Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – In terms of special birthdays, this will be one that Chance Carter will never forget.
The dynamic midfielder turned 23 on Sunday and proceeded to become the first player in Griffins men's soccer history to record four points in a Canada West game.
With two goals and two assists, Carter led MacEwan to a 4-1 win over the UNBC Timberwolves.
"He was class," said Griffins head coach Adam Loga. "When he wants to be, he just flips the switch and can take over games.
"It was his birthday today. He had a little bit more jump in his step and showed how dominant he can be. He's doing it on the back end of a two-game weekend."
With the win, the Griffins improved to 2-3-1 and completed a six-point weekend out of such an epic B.C. road trip that they logged as many miles on the bus as if they'd driven to Denver, Col.
"That was our goal this weekend," said Carter. "We didn't want to have this long travel and just come away with nothing. We're definitely coming in with the mindset of six points. Once we got the first one, the momentum carried us. We knew we could get to six.
"We felt good before the game, during the game and after – just good all around. Heading into the rest of the season, we've got the momentum. We're clicking now."
Carter dished to Ali Yildiz for the game's opening goal in the 22nd minute before drawing an assist on another momentous moment for the team in the 41st.
GOAL!
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Soccer (@GriffinsMSOC) September 15, 2024
Ali Yildiz's 22nd-minute goal puts the Griffins out front in Prince George.#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/a2InDEdDWZ
Ali Yildiz scores the opening goal of the game (Harsh Banga photo).
Rakan Yassin put in a ball out of a scramble off a corner kick to become the program's all-time career goals leader with 12, passing Everett Orgnero.
The tally also gave him three career game-winning goals, matching Stefan Gajic's program mark and moved him within one of the career points record of 18 held by Lahai Mansaray.
�� RECORD ALERT
— MacEwan Griffins (@MacEwanGriffins) September 16, 2024
On this tally, Ricky Yassin is now the career @CanadaWest goals leader in @GriffinsMSOC program history with 12! https://t.co/QbKr5KO6Ca
"Ricky's always been one of the go-to guys for us – consistent every year," said Carter. "He's been here since I first started at MacEwan.
"Every year, he's been the go-to guy for the goals and assists. I expected him to get it. I knew it was coming."
After UNBC pulled within one on Isaac Tate's 64th minute goal, Carter went to work again, scoring on a thrilling blast from distance that blew over the head of Timberwolves keeper Yanni Ntapas like an incoming hurricane.
Chance Carter's laser strike from distance!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/zNbUXWkQLm
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Soccer (@GriffinsMSOC) September 15, 2024
He added another in the 72nd off a pass from Kayden Dugas from the top of the box to break the mark of three points in a game shared by Mansaray and Yassin, who had tied in Friday's 3-2 win over Thompson Rivers.
�� RECORD ALERT
— MacEwan Griffins Men's Soccer (@GriffinsMSOC) September 16, 2024
Four-point game!
Chance Carter scores his second of the night and becomes the first player in program history to record four points in a @CanadaWest match!#GriffNation pic.twitter.com/0SXUyCUVvL
"That's pretty special," said Carter. "Everything was just feeling right today. Loga set us up today tactically, so it was just easy to get myself in those good positions. When the ball came, it just felt right today. It was my birthday, too, so it was extra special."
Oleksandr Popravka made seven saves for the win.
"We always have belief in the room," said Loga. "We had some misfortune that was out of our control the first weekend. We knew we were better than an 0-2 start, so it didn't (affect) us at all.
"We're starting to take form – two wins and a draw in our last four. That's what we expect from ourselves, game in and game out."
The Griffins next return home to host UFV and Trinity Western next weekend.
