Three Stars: Supina, Ho, Porter earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Women's soccer student-athlete Hannah Supina is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after her standout performances in two weekend wins over cross-town rival Alberta.
Returning to top form from an injury, Supina gave the Griffins two outstanding efforts from the fullback position, highlighted by her game-winning goal in Saturday's 1-0 triumph.
Other athletes recognized this week include second star Michael Ho of the men's soccer team and third star James Porter of the men's hockey team.
It's the first honour of the season for all three student-athletes.
1st STAR: Hannah Supina, D, women's soccer
Fort Saskatchewan, AB, third-year, Arts
A rock from the back line, the former U SPORTS All-Rookie team member consistently repelled the attacks of the University of Alberta Pandas in a pair of weekend victories.
In Saturday's 1-0 win, Supina was named the Griffins' player of the game after scoring the game-winning goal – a laser strike from distance in the 15th minute – and contributing greatly to the team's clean sheet over a 90-minute shift.
In Sunday's 4-1 victory over the Pandas that pushed the Griffins into top spot in the Canada West's Central Division at 5-1-0, Supina didn't give anything to the visitors for a second-straight day in playing 58 minutes.
After two more wins, Supina and the rest of the Griffins moved into seventh spot in the U SPORTS top-10 rankings on Tuesday, matching the highest ranking ever achieved by the program.
The Griffins are enjoying a bye week before getting back on the field with a road trip to Calgary's Mount Royal University on Oct. 9-10.
Michael Ho heads the ball in Saturday action against Alberta at Clareview Stadium (Robert Antoniuk photo).
2nd STAR: Michael Ho, D, men's soccer
Edmonton, AB, fourth-year, Arts
A buzz-saw on the back line, Ho regularly frustrates and confounds the best forwards in Canada West with his tenacity and work ethic.
The fourth-year fullback was at his best in MacEwan's home-opening 1-1 draw against Alberta, never giving the Golden Bears an inch in preserving a point. Ho wasn't on the field (subbed off with a cramp) when the Bears scored in the second half.
Ho also set up MacEwan's lone goal in the contest, feeding a long pass into Alvin Mazaheri, who converted in extra time at the end of the first half to open the scoring.
Ho and the Griffins (0-1-1) will next host Saskatchewan (2-0-0) on Saturday and Sunday (both 2:30 p.m., Canada West TV presented by Co-op).
James Porter combined for 71 saves during a preseason home-and-home split against the Mount Royal University Cougars, backstopping the Griffins to a 5-4 overtime win on Sunday - their first triumph as a Canada West team (Jefferson Hagen photo).
3rd STAR: James Porter, G, men's hockey
Creston, BC, first-year, Commerce
MacEwan's rookie goaltender was tested often in the first action in many months for the Griffins men's hockey team as they opened the preseason with a home-and-home weekend split against Mount Royal University.
In Sunday's 5-4 overtime win over the Cougars, Porter was a difference-maker in stopping 38 of 42 shots in the contest as the Griffins picked up their first win (albeit in preseason) as a Canada West team.
Porter finished the weekend with 71 saves total after also stopping 33 in the Griffins' 6-1 loss at MRU on Friday.
The former Vernon Vipers product will lead the Griffins into a preseason home-and-home series against cross-town rival Alberta this weekend – Friday at Clare Drake, 7 p.m. and Saturday at the Downtown Community Arena, 5 p.m., Canada West TV presented by Co-op).
