Three Stars: Morrell, Stayko, Chorney earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Women's soccer student-athlete Maya Morrell is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after netting two points and dominating all over the pitch during the Griffins' road trip to Victoria and UBC.
Morrell scored a goal against Victoria last Friday before netting an assist in a 2-1 loss to UBC on Saturday.
Men's soccer goalkeeper Josh Stayko is the second star of the week, while men's hockey forward Carter Chorney is the third star.
Stayko appears on the Three Stars list for the second time this season after also being named second star on Aug. 30, while both Morrell and Chorney are appearing for the first time in 2022-23.
1st STAR: Maya Morrell, F, women's soccer
Vancouver, BC, fourth-year, Arts
Facing two difficult Pacific Division opponents, the Griffins leaned on their veteran leaders to set the pace and Morrell was exceptional.
She was a candidate for the team's player of the game honour in Friday's 2-0 win at Victoria with a goal, three shots on target and a full 90 minutes logged in a workhorse performance.
And in Saturday's 2-1 loss to current U SPORTS No. 1 UBC, Morrell was named the Griffins' MVP after setting up Alyx Henderson's tally and recording two shots on goal in another full 90-minute outing.
For the season, Morrell is tied for second on the Griffins in points with two in four games.
She will lead MacEwan into home action this weekend vs. UNBC on Saturday (12 p.m., Clareview Field) and Calgary on Sunday (4:30 p.m., Clarke Stadium, both Canada West TV).
2nd STAR: Josh Stayko, GK, men's soccer
Edmonton, AB, second-year, Commerce
Josh Stayko launches a goal kick vs. Alberta on Saturday. The MacEwan goalkeeper made at least two highlight-reel saves in the second half to preserve a 1-1 draw (Jefferson Hagen photo).
For the second time this season, Stayko was the difference in earning the Griffins a point in Canada West men's soccer action.
During Saturday's 1-1 draw with Alberta, he made a couple of ridiculous saves off point blank opportunities that helped keep the Griffins ahead 1-0 early in the second half.
Although Alberta scored off a penalty kick later in the game, Stayko's four save-performance was the difference in netting MacEwan a point and keeping them in second place in the Prairie Division, a point ahead of their Edmonton rivals.
For the season, Stayko is tied for third in the conference in saves with 23 through five games so far.
Stayko will lead the Griffins into a pair of home games this weekend as they host Victoria on Saturday (2:30 p.m., Clareview Field) and UBC-Okanagan on Sunday (1:30 p.m., Clarke Stadium, both Canada West TV).
3rd STAR: Carter Chorney, F, men's hockey
Sherwood Park, AB, first-year, Commerce
Carter Chorney looks for an opening during preseason action against Alberta last Wednesday. He recorded a goal and an assist during a pair of weekend preseason games vs. Mount Royal (Joel Kingston photo).
In a tough opening week of preseason for the Griffins – which included three games in five days – the rookie stood out with two goals and an assist.
Nothing like hitting the ground running in your first Canada West season as Chorney was in the lineup last Wednesday when the Griffins took on the reigning conference champion Alberta Golden Bears.
With a game under his belt, he then really shone against Mount Royal University in a pair of weekend games, factoring into three of MacEwan's four goals scored in a pair of losses to another one of the best teams in the country.
The Medicine Hat Tigers product will lead the Griffins into their second week of preseason action, which will feature a road trip to Regina, Sask. to face Manitoba on Friday (7 p.m.) and Regina on Saturday (2:30 p.m.).
