Defending U SPORTS champion Griffins come third in 2022 preseason coaches poll
August 22, 2022

Defending U SPORTS champion Griffins come third in 2022 preseason coaches poll

MacEwan Athletics / Canada West Communications

CALGARY - The defending U SPORTS women's soccer champions have been voted third in the annual Canada West preseason coaches' poll.

MacEwan enters the season ranked behind UBC and Trinity Western, who went 1-2 in the poll amongst the conference's 14 head coaches.

Trinity Western beat UBC in the Canada West final last season, while MacEwan finished third. But at the nationals in Cape Breton, the Griffins knocked out the Thunderbirds in the semifinal and bested the Spartans in the final.

UBC received 10 first-place votes in the poll, while Trinity Western had two, MacEwan three and Alberta one.

MacEwan opens the 2022 season on Friday vs. Alberta (6 p.m., Clarke Stadium, Canada West TV).

For the complete schedule, click here.

2022 CW WSOC PRESEASON COACHES POLL 

Team - Points (First-place votes)

  1. UBC Thunderbirds - 218 (10)
  2. Trinity Western Spartans - 199 (2)
  3. MacEwan Griffins - 198 (3)
  4. Calgary Dinos - 177 
  5. Saskatchewan Huskies - 153 
  6. Victoria Vikes - 141
  7. Alberta Pandas - 131 (1)
  8. Fraser Valley Cascades - 125
  9. Manitoba Bisons - 113
  10. UBCO Heat - 110
  11. Thompson Rivers WolfPack - 84
  12. Regina Cougars - 83
  13. Mount Royal Cougars - 82 
  14. UNBC Timberwolves - 46
  15. Lethbridge Pronghorns - 42
  16. Winnipeg Wesmen - 18

Grace Mwasalla will lead the Griffins into the 2022 Canada West campaign (Tia Schram photo).

MacEWAN GRIFFINS SEASON PREVIEW

2021 CW regular season record: 10-2-0, 1st Central
2021 post-season record: 2-1 CW, 3rd / 3-0 U SPORTS Championship, 1st
Head Coach: Dean Cordeiro / 10th season / 58-22-14
 
Last CW championship / total CW championships: N/A
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: 2021 / 1
 
2021 CW regular season ranks:
Offence: 32 goals, 2nd
Defence: 10 goals against, T3rd
 
2021 CW regular season leaders (returning):
Goals: 5 – Grace Mwasalla, F/M
Assists: 5 – Anna McPhee, D
Points: 8 – Grace Mwasalla, F/M
Wins: 6 – Bianca Castillo, GK
Shutouts: 5 – Bianca Castillo, GK
 
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
Kiann Bohnert / D/M / 1 / Lethbridge, AB / Calgary Blizzard
Amelia Russo / D / 1 / St. Albert, AB / St. Albert Impact (UWS)
Sophie Lavallee / F / 1 / Saskatoon, SK / Saskatchewan REX
Selynna Simao / D / 1 / Edmonton, AB / Selects FC
Jaycee Krushelniski / F / 1 / Saskatoon, SK / Saskatchewan REX
 
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
Samantha Gouveia / D / Edmonton, AB / 5
Meagan Lemoine / F / Edmonton, AB / 5
Kaylin Hermanutz / M / Edmonton, AB / 4
Raeghan McCarthy / F / Edmonton, AB / 4
Salma Kamel / F / Edmonton, AB / 5
 
Key performer (pictured above):
Grace Mwasalla
Forward/Midfielder
2
Calgary, AB
2021 Stats: (5 goals / 3 assists / 8 Pts)
 
The Canada West All-Rookie team member played like a seasoned veteran in her first university season in 2021, leading the Griffins to the program's first U SPORTS championship.

Named to the U SPORTS Championship tournament all-star team, Mwasalla was a matchup nightmare for opponents in Cape Breton, scoring the decisive penalty kicks goal that delivered a 3-2 victory for MacEwan over Trinity Western in the final.

She also added two assists in three games and was named player of the game during MacEwan's 1-0 semifinal win over UBC.

During the regular season, Mwasalla produced seven points in her final seven games and finished as the Griffins' leading scorer.

She then drove the Griffins to the program's first-ever U SPORTS Championship berth with a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win over Saskatchewan in the Canada West bronze medal game.

Mwasalla returns as a leader for the Griffins in 2022, ready to guide a team looking to return to the U SPORTS Championship and run it back.