August 24, 2023

CW Coaches Poll: Griffins receive one first-place vote, finish third in polling ahead of season

Canada West Communications

EDMONTON – Canada West women's soccer coaches voted the MacEwan Griffins to finish third this season, with the team receiving one first place vote, the conference announced in its annual coaches poll Thursday.

Defending champion UBC was voted as the favourites, receiving 14 first place votes and a total of 224 points in the poll.

The Thunderbirds beat Trinity Western in the Canada West final last season. The Spartans were voted second in the poll with 205 points but failed to get a first place vote.

MacEwan came in third with 196 points, ahead of fourth-place Calgary (184 points), who also received one first-place nod.

The Griffins kick off the 2023 Canada West season on Friday vs. Regina (voted 14^th) and will also host Saskatchewan (voted sixth) on Saturday (both games 12 p.m., Clarke Stadium, Canada West TV).

The Canada West regular season runs through Oct. 15, with playoffs slated to begin Oct. 21.

For the complete Canada West women's soccer schedule, click here.

For a compete team-by-team preview, click here.

Griffins' Key Performer: Grace Mwasalla

One of the most dynamic players in the country the past two years, Mwasalla was named to the U SPORTS and Canada West first all-star teams after leading the conference with 15 goals in 14 games last season. Mwasalla, who was also named to the U SPORTS Championship all-star team in 2021 as a rookie, won MacEwan's Female Athlete of the Year honour in 2023 and is primed for another big season with the Griffins this fall. The third-year Calgarian leads a deep, dynamic Griffins attack that returns the majority of a group that scored a conference co-leading 46 goals in 2022.