Canada West preview: Griffins ranked fourth in preseason coaches poll
Canada West Communications
VANCOUVER - With the start of the Canada West season set to kick off on Saturday, the conference released its preseason coaches poll and team previews on Thursday.
The reigning national champion UBC Thunderbirds come in as the preseason favourite after collecting 214 points in the poll. The Thunderbirds, who earned with a CW silver medal in 2019, received eight first-place votes from the conference's coaches.
After being denied a third-straight conference title in 2019, the Trinity Western Spartans will look to recapture the Canada West crown in 2021. The Spartans, who won the CW bronze medal in 2019, came in second in the coaches poll (207 points), and received four first-place votes.
The Calgary Dinos will aim to defend their 2019 Canada West title and are once again a favourite to do so. The Dinos tied Trinity Western with 207 points in the poll, and received three first-place votes to claim third spot.
The hosts of the CW Final Four in 2019, the MacEwan Griffins, rounded out the top four with 178 points and one first-place vote.
The Central Division is first to hit the field as they get play underway on September 4 with a pair of matches. The Calgary Dinos open up their CW title defence in a crosstown meeting with the Mount Royal Cougars. In Edmonton, the MacEwan Griffins play host to the Alberta Pandas.
The rest of the conference's 12 teams will begin play a week later with a full slate of matches set for September 11 and 12. To view the full 2021 women's soccer schedule, click here.
Teams will play the 2021 CW regular season exclusively within their own divisions after alternate playing formats were announced by the conference on May 5.
WOMEN'S SOCCER ON CANADA WEST TV PRESENTED BY CO-OP
Every women's soccer game will be available live and on demand this season on Canada West TV Presented by Co-op – the official streaming home of the conference. To purchase your pass, click here.
2021 CW WSOC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Team - Points (First-place votes)
- UBC Thunderbirds - 214 (8)
- Trinity Western Spartans - 207 (4)*
- Calgary Dinos - 207 (3)*
- MacEwan Griffins - 178 (1)
- Victoria Vikes - 150
- Saskatchewan Huskies - 149
- Fraser Valley Cascades - 140
- Alberta Pandas - 130
- Manitoba Bisons - 111
- UBCO Heat - 89
- Thompson Rivers WolfPack - 88
- Regina Cougars - 71
- Mount Royal Cougars - 70
- UNBC Timberwolves - 56
- Lethbridge Pronghorns - 37
- Winnipeg Wesmen - 23
NOTE: Coaches ranked all opponents 1-15. First-place votes worth 15 points, second-place worth 14 points etc. *TWU gets higher placing with more first-place votes.
MACEWAN GRIFFINS TEAM PREVIEW
2019 CW regular season record: 9-2-3 / 1st Prairie Division
2019 post-season record: 1-2 / 4th
Head Coach: Dean Cordeiro / 9th season / 48-20-14
Last CW championship / total CW championships: None
Last CIS championship / total U SPORTS championships: None
2019 CW regular season ranks:
- Offence: 35 goals for / 2nd in CW
- Defence: 8 goals against / 2nd in CW
2019 CW regular season leaders (returning):
- Goals: 7 – Salma Kamel, F
- Assists: 4 – Maya Morrell, F
- Points: 9 – Meagan Lemoine, F/D
- Wins: 0 – Bianca Castillo, GK
- Shutouts: 0 – Bianca Castillo, GK
Key additions (name / position / eligibility / hometown / last team):
- Erin Van Dolder / M / 4 / Edmonton, AB / Rice University
- Grace Mwasalla / F/M / 1 / Chatham, ON / Calgary Blizzard
- Nicole Brodeur / F / 1 / Edmonton, AB / University of Memphis
- Anneke Odinga / D / 1 / St. Albert, AB / St. Albert Impact
- Alyx Henderson / F / 1 / Sherwood Park, AB / Sherwood Park Phoenix
- Taylor Sousa / M/D / 1 / West St. Paul, MB / Valour FC Elite
Key losses (name / position / hometown / years with program):
- Jamie Erickson / D / Edmonton, AB / 5
- Emily Burns / GK / Sherwood Park, AB / 5
- Suekiana Choucair / M / Edmonton, AB / 5
- Kristyn Smart / M / Edmonton, AB / 5
Key performer:
- Samantha Gouveia
- Position: Centre-back
- Year: 5
- Hometown: Edmonton, AB
- 2019 Stats: 1 goal, 1 assist for 2 points in 6 GP
MacEwan's captain for the 2021 season, the fifth-year defender brings leadership and veteran poise to the crucial centre-back position for the Griffins. Gouveia recently won an Iron Woman award for playing every minute of every game for the St. Albert Impact in their inaugural season in the United Women's Soccer Leagues' pro-am circuit in 2021.
She's set to have a similar impact with the Griffins as a regular 90-minute defensive workhorse for one of the stingiest teams in the Canada West ranks. On the offensive side of the game, Gouveia has a cannon from long range, is able to thread sublime through balls and is also a weapon on free kicks. Injured for all but six games during the 2019 season, the Edmontonian is hungry to cap off her university career with personal and team success in 2021.
To read previews on the rest of the Canada West teams, click here
