Joey Payeur
It wasn’t a win but it was a statement.
The Muskie girls’ soccer team finished the NorWOSSA regular season in second place with a 2-3-1 record after splitting its final two games last Wednesday in Dryden.
But the squad may have said more in its narrow 2-1 loss to the unbeaten and first-place Dryden Eagles (5-0-1) than it did in a 2-1 win over the Kenora Broncos (0-4-2).
Fort High began the season with a 4-1 loss to Dryden but has improved each time out against the Eagles since then.
Should they survive their NorWOSSA semi-final matchup with the Broncos earlier today in Kenora, they’ll get one more chance to upend Dryden in the final and make it five-straight league titles.
If they do, it’s off to North Bay for the OFSAA ‘AA’ championships June 1-3.
“In the first half against Dryden, the girls were executing what we had practised in the week prior; making smart passes in the midfield, sending through balls to our strikers, and shutting Dryden down offensively,” noted assistant coach Chantal Jodoin, whose team got on the board first thanks to an own goal by the Eagles.
“In the second half, Dryden scored two goals, they put a lot of pressure on our defensive line, and eventually wore us down.
“I believe the girls realized that we are as skilled as Dryden,” Jodoin added. “We controlled the game for the entire first half, giving up a couple goals in the second that cost us the game.
“Even though it was a loss, the girls gained some confidence heading into playoffs,” she stressed.
Not coincidentally, the Muskies’ progress against the Eagles coincided with the return of veteran midfielder Jess Steele after suffering what initially appeared to be a season-ending foot injury in an April 27 pre-season matchup against the Rainy River Owls.
“Jessica’s presence really helped the movement of the ball through the midfield,” lauded Jodoin.
“She looked like she hadn’t missed a beat in her first full game back from injury.
“She’s a prominent player in our midfield and we are hoping to see more goals now that she is back in the lineup,” she noted.
The Muskies overcame a leg muscle injury to starting keeper Carmen Godin to beat the Broncos.
Pasquel Shortreed and Taylor Croswell supplied the goals while Adyson Wilson-Hands shifted from her defensive fullback position to take care of business between the pipes.
“Pasquel scored the first goal of the game from inside the 18-yard box,” Jodoin recalled.
“She is a solid offensive player and puts pressure on the defence and goalie, and ends up with some great scoring opportunities.
“Taylor scored from the left corner of the field as she was bringing the ball up the wing–it was a really great shot,” added Jodoin.
“Carmen has been playing through [her injury] for a few weeks now,” Jodoin explained. “She has been working on stretching it out and we are confident she will be ready to play in NorWOSSA this week.
Meanwhile, Jodoin said Wilson-Hands is a player they can play anywhere and be confident in her abilities.
“When she had to play net for a short amount of time, she did extremely well,” Jodoin noted.
“When she was in net, our defensive line adjusted to playing without her and also did very well.”
Jodoin embraced the fact the Muskies–despite being the reigning champs–go in as the underdog to retain the title.
“If we have the opportunity to play Dryden in the gold-medal game, I believe that it is anyone’s game,” she stressed.
“Whichever team shows up and plays their absolute best this week will be the team that comes out on top.”
Striker Abby Sanders will miss the playoffs as she continues to nurse her season-ending knee injury.
