Three Stars: Mwasalla, Sitchet, Odinga earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Women's soccer student-athlete Grace Mwasalla is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after scoring two goals in wins over Regina and Saskatchewan.
Mwasalla scored the 34th tally of her illustrious career on Sunday to crack the Canada West top-10 list all-time for career goals and extend her own program record in the process.
Men's soccer forward Alain Sitchet and women's soccer defender Anneke Odinga are the second and third stars of the week, respectively.
It's the first Three Star honours of the 2025-26 season for all three student-athletes.
Grace Mwasalla scored her 34th career goal to move into the Canada West all-time top-10 list on Sunday (James Maclennan photo).
1st STAR: Grace Mwasalla, F, women's soccer
Calgary, AB, fifth-year, Arts
In a moment she will long remember, Mwasalla scored her 34th career goal and 11th career game-winner in a 1-0 triumph over Saskatchewan on Sunday.
Heading home a rebound off Alyx Henderson's initial shot, Mwasalla moved into a tie for 10th all-time in Canada West regular season goals with Trinity Western's Krista Gomeringer (2012-16).
The tally also moved her into a tie for fourth all-time in Canada West game-winning goals.
Mwasalla also scored in Saturday's 6-0 win over Regina, played in beautifully by Sophie Lavallee in the 36thminute as she beat the challenging keeper, swung wide and chipped a sharp angle shot past a defender.
On Saturday, she also had nine shots (four on goal), which is the third-most by a Griffins player in a Canada West match. She finished with 11 shots (six on goal) over the weekend.
For the season, Mwasalla is now up to three goals in six games.
The Griffins will host Mount Royal on Saturday and Calgary on Sunday (both 12 p.m., Clarke Stadium, Canada West TV).
Alain Sitchet, seen getting a head on a ball against Alberta earlier this season, was MacEwan's best player in back-to-back games on the road last weekend (Norman Bo photo).
2nd STAR: Alain Sitchet, F, men's soccer
Raleigh, NC, second-year, Business Management
With injuries mounting on the Griffins, Sitchet was given 135 minutes of action during the team's two-game B.C. road trip and he proved to be their best player both matches.
The second-year forward scored his first career Canada West goal in Sunday's 3-2 loss at Trinity Western when he rushed the keeper in the 70th minute and put it five hole.
Then he added an assist in extra time when he darted to the middle of the field and sent in a low blast that tipped off the keeper's hands, right to Felix Guité for a goal that nearly allowed the Griffins to complete a comeback.
On Saturday, Sitchet was also named the Griffins' player of the game after entering at half-time in a 3-0 loss to UFV.
For the season, he has two points, which is tied for second on the Griffins.
MacEwan returns home to face Thompson Rivers on Saturday and UBC Okanagan on Sunday (both 2:30 p.m., Clarke Stadium, Canada West TV).
Anneka Odinga leaves a Regina player behind as she rushes up the field on Saturday. She finished with two assists and was a big reason behind the dominant 6-0 win (Norman Bo photo).
3rd STAR: Anneke Odinga, D, women's soccer
St. Albert, AB, fifth-year, Arts
The Griffins' offence exploded for six goals in a huge 6-0 win over Regina on Saturday and the electric fullback was a big reason why.
She set up two of the goals with terrific crosses from out wide, sending a laser in for Sophie Lavallee to knife in with her thigh in the 41st minute before hitting Nikki Brodeur with a perfect cross to her boot for a 60thminute tally.
Odinga, of course, also put her usual all-star defensive form on full display Saturday and in Sunday's 1-0 win over Saskatchewan, playing a total of 166 minutes on the weekend.
She also almost scored in the 63rd minute, dribbling up half the field before laying it off to Mwasalla for a give-and-go point-blank chance that turned into a robbery from Cougars keeper Peyton Magnuson, who got a toe on it.
For the season, Odinga has two assists in six games for the Griffins.
She will lead MacEwan into home action against Mount Royal on Saturday and vs. Calgary on Sunday (both 12 p.m., Clarke Stadium, Canada West TV).
