After an incredible second season where she finished just two points shy of the program's single Canada West season record, Griffins midfielder Hannah Harper was named to the U SPORTS second all-star team on Wednesday.
Harper, who finished the 2024 season with seven goals and 15 points in 14 games, was previously named to the Canada West first all-star team.
She becomes the sixth Griffins player to make a U SPORTS all-star team, following first team selections Jamie Erickson (2019) and Grace Mwasalla (2022), and previous second team all-stars Emily Burns (2019), Samantha Gouveia (2021) and Anneke Odinga (2022).
"It means a lot to get the recognition from U SPORTS and all the coaches in Can West for just how good my season was," said Harper from the U SPORTS national championship awards banquet in Halifax, hosted by Dalhousie University. "It just means a lot to me."
Harper's points total is the second-most by a Griffins player in a Canada West season, trailing only Mwasalla's 17-point campaign in 2022.
"What a jump she made from Year 1 to Year 2," said Griffins head coach Dean Cordeiro. "She played big minutes last year and was a very effective player, but that production wasn't what it is now. We knew she had it in her. She was highly sought-after her freshmen year and we knew she had the abilities to get this team to the next level.
"In Year 2, to be able to accomplish what she has already is pretty unique and special. Two points off our career-best season and she was playing in a midfield role. A lot of people forget how hard that is. She's got so much more defensive responsibility playing as an attacking mid. For her to be our leader in assists and second on the team in goals, and just able to be that consistent threat game in and game out is awesome to see."
Harper also led the Griffins in shots (43) and shots on goal (21), marks that are in the top-10 in program history. Two of her goals were on PKs, tied for the second-most by a Griffin in a Canada West season.
"I think a lot of it was just being calm and focusing on the moment and not the result of what was happening in the games," she said of her successful season. "Just focusing on doing the right things and not on how many points I was getting.
"Then also, my team really helped me out. I had eight assists, but that means eight girls had to put the ball in the net besides me."
Read the full story by Jefferson Hagen on MacEwanGriffins.ca.