Mwasalla, Odinga, McCarthy, Inglis honoured by conference as Griffins reach 25 all-stars milestone
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – With three more all-stars to add to their incredibly successful awards haul since joining Canada West in 2014, the Griffins women's soccer team reached a significant milestone: they now have 25 CW all-star selections in their history.
Add Anneke Odinga, Grace Mwasalla and Raeghan McCarthy's seasons to the list as all three were included on the Canada West Prairie Division all-star team for 2025, announced Friday morning.
Additionally, Kiera Inglis became the ninth Griffins player to make the Canada West all-rookie team. The Griffins have had at least one player on the all-rookie squad since 2017.
"That's cool, I didn't know that," said Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro. "We've had a lot of all-stars over the years. I'm just proud of the team and the student-athletes. They've come into the program and helped set the tone and the standard. For them to do as well as they do within the conference and within the team speaks volumes for the individuals we're bringing into the team and what they're able to do on and off the pitch.
"It's great to see those numbers as high as they are. Hopefully we can continue to have more over the years moving forward to add to that."
For Odinga, it's her fourth-straight year she's been named to a Canada West all-star team, selected to the first team in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and the Prairie team after they changed the format this season. She had a goal and four points from the fullback position in 2025.
"Being a Canada West all-star four years in a row is remarkable," said Cordeiro of Odinga who has accomplished what no other MacEwan student-athlete has. "What else needs to be said? What a career she's had. The impact she's made with our team and our program is immense.
"That has to be a short list of players that have been able to do that four years in a row. What a way to go out as a senior player. Getting that recognition from the other coaches in the conference is great to see."
Mwasalla is a Canada West all-star for the third time in her career after cracking the first all-star team in both 2022 and 2023. She's coming off a special season where she moved into the top-10 all-time in Canada West goals and tied for first in CW career game-winning goals. She finished with six goals (three of them game-winners) and seven points in 2025.
"Well deserve honour," said Cordeiro. "She's one of the most prolific and clutch goal scorers we've seen in Canada West history. For her to get that acknowledgement in her senior season is great to see.
"She's had an incredible year for us, scoring big goals – had another game-winner for us this past Saturday. I know she'll be happy to be back on that Canada West all-star team. I'm very proud of her."
And it's hard to believe given the great career she had for the Griffins from 2017-21 before returning this season for her fifth year of eligibility, but Raeghan McCarthy has never been a Canada West all-star until now. Well deserved, she led the Griffins with seven goals (two game-winners) and co-led the team with eight points.
"What a season she's had – clutch performances throughout, the highlight-reel goals that she's scored," said Cordeiro. "It's pretty crazy to think that this is her first all-star because she's had an illustrious career.
"So, I'm super happy for her to get that in her final season, as well. She'll be really happy to get that news. Her performance this season speaks volumes to the player and top performer that she is."
Inglis trained as a redshirt with the Griffins last season, but hit the ground running in 2025 for her official rookie campaign by starting 10 games, finishing with two assists from the fullback position.
"She started almost all of our games," said Cordeiro. "She's obviously worked tremendously hard. Last year she was kind of a developmental player for us coming over. What a season she had to put herself in a position where she can compete to start alongside Anneke and be the type of performer she was all season long.
"I think it speaks volumes to the character of the player and the skill-set. She's only getting started and we're excited to see how the rest of her career will play out. I'm very happy she got that acknowledgement."
The Griffins are in Langley, B.C. for their quarter-final playoff match against the Trinity Western Spartans on Friday night (7 p.m. MT, Canada West TV).
