WSOC: MacEwan earns trip to nationals with bronze medal win
November 6, 2021
LANGLEY, B.C. - The MacEwan Griffins defeated the Saskatchewan Huskies 2-0 at the Chase Office Field on Saturday. MacEwan's victory punches their ticket to the 2021 U SPORTS Championships in Sydney, N.S.
MacEwan (2-1-0) and Saskatchewan (1-2-0) each battled for their season's fate valiantly, playing an incredibly balanced match throughout the 90 minutes of play.
The first half started slowly as the Griffins and Huskies traded possession in the midfield as both teams felt each other out. With the ball simply being wheeled around the park without a nose for the net, a gradual shift formed as both sides progressively worked their attacks deeper down the pitch.
MacEwan found themselves on the first half's rawest end of this progression as Saskatchewan earned a clear shot on net after a scramble ensued. With the ball heading past MacEwan keeper Catherine Truscott, fifth-year centre back Samantha Gouveia cleared the ball off the line with a goalkeeper-like move, heading the ball out of danger.
With both sides refusing to surrender an inch, the first half concluded at a scoreless tie.
Eventually, the game's first marker finally made its way into the net in the 59th minute. First-year forward, and leading point-scorer for the Griffins beautifully controlled a lofted pass at half, neatly kicking it out to Nicole Brodeur, who dribbled past a charging Jaidyn Steinhauer. With nothing but net to shoot at, Broduer sent the towards the net as it narrowly made it past the goal-line before a Saskatchewan defender could make a valid clearance.
Mwasalla followed up soon after Brodeur's marker in the 61st minute to bring the match to a 2-0 hold for the Griffins. With a legitimate shot at securing a berth to the U SPORTS Championships in Sydney, N.S. in hand, MacEwan's bench erupted with cheers as Mwasalla ran to her team's bench to join in the festivities.
The Huskies were unable to find the net throughout the final 30 minutes of the match, ending their successful season at the Chase Office Field on Saturday.
MacEwan head coach quote:
"This is the fifth time that we have been in the final four. I'm overjoyed with the team, we've worked so hard over the past year, and that year off was difficult for everybody. 2019 had heartbreak, losing in penalty kicks. This team is different, we're deeper, and we got the job done. These girls made history today and I'm so proud of them.
"She is [Grace Mwasalla] a first-year that plays like a fifth-year. A goal and an assist today, she's the straw that stirs the drink for us as she is all over the pitch. Our two first years got the job done for us today as they scored two clutch goals for us. Grace is getting better with every game she plays, and she does a phenomenal job for us. We're happy for her. A lot of people don't know how hard she has worked to get here.
"Full credit to Saskatchewan. They've done a great job with that program. It was a back-and-forth match."
MacEwan (2-1-0) and Saskatchewan (1-2-0) each battled for their season's fate valiantly, playing an incredibly balanced match throughout the 90 minutes of play.
The first half started slowly as the Griffins and Huskies traded possession in the midfield as both teams felt each other out. With the ball simply being wheeled around the park without a nose for the net, a gradual shift formed as both sides progressively worked their attacks deeper down the pitch.
MacEwan found themselves on the first half's rawest end of this progression as Saskatchewan earned a clear shot on net after a scramble ensued. With the ball heading past MacEwan keeper Catherine Truscott, fifth-year centre back Samantha Gouveia cleared the ball off the line with a goalkeeper-like move, heading the ball out of danger.
With both sides refusing to surrender an inch, the first half concluded at a scoreless tie.
Eventually, the game's first marker finally made its way into the net in the 59th minute. First-year forward, and leading point-scorer for the Griffins beautifully controlled a lofted pass at half, neatly kicking it out to Nicole Brodeur, who dribbled past a charging Jaidyn Steinhauer. With nothing but net to shoot at, Broduer sent the towards the net as it narrowly made it past the goal-line before a Saskatchewan defender could make a valid clearance.
Mwasalla followed up soon after Brodeur's marker in the 61st minute to bring the match to a 2-0 hold for the Griffins. With a legitimate shot at securing a berth to the U SPORTS Championships in Sydney, N.S. in hand, MacEwan's bench erupted with cheers as Mwasalla ran to her team's bench to join in the festivities.
The Huskies were unable to find the net throughout the final 30 minutes of the match, ending their successful season at the Chase Office Field on Saturday.
MacEwan head coach quote:
"This is the fifth time that we have been in the final four. I'm overjoyed with the team, we've worked so hard over the past year, and that year off was difficult for everybody. 2019 had heartbreak, losing in penalty kicks. This team is different, we're deeper, and we got the job done. These girls made history today and I'm so proud of them.
"She is [Grace Mwasalla] a first-year that plays like a fifth-year. A goal and an assist today, she's the straw that stirs the drink for us as she is all over the pitch. Our two first years got the job done for us today as they scored two clutch goals for us. Grace is getting better with every game she plays, and she does a phenomenal job for us. We're happy for her. A lot of people don't know how hard she has worked to get here.
"Full credit to Saskatchewan. They've done a great job with that program. It was a back-and-forth match."