Three Stars: Jetishi, Supina, Simon earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Men's soccer student-athlete Egzon Jetishi is the MacEwan Athletics first star of the week after his performances in helping the Griffins score five goals in two games on the weekend.
Jetishi recorded a goal and an assist in matches at Victoria and UFV.
Women's soccer captain Hannah Supina and women's hockey forward Joie Simon were named the second and third stars of the week, respectively.
It's the first appearance on the Three Stars list this season for all three student-athletes.
Egzon Jetishi, seen in action against UBC a week earlier, had a goal and an assist for the Griffins in a pair of weekend road games in B.C. (Rebecca Chelmick photo).
1st STAR: Egzon Jetishi, M, men's soccer
Edmonton, AB, second-year, Arts
In just his second weekend back with the team, the electric midfielder was a big reason why the Griffins exploded for five goals in two games during a B.C. road trip.
Jetishi set up Antony Caceres' tally against Victoria last Friday that gave MacEwan a 2-1 lead in the 51stminute. They would later fall 3-2, but Jetishi finished with a key 90-minute performance.
With the Griffins trailing 3-1 in the 43rd minute at UFV, Jetishi gave them life by dancing up the right side of the field, beating a pair of defenders and seeing his shot deflect in off a Cascades player for his first goal of the 2023 season.
Jetishi again logged another 90-minute performance and finished with two shots in the two games.
The Griffins will visit cross-town rival Alberta on Saturday (2:15 p.m., Foote Field, Canada West TV).
Hannah Supina works the ball away from a UNBC defender last Sunday. She scored the game-winning goal off a PK (Rich Abney photo).
2nd STAR: Hannah Supina, D, women's soccer
Fort Saskatchewan, AB, fifth-year, Arts
The Griffins' captain stepped up big for the team on a two-game B.C. road trip last weekend.
With the team needing a goal to defeat the UNBC Timberwolves in Prince George on Sunday, Supina stepped up for a penalty kick in the 71st minute and drilled it inside the left post for the game-winner.
Supina's big goal was also accompanied with her usual strong defensive play as she helped shut down UBC's attack last Friday, limiting the No. 1-ranked team in U SPORTS to just a pair of set piece goals.
Although the Griffins lost that one 2-0, Supina's 90-minute performance sticking tackles and driving play helped MacEwan stay in the contest until the late stages.
Supina will lead the Griffins into weekend home-and-home action vs. cross-town rival Alberta on Saturday (12 p.m., Foote Field) and Sunday (7 p.m., Clarke Stadium, both Canada West TV).
Joie Simon, seen in action last season, scored two goals against the Calgary Dinos in the Griffins' final tuneup of the preseason on Saturday (Joel Kingston photo).
3rd STAR: Joie Simon, F, women's hockey
Flin Flon, MB, third-year, Science
Simon scored both of MacEwan's goals in their final contest of the preseason on Saturday – a 5-2 defeat to the Calgary Dinos.
Just relentless on the forecheck and on the penalty kill, Simon opened the scoring for the Griffins 16:56 into the first period when she picked the top corner on Gabriella Durante.
She then picked the pocket of a Calgary defender on a short-handed forecheck and beat Durante again with a shot in the second period that tied the contest 2-2.
Simon finished the game with four shots and a +1 rating.
Simon also played against Team Alberta's U18 squad on Friday night, registering three shots.
The Griffins will open the 2023-24 Canada West regular season on Friday in Calgary (7 p.m.) and will hold their home opener on Saturday (5 p.m., Downtown Community Arena, both Canada West TV).
