Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
-with files from MRU Athletics
CALGARY – The last time Salma Kamel played on Mount Royal University's Stadium Field, she scored four goals, so it was little surprise that she found the back of the net there again on Sunday to clinch a 2-0 win for the visiting MacEwan Griffins in Canada West women's soccer action.
"Something about that Mount Royal pitch and Salma scoring goals go hand in hand," said Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro of Kamel's 42nd-minute tally – her first of the 2021 season – after being sent in alone by Kaylin Hermanutz. "She likes it there."
Kamel famously scored four goals on Oct. 15, 2019 at MRU's field to lead the Griffins to a 7-1 win, setting a program record for the most in a Canada West game.
On Sunday, her goal gave the Griffins the insurance they would need, just 1:07 after Samantha Gouveia opened the scoring.
The result could have and probably should have been much more lopsided, considering the Griffins thoroughly dominated the proceedings with 28 shots attempts (21 on goal) that also included a post, a crossbar and a goal called back on an offside.
"It was a great day at the office," said Cordeiro. "What a beautiful day. What a beautiful pitch. Mount Royal's done an amazing job with their facility there. The pitch was pristine. Conditions played well for us to do our thing."
Gouveia was named player of the game for the Griffins a second-straight day after her game-winning goal in the 40th minute came on a rebound off Anna McPhee's shot.
Griffins' captain Samantha Gouveia scored for the second-straight game, delivering the game-winning goal on Sunday (Chris Piggott photo).
"That's back-to-back games and back-to-back goals, and we had one goal against in two games," noted Cordeiro about Gouveia's performance from the centre-back position. "Two goals, GWG, solid back-to-back 90-minute performances – what a rock Sammy was back there."
MRU goalkeeper Lizzy Knight finished with 11 saves, while Cougars' Alexi Watson was credited with three of the six defensive saves for her team.
MacEwan goalkeeper Bianca Castillo earned the clean sheet with a four-save performance.
The result pushes MacEwan's record to 3-1-0, while MRU falls to 1-3-0.
To net six points out of their first weekend road trip of the season was an important result for the Griffins.
"Today, we were unlucky that more goals weren't scored," said Cordeiro. "We were buzzing. We had a couple breakaways that we just missed. Very, very happy with our performance.
"It's four consecutive games that all of our positional players got into the match and played significant minutes," he added, singling out solid unsung performances from Taylor Sousa, McPhee, Maya Morrell and Nikki Brodeur. "We're deep, we believe in everyone and it's new people stepping up every game."
Next up for the Griffins: back-to-back home games against cross-town rival Alberta (2-2-0) on Sept. 25-26 (both 12 p.m., Clareview Stadium, Canada West TV presented by Co-op).
