Three Stars: Fayia, Scott, Hobal earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Men's soccer student-athlete T-boy Fayia is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after a huge goal delivered the program's first-ever win over cross-town rival Alberta.
Jumping on a loose ball off an Alberta defender's header in the 77th minute on Saturday, he beat the Golden Bears keeper to the ball for a tap-in and the winner in MacEwan's 1-0 victory.
Men's hockey forward Vincent Scott and women's soccer midfielder Brynn Hobal were named the second and third stars, respectively.
It's the third appearance on the Three Stars list for Fayia, who was also recently named the Sandman Signature Downtown Edmonton Player of the Month for September. He was previously named first star on Sept. 9 and second star on Sept. 23.
It's the first time in 2025-26 that Scott and Hobal are being recognized.
T-boy Fayia scored the winning goal for the Griffins in the program's first win over cross-town rival Alberta on Saturday (Graeme Kelly photo).
1st STAR: T-boy Fayia, D, men's soccer
Edmonton, AB, third-year, Arts
In 21 previous meetings since entering Canada West in 2014, the Griffins men's soccer program had never beaten the cross-town rival Alberta Golden Bears, although they did tie them seven times.
But on Saturday at Foote Field, that streak was finally broken when Fayia scored the winner in the 77thminute.
A long Liam Van Laar free kick was headed backwards by the Golden Bears defender, but past charging keeper Trystan Read. Meanwhile, Fayia sped past him and deposited it into the net.
GOAL��
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Soccer (@GriffinsMSOC) October 4, 2025
T-boy Fayia uses his speed to score the only goal of the game as the @MacEwanGriffins knock off @BearsandPandas for the first time in a @CanadaWest match! Stay tuned for a recap.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/AP9t8lKC24
With a strong defensive effort and goalkeeper by Oleksandr Popravka, the Griffins earned the clean sheet in a 1-0 win.
In addition to his goal, Fayia was his usually defensive stalwart self, manning the fullback position.
The Griffins have a bye weekend before heading into their final two matches of the season Oct. 17 at Lethbridge (5 p.m.) and Oct. 19 at Saskatchewan (2 p.m., both Canada West TV).
Vincent Scott, seen celebrating a goal last season at the DCA, scored twice and added an assist to pace the Griffis past UBC 4-2 in their season opener last Friday (Rebecca Chelmick photo).
2nd STAR: Vincent Scott, F, men's hockey
Edmonton, AB, third-year, Commerce
Wearing an 'A' on his jersey this season, Scott led the way on the scoresheet as well in MacEwan's season-opening victory over the UBC Thunderbirds with a three-point effort.
Paired with rookie Dwayne Jean Jr., the duo was electric in staking the Griffins to a 2-0 advantage, en route to a 4-2 win in Vancouver.
Scott sent Jean Jr. a pass onto the right wing and he made no mistake for the game's opening goal 5:03 in. Then just 32 seconds later, Jean Jr. repaid the favour, slotting it over to Scott, who slid the puck between UBC goaltender Cole Schwebius' legs.
GOAL��
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Hockey (@GriffinsMHKY) October 4, 2025
Vinny Scott makes it 2-0 @MacEwanGriffins just 32 seconds after Jean's opener!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/nR1mdOcEca
Scott capped MacEwan's scoring effort with an empty-net goal at 18:08 of the third period.
The effort has him in the top 10 in Canada West scoring after opening weekend.
MacEwan plays across the river on Friday at Alberta (7 p.m., Clare Drake Arena) before their home opener on Saturday vs. the Golden Bears (5 p.m., Downtown Community Arena, both Canada West TV).
Brynn Hobal was a force for the Griffins in Lethbridge, scoring twice and taking 10 shots in a weekend sweep for MacEwan (Cameron Yoos photo).
3rd STAR: Brynn Hobal, M, women's soccer
Edmonton, AB, third-year, Commerce
Shockingly trailing winless Lethbridge 1-0 deep into the second half on Sunday, the Griffins needed someone to step up and save the day.
Enter Brynn Hobal, who scored twice in the final 10 minutes as the Griffins escaped with a 2-1 win that clinched a playoff spot for the 11th-straight season.
Hobal got on the end of a hard Alyx Henderson pass into the box, chipping it past the keeper in the 81stminute to tie the score.
She then volleyed home Raeghan McCarthy's corner kick from the top of the box in extra time – a gorgeous blast just under the bar – to deliver victory.
GOAL��
— MacEwan Griffins Women's Soccer (@Griffins_WSOC) October 5, 2025
Clutch moment in extra time!
Brynn Hobal scores her second of the match to deliver victory for the @MacEwanGriffins - 2-1 over @UofLPronghorns!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/4WTpNgpmCE
Hobal finished the doubleheader weekend in Lethbridge with two goals, 10 shots and five shots on goal.
For the season, she's moved into a tie atop the Griffins' goal-scoring lead with five (joining Grace Mwasalla and McCarthy) and is in a four-way tie for second in points with six. She is also now second on the team in shots (30) and shots on goal (15).
MacEwan visits cross-town rival Alberta on Saturday (12 p.m., Foote Field, Canada West TV).
