard for this day and it's showing on the pitch."

GOAL��
Sophie Lavallee opens the scoring in the 23rd minute, converting off an Emma Clark corner kick to put @MacEwanGriffins up 1-0 on @ReginaCougars #GriffNation pic.twitter.com/M41Ftq0tV3

— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 13, 2025

On the back end, Griffins goalkeeper Carly Uchacz, making her first career start, had a nine-save shutout, which broke a decade-old record for the most by a MacEwan rookie GK, originally set by Emily Burns, who had eight saves in a 2015 match.

NEW RECORD!
Carly Uchacz stops a late @ReginaCougars point-blank chance for her ninth save of the contest.
That breaks a long-standing program record held by Emily Burns from 2015 for the most saves by a rookie @MacEwanGriffins keeper in a @CanadaWest match!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/1Yvj57BLv5

— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 13, 2025

"That's amazing," said Lavallee. "She brings a level of calmness, and her range is a super big asset to the team. I think it showed. We were getting runs left and right here today. 

"She locked it down in the back for the opportunities that were given to her, and we are really excited that she got her first start today."

Mwasalla made it 2-0 Griffins in the 36^th when Lavallee played her in up the left side and she beat charging Regina keeper Peyton Magnuson to the ball before swinging wide and chipping it past a defender on the line.

GOAL��
Grace Mwasalla chips in her 33rd career @CanadaWest goal to put the @MacEwanGriffins up 2-0 in the 36th!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/hRRGdmgS2A

— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 13, 2025

Lavallee wasn't done, putting MacEwan up 3-0 before half-time after getting her thigh on Odinga's sharply-struck cross into the area.

GOAL��
Fantastic buildup and a laser in from Anneke Odinga led to Sophie Lavallee's second goal and third point of the half to put @MacEwanGriffins up 3-0 on @ReginaCougars through 45 minutes.
It's the third-most points in a @CanadaWest half ever by a Griffin.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/eUfsCeNW2d

— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 13, 2025

Then it was Brodeur's turn as Lavallee was subbed out at the half for her fellow veteran forward. 'Brodie' wasted little time making an impact on the scoresheet, putting MacEwan up 4-0 in the 60^th minute with a one-timer off Odinga's fantastic low cross that was right on her boot.

GOAL��
Half-time sub Nikki Brodeur puts @MacEwanGriffins up 4-0 on @ReginaCougars in the 60th minute. Anneke Odinga picks up her second assist of the contest.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/Y0Tn8ijpXk

— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 13, 2025

Less than four minutes later, the Griffins struck again on a tremendous buildup that began in the back and finished with Brodeur's cross landing at Brynn Hobal's feet and she made no mistake.

GOAL��
It's 5-0 @MacEwanGriffins!
Nikki Brodeur gets her second point of the half, playing it in to Brynn Hobal for a big strike in the 64th.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/xMVXvMF8KZ

— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 13, 2025

Brodeur capped the scoring with the Griffins' sixth of the contest in the 71^st as Alyx Henderson's cross went off a defender and right to her for a tap in.

GOAL��
Nikki Brodeur nets her second of the game and third point of the half to put @MacEwanGriffins 6-0 in the 71st minute!
It ties what Sophie Lavallee accomplished in the first half for the third most points in a half in program history.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/sOO4ybMiqQ

— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) September 13, 2025

"You saw our game changers come in and what an impact they made," said Cordeiro, who got every one of his field players into the match. "Look at Nikki Brodeur – comes in at half-time and gets two goals and an assist. She's been champing at the bit to get a little bit more and she came out and earned it today, which was great to see. 

"Sophie Lavallee – two goals and an assist in the first half – and we were able to give her a breather. These are good situations to be in when everybody's clicking, and you want to get everybody going."

W⚽️| RECAP
With hunger and urgency, @Griffins_WSOC's response game after dropping two road matches, leads to thoroughly dominant 29-shot, 6-0 win over @ReginaCougars.#GriffNation
�� Norman Bo

STORY➡️https://t.co/gz5VLFAlRN pic.twitter.com/Qav7wIG5sA

— MacEwan Griffins (@MacEwanGriffins) September 13, 2025

MacEwan finished with 29 shots, nine of those by Mwasalla, which is just one shy of the program's single game record shared by Sunder West (2019) and Maya Morrell (2022). 

The Griffins also outshot the Cougars 12-9 in shots on goal.

Also of note, reigning Canada West second team all-star Amelia Russo saw her first action of the season after recovering from an injury; the holding midfielder/centre back played 31 minutes in the second half.

The Griffins will next host Saskatchewan (2-3-0) on Sunday (12 p.m., Edmonton Scottish, Canada West TV).