Road Preview: WSOC aiming for first place; WBB heads to Kelowna
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – In control of their own destiny heading into the final weekend of the Canada West women's soccer season, the MacEwan Griffins will finish first in the Prairie Division if they net six points out of a Southern Alberta road trip.
The 9-1-2 team must take care of business against Lethbridge (2-10-0) on Saturday first. If they do, they will pass Calgary (10-1-1) for first if they beat the Dinos on Sunday.
The implications are big.
First place would mean hosting fourth in the Pacific Division in the opening round of the playoffs, which is a spot currently held by UBC Okanagan (6-5-1). Second would host third, which is currently Victoria (6-2-4), but the Vikes are only a point behind second-placed Trinity Western (7-3-2), who are the defending Canada West champs.
Also, the highest remaining Prairie seed after the quarter-finals would host the Canada West Final Four, so there's lots at stake this weekend.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
On Tap
Saturday: at Lethbridge, 12 p.m., Canada West TV
Sunday: at Calgary, 12 p.m., Canada West TV
Standings
MacEwan (9-1-2): 2nd Prairie Division
Lethbridge (2-10-0): 7th Prairie Division
Calgary (10-1-1): 1st Prairie Division
Last meetings
Sept. 14: Calgary 3 at MacEwan 2
Sept. 15: Lethbridge 1 at MacEwan 6
Playoff implications
On the final weekend of the regular season, the Griffins have a chance to finish first in the Prairie Division, but it would most likely(*) mean winning both games on the road this weekend.
MacEwan enters the weekend two points back of Calgary for top spot, so, if they take care of business against Lethbridge on Saturday, it will be a showdown on the final day of the regular season for top spot.
*Calgary faces Alberta on Saturday and previously lost to the Pandas, so if they do again, and MacEwan beats Lethbridge, the Griffins would only need a tie on Sunday to clinch first.
Dean Cordeiro's coach's quote:
"We're approaching Lethbridge as Game 1. It's an important game. They're always tougher at home. Their coach will have them ready to play and it's always a tough battle. We're taking it one game at a time. We're hoping to set ourselves up for Sunday – if everything goes as planned – for it to be a match that we're playing for the top of the table. It's an exciting weekend.
"It's crazy to think how we've gone to the end of the regular season here already, but there's lots to play for this weekend, which is exciting for the team."
Players to watch
MacEwan: Hannah Harper – The second-year midfielder enters the final weekend of the regular season with 15 points, just two shy of the program's single Canada West season record set by Grace Mwasalla in 2022. She's also only three points behind Canada West scoring leader Jade Taylor-Ryan of UBC.
Lethbridge: Hailey Slobodian – The fourth-year striker leads the Pronghorns with six goals in 2024. Against MacEwan last month, she was held scoreless, but finished with a team-high three shots.
Calgary: Grace Moore – The fourth-year forward is also having a year to remember for the Dinos, entering the weekend with 14 points, which is third in the Canada West scoring race. Against MacEwan on Sept. 14, Moore was held scoreless, though, so the Griffins have done well against her.
Notable
Harper is also tied for the most assists in a Canada West season by a Griffin with eight … Sophie Lavallee enters the weekend with eight goals, tied with three others for the second-most by a Griffin in a Canada West season. Mwasalla holds the record with 15 goals in 2022 … The Griffins have scored 39 goals so far in 2024, which is just four shy of the program record 43, set in 2022.
Samantha Hickey, left, Sofia Makinen, Unity Obasuyi, Paige Massier and the rest of the Griffins women's basketball team is off to Kelowna for three preseason games this weekend (Jefferson Hagen photo).
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
On Tap
Thursday: PRESEASON at UBC Okanagan, 9 p.m. MT
Friday: PRESEASON at UBC Okanagan, 7 p.m. MT
Saturday: PRESEASON at Thompson Rivers, 4 p.m. MT in Kelowna, B.C.
Notable
This is the final preseason action for the Griffins before they open the Canada West regular season on Nov. 1 vs. Mount Royal (5 p.m., David Atkinson Gym, Canada West TV).
