Raeghan McCarthy scored two first-half goals on Friday, which lifted the MacEwan Griffins to a 3-1 triumph over the Manitoba Bisons in their home opener.
Her second goal in the 32nd minute stood up as the game-winner, upping her career GWG total to nine, just one back of teammate Grace Mwasalla for the program record.
On a dangerous break into the box in the 11th minute, Mwasalla was fouled, leading to a penalty kick. Up stepped McCarthy – (whose goal in the U SPORTS national final against Trinity Western was also on a PK) – and she made no mistake, drilling it inside the left post to open the scoring.
McCarthy netted No. 2 on the day 21 minutes later when Brynn Hobal won a battle at the top of the box and fed it back to her for an inspired 30-yard strike that Manitoba keeper Holly Dyker got a piece of before it hit the mesh.
Fellow fifth-year Alyx Henderson put the Griffins up 3-0 in the 60th minute after Ella Fownes' free kick was corralled by Mwasalla and the ball bounced off Paige Colby to Henderson, who volleyed it over a challenging Dyker. It's Henderson's 20th career regular season goal, moving her into a tie for second in program history with Meagan Lemoine (2015, 2017-21).
Manitoba had its share of chances, hitting two crossbars (Breyanna Johnston-Krulicki, Malaya Fernandes) and getting robbed on a couple of point-blank chances by sharp Griffins goalkeeper Sabrina Alexander, who finished with seven saves.
Finally, the Bisons broke through in the 82nd minute when Sydney Arnold got a header on an Alexandria Paul corner kick and Tabata Bravo found the next touch in traffic, slotting it in.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday (12 p.m., Clarke Stadium, Canada West TV)
