Canada West Communications
A Canada West newcomer and veteran are this week’s first stars of the week, as Mount Royal midfielder Drake Rendle is the men’s first star of the week and Calgary back row Natasha Loucks is the women’s first star of the week for the week ending September 20.
Both players led their squads to victories over the weekend, as MRU improved in men’s soccer to 3-1-0, and Calgary opened the 2015 women’s rugby season with a 34-19 win over the defending Canada West champion Alberta Pandas.
Men’s first star – Drake Rendle
Mount Royal Cougars Soccer
Midfielder
5-8, 1st-year
Calgary, AB
Rendle has been one of the biggest surprises for MRU Head Coach Ryan Gyaki this season. It’s not often that a true freshman comes in and makes such an impact, but that is what Rendle has done. Through four games he is the team’s leading scorer (three) and the team’s point leader (four).
On Sunday afternoon Rendle had his best performance as a Cougar, scoring twice including the game winner. For his first strike, he deked around the Pronghorns defenders and unleashed a bullet from the top of the box. In the 34th minute he added another when he deflected in a Cody Cook cross to take over the team scoring lead. The Cougars won the match 3-0.
Rendle has been a big part of Mount Royal’s success in 2015-16. The Cougars currently sit atop the Prairie Division with a record of 3-1-0 and nine points. They have scored the third most goals in the entire conference and have given up just three. Rendle is currently tied for the conference lead in points and sits second in goals.
Women’s first star – Natasha Loucks
Calgary Dinos Rugby
Back Row
5-6, 4th-year
Calgary, AB
The University of Calgary Dinos women’s rugby team had a huge win over the weekend when they defeated the Alberta Pandas 34-19 in a CIS top 10 matchup (Calgary No. 10, Alberta N0. 6) and rematch of last year’s conference final
The Dinos are now No. 6 in the CIS rankings after their performance and face the UBC Thunderbirds and the Victoria Vikes on their West Coast road trip this upcoming weekend.
Men’s second star – Dominic Russo
Calgary Dinos Soccer
Forward
6-0, 4th-year
Calgary, AB
The Calgary Dinos men’s soccer team started their season 2-0 after defeating the Lethbridge Pronghorns and the reigning Canada West champions Saskatchewan Huskies over the weekend.
The Dinos head out on the road this weekend to take on the MacEwan Griffins and the Alberta Golden Bears in Edmonton.
Women’s second star - Gurneet Dhaliwal
UFV Cascades Soccer
Forward/midfielder
5-6, 1st-year
Surrey, BC
Gurneet Dhaliwal, a rookie forward/midfielder with the UFV women’s soccer team, scored two huge second-half goals on Saturday vs. the UBC Okanagan Heat to secure a victory and a six-point weekend for the Cascades.
The score was tied 1-1 at halftime, but Dhaliwal went to work after the break, scoring twice in three minutes to boost UFV to a 3-1 win. The Surrey, B.C. native was dangerous all game long, and tied for team-high honours with three shots on target.
The CIS No. 6-ranked Cascades, who also posted a 1-0 win over Thompson Rivers on Friday, are unbeaten in Canada West regular season action at 3-0-1 and sit second in the West Division.
UFV will look to stay on a roll as they play their first road games this week – Friday at the Alberta Pandas, and Sunday at the UNBC Timberwolves.
Men’s third star – Harry Lakhan
UBC Thunderbirds Soccer
Midfielder
6-0, 5th-year
Surrey, BC
Lakhan was the game MVP for the UBC Thunderbirds in both their road wins on the weekend, as the No. 4-ranked team in the nation earned wins over Fraser Valley and Trinity Western.
On Friday night, Lakhan stole a clearance and drove a ball from outside the penalty off the right goalpost and in for the game-winning goal in UBC's 3-2 triumph at UFV.
Then on Saturday in Langley, B.C., Lakhan had two shots against the Trinity Western Spartans, helping UBC to a 2-0 victory.
This weekend, the Thunderbirds host Thompson Rivers and UBC Okanagan in Vancouver.
Women’s third star - Amanda Kurianowicz
Victoria Vikes Field Hockey
Forward
5-5, 4th-year
Calgary, AB
The University of Victoria Vikes women’s field hockey team opened their 2015 CIS season with two shut-out wins against the four-time defending national champions, the UBC Thunderbirds this weekend, Sept. 19-20.
The Vikes opened on home turf Saturday and came away with an impressive 3-0 victory, while also out-shooting the young T-Birds squad 17-1. Fourth-year forward Amanda Kurianowicz (Calgary, Alta.) scored the Vikes’ third goal and led the team in shots with five, three of which were on target.
The follow day was much of the same as the Vikes dropped UBC 2-0 and Kurianowicz was again on the score board. The 2014 CIS First Team All-Canadian and Championship All-star scored the game’s second goal on a brilliant deflection from team mate Lizzie Yates (Cobble Hill, B.C.).
Last season UBC made history winning four-straight CIS titles, while this year the Vikes have shown they are ready to make a strong appearance towards both the Canada West title and, ultimately, the national title, the latter of which they will vie for on home turf, as hosts, Nov. 4-8.