Muskies have sights on NWOSSAA crown

The teams are set for Saturday’s NWOSSAA girls’ soccer tournament here. The only thing left to do now is throw the ball into play.
St. Pat’s (Thunder Bay) will join the host NorWOSSA champion Muskies and NSSSAA champion Manitouwadge Wolverines in the three-team showdown with a berth at the all-Ontarios in Alliston on the line.
The Saints blanked St. Ignatius 1-0 last night to win the Thunder Bay crown.
Each team will play one another once, with the Muskies opening action against the Wolverines at 9 a.m. at the St. Francis Sportsfield. Then they’ll meet St. Pat’s at 4 p.m.
Manitouwadge plays St. Pat’s at 1 p.m.
The squad with the best record will move on to the provincial championship next week. In the event of a tie, head-to-head results and the numbers of goals scored will decide the champion.
The current crop of Muskies is looking to win Fort High’s first NWOSSAA girls’ soccer title since 1995. They were undefeated against NorWOSSA opponents in exhibition play this season before capping the league crown with a victory over the Kenora Broncos up there last Thursday.
Thursday’s practice featured a series of light workouts and technical exercises. The mood among the team was lighthearted and easygoing throughout, as head coach Struchan Gilson even handed the whistle over to assistant coach Caroline Spencer and jumped on left wing during one scrimmage.
The girls did a solid job of running the 57-year-old retired teacher off the ball.
“At this point, they know what to expect,” Gilson said of the Muskies’ competition. “I’m sure they’ll be ready.”
St. Pat’s, the two-time defending NWOSSAA champions, went 4-1 in league play there while the Wolverines, with a 4-1-1 record this year, are making their first trip to this tournament since 1998.