Edmonton, AB.....The MacEwan University Griffins women's soccer team handed the number five CIS-ranked Cascades their first loss of the season, 2-1, at home in Edmonton. MacEwan University's record improves to 3-3-1 and up to fourth from fifth-place in Canada West's Prairie Division. Fraser Valley drops from second to third place in the Pacific Division with a 5-1-1 record. The Griffins will return to the pitch tomorrow at noon to take on their first game with the number nine CIS-ranked Trinity Western University Spartans.

 

"Obviously very proud of the team and how they responded. The competition is at it's best this weekend, we are playing two of the best teams in the league," said Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro. "We knew we had to be sharp, we knew we had to play our game. We came out and we executed the game plan, and it was great to see us jump off to a quick start."

A strong offensive push by the Griffins tested the Cascades from the opening whistle. In the twelfth minute a Fraser Valley turnover at midfield gave first-year midfielder Meagan Lemoine, Edmonton, AB a breakaway down the left flank. Lemoine sent a cross to first-year forward Isabelle Dobbin, Devon, AB who netted her fourth goal of the season into the lower left corner past fourth-year Cascades keeper Kayla Klim, Burnaby, BC.

 

Fraser Valley responded swiftly, also in the 12th minute, when second-year forward Monika Levarsky, Surrey, BC found first-year forward Gurneet Dhaliwal, Surrey, BC. Dhaliwal scored her fourth goal of the year on first-year MacEwan University keeper Emily Burns, Sherwood Park, AB.

 

The teams would battle back and forth in the midfield, and in the 17th minute, in similar fashion to their first goal, the Griffins stripped the Cascades of the ball and fifth-year MacEwan University forward Sheena Tracey, Edmonton, AB, flew up the left flank. Tracey connected with Lemoine who scored her second career goal, middle-left and out of Klim's reach.

 

One of two significant saves of the match happened in the closing minutes of the first-half. first-year Cascades midfielder Brittney Zacharuk, Delta, BC sent a point-blank shot high in Burns' direction. The first-year Arts major made a well-timed leap to catch the ball on her fingertips, deflecting it up and over the bars of the crease.

 

Second-half action intensified, both teams fought for shots and possession, but no further goals would be scored. In the 88th minute the Cascades pressed, catching Burns out of position. First-year defender Jamie Erickson made a game-winning block in her first university start to keep Fraser Valley at bay. At the final whistle, the Griffins earned their third win of the season, 2-1 over the Cascades.

 

"Today we were intelligent, everything we did was calculated and had purpose. The team left it on the field, and as a coach you can't ask for anything more than everybody giving their full-out commitment to what we want to do. We got that today, everybody bought in, and knew what they needed to do," stated Coach Cordeiro.

 

Veteran midfielder Erika Vecchio received 'Player of the Game' nods for her hard work on the pitch this afternoon. Coach Cordeiro is quick to praise her experience and skill.

 

"Erika was just a technician. She won every header and stuck so many quality tackles, and nothing fazes her. She makes the right choices on the field, she connects passes, and is a driving force in midfield."

 

This was also a historic win for MacEwan University in that records a number of firsts for the program. Today's match with Fraser Valley is not only the first win against the Cascades in their first-ever meeting, but it is also the first-ever regular season Canada West win against a BC-based school in the program's history. This is also the first time this season the Griffins have defeated a CIS nationally-ranked program, as all top 10 programs are based in the Pacific Division of Canada West; the Cascades (5), the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds (7), the Spartans (9) - based on the most recent rankings dated Tuesday, September 29, 2015.

 

Player of the Game
Griffins: Erika Vecchio
Cascades: Monika Levarsky

 

Scoring
12th minute Griffins Isabelle Dobbin (Meagan Lemoine)
12th minute Cascades Gurneet Dhaliwal (Monika Levarsky)
17th minute Griffins Meagan Lemoine (Sheena Tracey)

 

Keepers
Griffins Emily Burns 8 saves, 1 goal allowed
Cascades Kayla Klim 5 saves, 2 goals allowed

 

Shots on Goal
Griffins 8
Cascades 10

 

Corner Kicks
Griffins 5
Cascades 5

 

The Griffins will remain at home at Jasper Place Bowl (8950-163 Street, Edmonton) for tomorrow's match up with the visiting Trinity Western University Spartans. Kick-off will be at 12:00 p.m. MST, while the Cascades travel to Calgary, AB for a meeting with the Mount Royal University Cougars. Next weekend MacEwan University has one game on their schedule as they host the Cougars on Saturday, October 10th at 12:00 p.m. MST.