Les Rouges Marijka Yaschyshyn - MCAC Athlete of the Week for week ending Oct. 30, 2022
Université de Saint-Boniface (USB) Les Rouges completed the 2022 Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) women's soccer season by defending their conference championship and accomplishing a three-peat with another championship. Fifth year midfielder Marijka Yaschyshyn finished as this year's MCAC Player of the Championship award winner.
Les Rouges (11-0-1 regular season record; 2-0 in playoffs) came into the post-season as the hottest team in the league and extended their match win streak to eight after winning both matches during the championship weekend as Yaschyshyn was a huge reason for the 2022 title.
In the championship final, the #1 seed Les Rouges won 4-1 over #2 Providence University College (PUC) Pilots at Sportsplex Field on Sunday, October 30 in Brandon. USB put a stamp on this championship early with two quick goals in the first eight minutes as they utilized the wind to their advantage. Yaschyshyn scored twice as a header opened the scoring at the two minute mark and then the Winnipeg native received a nice pass off a corner and put in her second of the contest.
The Psychology Honours student-athlete also had a solid game as she controlled both the offence and defensive side during the semi-final game versus the #4 seed Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) Blazers in a 4-0 victory on Oct. 29.
"Marijka was an important addition to our team this season and she made an immediate positive impact on the team. A talented player who really has the ability to play in any position or any role we throw at her," stated USB head coach Justin Légaré. "Although she is a skilled player, I think what sets her apart is game knowledge and intelligence and we often see her out-smarting her opponent. This weekend in the Championship weekend she played a flawless two games solidifying our backline and dominating her side of the field. In the finals she really shined scoring two early goals both off corner kicks, a header and a side volley goal. It was one of the key points of us going into this final scoring early which really set the tone for the remainder of the game."
Les Rouges has now won their third consecutive conference title as they won last year and were also the last title holders prior to Covid-19 when they earned their first MCAC women's soccer championship in 2019.
The MCAC champion received a berth into the 2022 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women's Soccer Championships hosted by Champlain College Saint-Lambert in Saint-Lambert, QC) running from November 9-12. This is only the second time for MCAC representative at the Nationals with both years USB being there.
MCAC Athlete of the Week winners for 2022-23 season
Week 1 (ending Sept. 11, 2022)
WSOC: Sara Boissonneault – USB
MSOC: Jordi Haskerkehrer – USB
Week 2 (ending Sept. 18, 2022)
WSOC: Kendra Mansoff – ACC
MSOC: Camilo Rodriguez – BU
Week 3 (ending Sept. 25, 2022)
WSOC: Tara Boulanger – USB
MSOC: Johnathan Kohan – BU
Week 4 (ending Oct. 2, 2022)
WSOC: Ava Temple – PUC
MSOC: Matheus Souza – BU
Week 5 (ending Oct. 9, 2022)
WSOC: Tiegan Kroeker – CMU
MSOC: Kevin Lopez – ACC
Week 6 (ending Oct. 16, 2022)
WSOC: Kalyna Démaré – USB
MSOC: Garreth Rayner – PUC
Week 7 (ending Oct. 23, 2022)
WSOC: Katie Moniot – USB
MSOC: Sean Kirkpatrick – PUC
Week 8 (ending Oct. 30, 2022)
WSOC: Marijka Yaschyshyn – USB
MSOC: Ayman Soussi – USB