Home Preview: Griffins welcome familiar Prairie Division rivals Regina, Saskatchewan
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Call it the déjà vu weekend, if you will.
The Griffins women's soccer team will be welcoming two Prairie Division opponents they've already seen so far this month as the effects of Canada West's more regional-based regular season schedule kick in.
Both will be great rivalry matches as teams jockey for playoff spots in an exciting race.
On Tap
Saturday: vs. Regina, 11 a.m., Edmonton Scottish, Canada West TV
Sunday: vs. Saskatchewan, 12 p.m., Edmonton Scottish, Canada West TV
Last meetings
Sept. 7: MacEwan 2 at Saskatchewan 2
Sept. 8: MacEwan 3 at Regina 0
Records prior to Saturday
MacEwan (4-1-1) T2nd Prairie Division
Regina (3-3-0) 5th Prairie Division
Saskatchewan (4-1-1) T2nd Prairie Division
Playoff implications
The Griffins enter the weekend in a tie for second in the Prairie Division with Saskatchewan with 13 points, both just two points back of Calgary (5-1-0) for top spot. Regina is lurking not far out of the playoff picture, though, and will be motivated; at nine points, they're three back of Alberta for the final spot.
Dean Cordeiro's Coach's Quote:
"We just want to see those improvements within the team, not necessarily against those opponents," he said of facing both Saskatchewan teams for the second time this month. "To be able to see them within the month with a few more games under our belt, we'll look forward to being a better version of ourselves. We were seconds away from a six-point weekend and on the last play of the game Saskatchewan was able to tie the game.
"Two good teams coming in here and our focus right now is on that Regina fixture on the Saturday. We have to make sure we're playing our game and taking care of what we need to. Then we'll quickly switch gears and prep for the Sunday fixture."
Players to watch
MacEwan: Sophie Lavallee has scored four goals in MacEwan's last four games (one in each) and she only started two of those. The 2021 Saskatchewan Youth Player of the Year, who hails from Saskatoon, will be motivated to continue her hot streak against several opponents she knows well.
Regina: Fourth-year midfielder Allyson Schneider has only one assist so far this season, but is among the Cougars' top threats with a team-leading 21 shots so far in 2024. She had a team-leading three shots (two on target) against the Griffins back on Sept. 8, while picking up a yellow card.
Saskatchewan: Jade Houmphanh scored off a corner kick on the final play of extra time against the Griffins on Sept. 7 to salvage a 2-2 draw for the Huskies and will be looking to continue that success against MacEwan. The fifth-year senior is tied for second in team scoring with two goals and five points in six games.
Notable
Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro coached his 150th U SPORTS match when the Griffins beat Winnipeg 5-0 on the road last Sunday … Grace Schimpf enters the weekend with 94 corner kicks and can become only the second player in program history with 100 in Canada West play (Suekiana Choucair holds the record at 267) … With two PK goals so far, Anneke Odinga needs one more to break the program record for the most by a Griffin in a Canada West season … The Griffins will be inducting the 2013 MacEwan women's soccer team into its Wall of Distinction at half-time of Saturday's match. They are the only team in MacEwan Athletics history to post a perfect season, winning both the CCAA and ACAC Championships.
