Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
SASKATOON, Sask. – Five days ago, head coach Adam Loga was talking post-game about the Griffins needing to catch a break one of these days.
Thursday was one of those days.
Up 1-0 and trying to hang on in the waning moments, the Griffins watched with dread as Ahmed Mohammed jumped into an open lane and drilled a shot that went off keeper David Sithole's fingers and hit the post.
No one was there for the rebound.
Game over.
MacEwan's post-game celebration was part huge sigh of relief mixed with pure joy after a victory that kept their Canada West playoff hopes alive as Antony Caceres' heroic 86th-minute free kick goal stood up as the winner.
"Obviously, any time you get three points, it's huge," said Loga. "I was kind of having nightmares there when it hit the post right before the final whistle, just knowing we conceded similarly Saturday and Sunday, as well. And twice on Saturday. So, it would have been the fourth time in three matches. It's something we definitely will address moving forward. We don't want that to be a routine.
"We finally got a break there," added the head coach after things went their opponents' way late in a 4-4 tie with Calgary and 1-1 draw with Mount Royal last weekend. "We'll take it. 100 per cent. If it was Dano up above curving that ball into the post, thank you Dano."
Griffins assistant coach Daniel 'Dano' Drummond passed away in June at the age of 37 after a courageous battle with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), but he's never far from the team's thoughts; he's their inspiration in their rally to make the playoffs on the final weekend.
MacEwan is now 3-6-3, just two points back of Lethbridge (3-4-5), whom they will travel to meet on Saturday (2 p.m., Canada West TV).
The victory also puts them just three points behind Calgary (4-6-3) with a game in hand and they own the tiebreaker should they finish level with the Dinos in the standings.
"It's massive for us," said Loga. "Sask, all the credit to them. They played great. I don't know how they are where they are in the table, to be honest. We were saying leading up to this match that they're better than their record. They showed that today. It was a strong side on the other end there."
Saskatchewan is now 1-8-4 and will miss the playoffs.
MacEwan looked as if they might have to settle for a third-straight draw when they just couldn't score on Thursday night.
"We missed some chances early," said Loga. "Phil (Masri) missed a header probably three minutes in that he buries nine times out of 10. And Chance (Carter) won it and almost chipped the keeper from 40 or 50 out and it hit the crossbar."
So, it was up to Caceres in the 86th. He was fouled at the top of the box and given a golden chance on a free kick.
"I took a deep breath, knew that we needed a goal," he said. "I just stepped up and I was really happy to score. I'm happy we're going to push and hopefully make playoffs.
"We were really attacking, trying to get that goal early on," he added. "I think a lot of nerves are settled now that we got that first win. Now we're in a better position."
A win on Saturday would put them in a really strong position and would lock up a playoff spot if the Dinos fall to their cross-town rival Mount Royal University on the same day.
The Griffins will finish the regular season with a game at home on Sunday vs. Thompson Rivers (2 p.m., Jasper Place Bowl, Canada West TV).
