EDMONTON – The U SPORTS No. 5 nationally ranked and defending national champion MacEwan Griffins women's soccer team had their season upended on Sunday due to a misinterpretation of eligibility rules related to changes caused by pandemic disruptions, which resulted in playing an ineligible player for 11 games this season.

The violation was self-disclosed to the Canada West and U SPORTS offices within hours of discovering the issue and after further investigation by department leadership. An appeal was submitted on compassionate grounds with a hearing being held on Sunday morning with the U SPORTS eligibility committee, but it was not successful.

As per U SPORTS policies, the MacEwan Griffins women's soccer program will forfeit all match results where the ineligible player competed.

"To say that we are gutted is an understatement. We feel for these women who have worked so hard this season. It is so unfortunate for the team and other Canada West members that are, and will be, impacted by this," said Joel Mrak, Director of Athletics for the Griffins. "We are committed to doing the right thing regardless of what the costs are and will be working with various stakeholders to review our processes to ensure future compliance."

The forfeitures result in the Griffins overturning nine wins impacting this season only: Aug. 26 vs. Alberta, Sept. 9 at Victoria, Sept. 17 at UNBC, Sept. 18 vs. Calgary, Sept. 24 at Lethbridge, Sept. 25 at Mount Royal University, Oct. 1 at Manitoba, Oct. 2 at Winnipeg, and Oct. 8 vs. Mount Royal. The team's two losses on Aug. 28 vs. Alberta and Sept. 10 vs. UBC will remain as losses.

Updated Canada West Standings can be found at canadawest.org.