Late strike ends Griffins' season with 2-1 loss to Pandas in Canada West quarter-final

MacEwan Athletics and Alberta Athletics

EDMONTON – Just when it seemed like the MacEwan Griffins would find some more late magic against the cross-town rival Alberta Pandas – tying Sunday's Canada West women's soccer quarter-final in the 83^rd minute – they were stunned by a late strike that ended their season.

Fifth-year Pandas striker Karissa McNutt scored the game-winner in the 89^th minute at Foote Field – her second of the game – to lift Alberta to a 2-1 victory and a berth in the Canada West Final Four for the first time since 2014.

"I'm really proud of the effort they had," said Alberta head coach Liz Jepsen. "They never let down and pressed to the end and executed the game plan. We're focused on trying to get to nationals. That's the importance of this game. It's one of three to get to nationals."

The result came a year after MacEwan beat Alberta 2-1 on the same field, in the quarter-final, when Kaylin Hermanutz scored the game-winner in extra time.

But the tables were turned this time for a Griffins team that had enjoyed three-straight wins over their cross-town rival and had advanced to the Canada West Final Four the past two seasons.

"It's disappointing for sure, because I feel like this has been our most talented team on paper," said MacEwan head coach Dean Cordeiro, whose squad completed the best regular season the program has had – 9-3-2 – since joining Canada West in 2014. "But you need bounces and breaks to occur.

"Obviously, having to play on the Friday and them being rested, it takes its toll as well. We had a little bit of tired legs and they were champing at the bit. We've beat them the last three times we've played them and that was in the back of their minds. That was extra motivation for them, so credit them, they got the job done."

The Griffins had defeated the Regina Cougars 4-0 in Friday's Play-In game at Foote Field, which certainly could have factored into Sunday's result as the Pandas took the play to them early in the game and for most of the second half.

Neither team generated many great scoring chances in the opening half, with the host Pandas holding on to a majority of the possession, despite playing against the wind.

While the defensive struggle continued into the second half, the game quickly took a turn in the 76^th minute when half-time substitution McNutt opened the scoring by sending a rocket to the top corner from 20 yards out that MacEwan keeper Emily Burns had no chance on.

"One of the great things this season is that we're quite deep." said Jepsen. "Karissa has started for us, and today she came in off the bench and did the job she needed to do – played great defence and got to net and scored a really impressive goal."

Pressing for the equalizer, Kamel blew past the Alberta defence down the left side and beat keeper Rebecca Reif from a sharp angle in tight, scoring her second goal of the playoffs after also finding the net in their play-in-game win over Regina.

"Salma, since the midway point of this season, has been a stud for us," said Cordeiro. "She took it upon herself there to go end to end and get the job done. She almost got through again down the stretch, so I can't speak enough (about her).

"Her growth as a player – being a third-year where she is now – she's one of our key marksmen in the league for me and she's only going to get stronger and stronger. We look forward to her continued development."

With the game heading into the dying minutes, it seemed the two cross-town rivals would need extra time. However, McNutt took a ball deep in MacEwan territory off a feed from Kate Dunn, firing a shot that ricocheted off a Griffin defender, and past a helpless Burns, who was expecting it to go wide. 

The Griffins final two chances off corner kicks were cleared away from harm, as they were unable to tie the game in stoppage time.

Alberta now moves on to play the Pacific-Division leading Trinity Western Spartans, while UBC and Calgary will clash in the other semifinal, all in Langley, B.C. on Friday.

The Griffins will now reflect on a season that fell short of their goal of qualifying for U SPORTS nationals.

"It was a great season," said Cordeiro. "It's a shame two of the top teams had to play a little sooner in the quarter-finals, but that's sport. To be the best, you've got to play the best teams."