Amid the Collingwood heat and humidity, the Muskie girls’ soccer team opened play at the ‘AA’ all-Ontarios this morning with a 1-1 draw against the host Jean Vanier Catholic High School squad.
Forward Nicole Mueller scored about 30 seconds before halftime to give the black-and-gold a 1-0 lead.
But an aggressive Jean Vanier team came back to score early in the second half with a bounce that drifted just out of the reach of Muskie keeper Taylor Meyers.
Impressive goaltending courtesy of Meyers kept the game tied the rest of the way.
“We were pleased,” coach Adam Craig said of his team’s performance. “The girls were a little overwhelmed at first.”
Despite leaving Fort Frances on Saturday afternoon for the 20-hour bus ride to Collingwood, Fort High was on par against Jean Vanier this morning.
Midfielder Erin Kaemingh dominated her zone, helping to keep the hosts from several scoring attempts early in the first half.
Annika McTavish, meanwhile, picked up her game in the second half while the team, as a whole, seemed to come on stronger, as well.
A breakaway late in the game nearly gave the Muskies their second goal—and hints of what may come when they faced off against St. Jean de Brebeuf this afternoon.
The Muskies wrap up round-robin play in Pool ‘D’ with a pair of games tomorrow. The top two teams in each pool advance to the quarter-finals later Tuesday.
The semi-finals, followed by the gold- and bronze medal matches, will be played Wednesday.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
