Three Stars: Mwasalla, Gable, Blaybel earn honours
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Women's soccer student-athlete Grace Mwasalla is the MacEwan Athletics' first star of the week after scoring four goals in the Griffins' 7-1 win over Winnipeg on Sunday.
With that output, she tied the program's single-game record and broke two other marks (fastest hat trick) and (most goals in a single Canada West season).
Men's hockey captain Kole Gable and men's soccer forward Ali Blaybel are the second and third stars of the week, respectively.
Mwasalla is appearing on the Three Stars list for the second time this season after also being named first star on Sept. 20, while both Gable and Blaybel are making their first appearances on the list this season.
1st STAR: Grace Mwasalla, F, women's soccer
Calgary, AB, second-year, Arts
With the game tied 1-1 late in the first half on Sunday, Grace Mwasalla got on the end of an Erin Van Dolder corner kick to score what would prove to be the game-winner as the Griffins lambasted Winnipeg 7-1 on Sunday.
All that did was kick one of the top single-game scoring sprees the program has ever seen as Mwasalla scored in the 57th and 59th minutes to complete the fastest hat trick in the program's Canada West history (13:42).
She then scored her fourth of the game in the 61st minute to tie Salma Kamel's record for the most by a Griffin in a Canada West game (set in 2019).
The tally was also significant as it was Mwasalla's ninth of the season, which broke Suekiana Choucair's record for the most in a single Canada West campaign (eight in 2016).
Amazingly, there are still four games left in the season, including home matches this weekend vs. Mount Royal (Saturday, 12 p.m., Clareview Field) and vs. Lethbridge (Sunday, 2 p.m., Clarke Stadium, both Canada West TV).
Mwasalla is also now just one goal off the Canada West scoring lead (UBC's Danielle Steer has 10).
2nd STAR: Kole Gable, F, men's hockey
Fort McMurray, AB, third-year, Commerce
Kole Gable produced two goals and four points in a pair of games against Regina to open the season last weekend (Joel Kingston photo).
Named captain in his third season with the Griffins, Gable led the way on the opening weekend of the season, recording a team-leading four points in split against Regina.
In Friday's 7-5 win over the Cougars, the Fort McMurray product produced a goal and an assist to go along with two shots and a +1 rating.
In Saturday's 7-3 loss to the Cougars, Gable assisted on Brendan Boyle's opening tally before scoring a powerplay goal in the third period. He finished with a shot and an even +/- rating.
Gable is one of eight Griffins averaging at least a point a game after opening weekend.
He will lead the Griffins into a weekend home-and-home series against cross-town rival Alberta on Friday (7 p.m., Clare Drake Arena) and Saturday (5 p.m., Downtown Community Arena, both Canada West TV).
3rd STAR: Ali Blaybel, F, men's soccer
Edmonton, AB, first-year, Commerce
In the first start of his U SPORTS career, Ali Blaybel scored twice to lead the Griffins past Lethbridge on Sunday (Joel Kingston photo).
Given his first chance to start this season, Blaybel stepped up big time, scoring two goals to lead the Griffins to a 2-1 win over the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Sunday.
The rookie striker cut across the face of the D in the sixth minute and unleashed a left-footed strike that tucked inside the right post.
He then scored with his right foot in the 88th minute from 35 yards out on a blast to the left side of the net.
Those were Blaybel's first two points of the season after he had been mostly used in a super sub role so far.
The Griffins men's soccer team is enjoying a bye weekend before resuming their playoff push on the road at cross-town rival Alberta Oct. 15 (2:15 p.m., Canada West TV).
