Home Preview: Battle for final playoff spot in Prairie Division heats up this weekend
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – If the Griffins men's soccer team is going to make the playoffs this season, this is the weekend that could tell the tale.
Embroiled in a battle with Lethbridge and Saskatchewan for the final post-season position in the Canada West Prairie Division, MacEwan will host both of them this weekend and dearly need six points.
Only four regular season games remain for the Griffins after this weekend, so the time is now.
On Tap
Saturday: vs. Regina, 11 a.m., Edmonton Scottish, Canada West TV
Sunday: vs. Saskatchewan, 12 p.m., Edmonton Scottish, Canada West TV
Last meetings
Aug. 30: MacEwan 0 at Lethbridge 2
Sept. 1: MacEwan 0 at Saskatchewan 3
Records prior to Saturday
MacEwan (2-5-1) 5th Prairie Division
Saskatchewan (2-7-0) 6th Prairie Division
Lethbridge (2-2-5) 4th Prairie Division
Playoff implications
While Lethbridge currently occupies the final playoff spot in the Canada West Prairie Division, the Griffins are within striking distance, just four points back with a game in hand. Saskatchewan comes in on a four-game losing streak and is five back of the Pronghorns, level on games played.
Adam Loga's Coach's Quote:
"I think for the most part in most phases, we're playing good footy," he said. "We haven't conceded often in the run of play. Obviously, one thing we're trying to clean up is our set pieces, definitely on the defensive side, but also in our attack.
"For the most part, it's just keeping guys healthy and trying to get guys back from injury, as well. We need to continue to have depth as we push into the later part of the season. The best ability is availability and we're just trying to maintain fresh legs."
Players to watch
MacEwan: The next point that fifth-year striker Rakan Yassin records will make him the program's career Canada West points leader. He enters the weekend tied with Lahai Mansaray (2015-17) for the most at 18. He hit two posts in the Griffins' last game, a 1-0 loss to Trinity Western.
Saskatchewan: Ethan Cabral leads the Huskies in scoring with four points (all goals) in nine games. He scored the game-winner against the Griffins back on Sept. 1 in Saskatoon.
Lethbridge: 2023 Canada West second team all-star Will Hughes is one of two Lethbridge players to play every minute so far this season, leading a stingy Pronghorns back line that's allowed only five goals against in nine games – second best in Canada West.
Notable
Griffins goalkeeper Oleksandr Popravka would tie the program record for most wins in a Canada West season with one more … In addition to the career points mark, Yassin is also tracking program records in game-winning goals, PK goals and career assists … Saskatchewan and MacEwan have battled tooth-and-nail for the last playoff berth in the Prairie Division in recent seasons with the Griffins finishing three points ahead of them to get that spot in 2021 and the Huskies winning the third tiebreaker on the Griffins (record vs. like opponents) to get fourth in 2022.
