Three Stars: Mayall, Ho, Erickson earn first honours of 2018-19 season
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Brian Mayall is MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after leading the Griffins men's soccer team to its first win of the season against Lethbridge on Saturday.
The fourth-year midfielder/forward came off the bench in the first half of Saturday's game, and scored twice, including the game-winner as the Griffins won 2-1.
Other athletes recognized for the first three-star nod of the season include second star Michael Ho from the Griffins men's soccer team and third star Jamie Erickson of the women's soccer team.
1st STAR: Brian Mayall, M/F, men's soccer
Edmonton, AB, fourth-year, Commerce
With the Griffins struggling to create offence against Lethbridge on Saturday, head coach Adam Loga turned to dependable veteran Mayall, inserting him into the lineup in the 29th minute. That decision paid off in a big way as Mayall scored twice, including the game-winner in extra time of the second half. That led to MacEwan's first win of the season – a 2-1 triumph.
Mayall also scored on Sunday during a 2-1 loss at Saskatchewan, but the goal was called back on an offside call.
2nd STAR: Michael Ho, D/M, men's soccer
Edmonton, AB, second-year, Arts
Blossoming into a buzzsaw on the right side of MacEwan's defence, the second-year Ho has been a big factor through three games of Canada West competition. Ho has played 254 minutes – all but 16 – in the first three games for the Griffins, using his speed effectively against some of the top attackers in the conference. His energy and will to win, helps him consistently drive the play forward for the Griffins. Ho will lead MacEwan into a pair of weekend home matches against Mount Royal (Saturday, 12 p.m., Clareview Field) and Calgary (Sunday, 3:30 p.m., Clarke Stadium).
Michael Ho, seen against the University of Alberta during a game last month, has been a buzzsaw for the Griffins on the back line so far this season (Dennis Carter photo).
3rd STAR: Jamie Erickson, D, women's soccer
Edmonton, AB, fourth-year, Science
In five preseason games over the past few weeks, the veteran defender not only helped the Griffins post three clean sheets, she was their offensive star, too. Scoring goals in three of the five games – in a 3-0 win over Carroll, a 4-0 win over Regina and a 1-1 tie with Mount Royal – helped the Griffins secure a 3-0-2 preseason record. Erickson, the reigning most outstanding player on the MacEwan women's soccer team will lead them into their regular season debut this Saturday at Thompson Rivers (2 p.m. MT, Canada West TV) and Sunday at UBC-Okanagan (2 p.m. MT, Canada West TV).
Jamie Erickson, seen during a 2017 game against Trinity Western, scored three times in five preseason games for the Griffins (Chris Piggott photo).
