Staff
Almost exactly three years and many close calls later, the Muskie boys’ soccer team finally has a much sought-after win.
Tyler Ruppenstein’s goal was the difference as Fort High blanked the Simcoe Composite School Sabres (Simcoe) 1-0 yesterday afternoon in its second game at the OFSAA ‘AA’ championships in North Bay.
The triumph was the first at OFSAA for the five-time defending NorWOSSA champs since June 8, 2012, when they shut out the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (Oakville) 1-0 in their final game at the tournament—coincidentally also held in North Bay.
The Muskies (1-1) had bounced back from an opening 1-0 loss to the Jean Vanier Catholic High School Jaguars (Richmond Hill) yesterday morning.
The black-and-gold had to wait out a four-hour rain delay before starting play today in a crucial showdown against the top-seeded Ascension of Our Lord Eagles (Mississauga), who also split their games yesterday.
The winner would be in good position to earn one of the top two spots in Pool ‘A,’ and likely would clinch a spot in the quarter-finals (now moved to tomorrow) with a win in their final pool game.
For the Muskies, that would come tonight at 6:30 p.m. against the Honourable W.C. Kennedy Collegiate Institute Clippers (Windsor), who led the pool after yesterday at 2-0.
Meanwhile, the Muskie girls’ hopes of making the playoffs are dashed following a 4-0 loss this morning to the fourth-seeded St. Mary’s College Knights (Sault Ste. Marie) at their OFSAA ‘AA’ championships in Wallaceburg.
That came on the heels of a 4-3 loss to the St. Paul Secondary School Wolverines (Mississauga) yesterday afternoon and a 2-0 defeat to the host Tartans in the morning.
Angel McCormack tallied twice for the Muskies (0-3) while Maggie Jean added one, making it two-straight years she has scored at OFSAA.
The Muskies will wrap up pool play this afternoon against the Bayside Secondary School Red Devils (Quinte West).
