Three Stars: Mansaray, Kosmin, Lemoine earn first honours of season
MacEwan Athletics
Men's soccer player Lahai Mansaray is MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week for his crucial offensive contributions as the team opened the season last month.
Mansaray scored three goals in the span of two games in Calgary, including potting the winner against Mount Royal on Aug. 27.
Other athletes recognized during the past two-week period – which stands as the first three stars honours of the 2017-18 season – include second star Christian Kosmin of the men's soccer team and third star Megan Lemoine of the women's soccer team.
Mansaray, who led the Griffins in scoring last season, made the three stars list twice during the 2016-17 campaign. Kosmin is in his first campaign at MacEwan. Lemoine is back with the Griffins after taking last season off.
1ST STAR: Lahai Mansaray, F, men's soccer (Edmonton, third-year, Science)
MacEwan's reigning leading scorer kicked off the new season in spectacular fashion, scoring three times during a two-game road trip to Calgary on Aug. 26-27. Mansaray potted the opening goal of the match against the Calgary Dinos on Saturday in the 15th minute. At MRU on Sunday, the dynamic attacker kicked it up a notch, scoring twice as part of a three-goal MacEwan deluge in the span of six minutes as the Griffins turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 triumph. It's the third multi-goal game of his Canada West career. Mansaray's contributions helped the Griffins earn a split against two Canada West playoff teams from last year. Against Lethbridge on Sunday, Mansaray almost had his fourth goal of the season when he tallied in the second half, but it was called back on an offside.
2ND STAR: Christian Kosmin, M, men's soccer (Edmonton, first-year, Arts)
The freshman out of Archbishop O'Leary scored the first goal of his Canada West career – and the first by a Griffins player on their home field this season – when he struck against Saskatchewan on Saturday at Jasper Place Bowl. Down 2-0 in the match, the Griffins gained life when Kosmin tracked down a ball at the side of the net in the 82nd minute and smoked a sharp-angle shot off the keeper and in. That kicked off a furious rally attempt that came close to tying the contest, but ultimately fell short. Through four games, Kosmin has launched 15 shots, including five on net – marks that are second on the team. He is also currently tied for the third-most shots taken in Canada West.
3RD STAR: Meagan Lemoine, F, women's soccer (Edmonton, second-year, Open Studies)
After leading the Griffins in scoring in 2015, Lemoine took last season off, but looks primed to make a big impact for MacEwan upon her return in 2017. During a three-game preseason road trip to Regina for the Great Plains Challenge last month, the talented forward recorded two multi-point games. Lemoine kicked off the week by drawing a foul against Mount Royal that led to the game's only goal by teammate Jamie Erickson. Then she had a goal and an assist – including the game-winner – in a 2-1 win over Winnipeg. Finally, Lemoine added a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over Regina to close out the tournament. The second-year player was also a rock defensively for the Griffins, who will open their regular season on Friday vs. UBC-Okanagan (7 p.m., Jasper Place Bowl).
