SOC: Mwasalla, Dzikowski fill the net on opening weekend

A new Canada West soccer season kicked off with a bang last weekend, highlighted by no shortage of dramatic comebacks and late game winners.

Grace Mwasalla of MacEwan and Sebastian Dzikowski of UBC immediately vaulted themselves to the top of the conference’s scoring leaderboard, displaying elite scoring touch while earning Players of the Week honours.

Mwasalla had a weekend to remember, showing a flare for the dramatic and coming up clutch for her team not once - but twice.

She tallied the game winning goal against Regina in extra time on Friday, then did it again in a déjà vu moment against Saskatchewan on Saturday.

Friday’s winner was particularly memorable as it also set a new MacEwan program record for most career regular season goals. With the game tied, Mwasalla was sent in alone on the last play before the final whistle. Showing fantastic quality, she deftly chipped the ball over the keeper to give the Griffins a clutch 3-2 win.

The record-breaking goal was Mwasalla’s 21st career regular season tally. She wasted no time in adding to that total by scoring a brace on Saturday – including another dramatic game winner in extra time.

Mwasalla and the Griffins now head east for a Manitoba roadtrip this upcoming weekend, taking on the Winnipeg Wesmen on Sept. 2 and the Manitoba Bisons on Sept. 3.

Meanwhile, Dzikowski and his UBC men’s soccer teammates made a statement with a pair of commanding wins over the UNBC Timberwolves.

The third-year forward paced the T-Birds with a brace in each game, adding two assists in the process.

He opened his account on Friday in game breaking fashion, scoring twice inside a three-minute span to help the T-Birds take complete command of the game.

The Calgary native did it again on Sunday, scoring in the 43rd and 50th minutes in a 5-0 UBC victory. His second tally of the day was highlight reel worthy, as he delivered a high curving arc from the top of the box that sailed perfectly inside the top corner.

Dzikowski and his UBC teammates continue their season opening road trip with a pair of games next weekend, visiting UBC Okanagan and Thompson Rivers University.

Catching Up Around CW

• The TRU WolfPack women's soccer team made history with their season opening 3-1 win over MRU on Friday night, marking the first time the team won their season-opener since joining the conference in 2014.

• The defending champion UBC Thunderbirds women's soccer team showed their depth and strength on Sunday, edging the rival TWU Spartans 1-0 in a rematch of last year's CW final. The win came courtesy of rookie Bailey Doerksen's first goal, a brilliant strike from 20 yards out.

• The men's soccer rivalry between Mount Royal and Calgary has become must watch viewing for CW soccer fans as of late. After Calgary upset MRU in last year's semifinals, the Cougars got a little revenge on Sunday by taking round one of the Crowchild Classic. The 1-0 win came courtesy of a dramatic late game tally from midfielder Abel Nesibu. The two teams link up again Oct. 21 in the final regular season game for each side.

Catch every CW soccer game live and on demand this season through the new look Canada West TV.