Three Stars: Johnstone, Costa, Solkowski earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Seth Johnstone is the MacEwan Athletics first star of the week after a record performance against Trinity Western last Saturday.
The men's soccer goalkeeper made 16 saves to preserve a 1-1 draw against the Spartans, which is the MacEwan University record and ties for the second-most all-time in Canada West history.
Other athletes recognized this week include second star Brittany Costa of the women's soccer team and third star Christian Solkowski of the men's golf team.
This is the first appearance of the 2018-19 season for all three student-athletes.
1st star: Seth Johnstone, GK, men's soccer
Edmonton, AB, second-year, Commerce
Trailing 1-0, the Trinity Western Spartans men's soccer team just kept coming in waves on Saturday as they attempted to tie the match against the MacEwan Griffins. But Johnstone kept them at bay, making 16 saves on 17 shots, which tied for the second-most ever in a Canada West men's soccer game.
It also shattered the MacEwan University record of 11, shared by Adam Hajji (2014) and Dylon Powley (2015 and 2016).
Johnstone nearly had the shutout, blanking TWU through 90 minutes before he had no chance on a Josh Hardy blast from the top of the box in extra time.
Similar to Saturday, Johnstone nearly secured a tie for the Griffins against Victoria on Sunday, but the Vikes scored twice inside the final four minutes – (he had no chance on either tally) – to steal away with a 3-1 win. Johnstone made nine saves in that contest, for a total of 25 over the weekend.
For the season, Johnstone leads Canada West with 49 saves in seven games and is third in save percentage (.831) as the Griffins are in position at the halfway mark (2nd in the Prairie Division at 3-3-1) to challenge for their first playoff berth in program history.
2nd star: Brittany Costa, M, women's soccer
Delta, BC, second-year, Science
Pacing MacEwan's offence with a goal and an assist against the Regina Cougars in a 3-0 win on Sunday, the reigning Griffins' female rookie of the year was a force all over the pitch.
Also factoring in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Saskatchewan, Costa led the Griffins in three other statistical categories – intercepted passes, aerial battles and connected passes.
Costa played back-to-back 90-minute games for the Griffins and a was a rock both defensively and in building up the play from the midfield.
Her goal on Sunday put the finishing touch on a 3-0 win over Regina as she took a pass from Meghan Oram in the box and ripped it off the right post and in.
For the season, Costa has two points, nine shots – including three on net – and has helped lead the Griffins to a 2-1-1 record.
MacEwan will visit Trinity Western and UFV this Friday and Saturday.
Brittany Costa dishes off a pass against Saskatchewan last Friday (Chris Piggott photo).
3rd star: Christian Solkowski, men's golf
Edmonton, AB, fifth-year, Commerce
Under rainy skies, wind and near-freezing temperatures, the par-72 Lac La Biche Golf Club was playing more like a par-80 during the ACAC North Regional over the weekend.
That meant everyone's score ballooned, including Solkowski's. But he still managed to put down rounds of 77 and 86 to tie for fifth in the men's individual competition, 14 shots back of individual winner Michael Harrison of UAlberta-Augustana.
More importantly, though, Solkowski led the Griffins to a men's team title, as they bested Concordia by a single shot (663 to 664). Reid Woodman, Justin Berget, Josh Gorieu and Noah Lubberding were also a part of the event, which counts the top four scores out of five each round.
Solkowski and the Griffins next head into the ACAC South Regional at Edmonton's Millwoods Golf Course this weekend.
Christian Solkowski, seen eyeing up a putt in a practice round earlier this month, led the MacEwan men's golf squad to a team title at the ACAC North Regional in Lac La Biche last weekend (Jodi Campbell photo).
