Muskie boys win soccer gold

It was a golden Thursday for the Muskie boys’ soccer team in Kenora as they beat Rainy River for the NorWOSSA crown.
The black-and-gold dominated play in the final against the Owls, netting two quick goals. The second half was shortened, with consent from both coaches, from 45 minutes to 30 minutes because of the control the Muskies showed with the ball.
The Owls were a very tired squad due to a tough 2-1 victory over host Kenora in the semi-finals earlier yesterday.
After the two teams battled through 80 minutes of regulation time and then another 20 minutes of overtime tied at 1-1, it went down to penalty kicks to determine the winner.
Rainy River won 3-1 to earn the official 2-1 win.
The Muskies beat Dryden 4-2 in the other semi-final game.
After falling behind 3-0 early, the Eagles battled back—netting two and putting pressure on the Muskies in the second half—until the black-and-gold were able to notch the insurance marker.
The Muskies now will host the NWOSSAA playoffs May 31 against the Thunder Bay and North Shore of Superior champs.
That winner will move on to the all-Ontarios.
But the news wasn’t as good for the Muskie girls’ soccer squad, who lost 1-0 in overtime to the host Broncos in the gold-medal final yesterday afternoon.
Scoreless after regulation time, the Broncos were awarded a free kick around the seven-minute mark of the first 10-minute overtime period.
The shot was on net and the save was made by the Muskie keeper, but the rebound was bobbled and a Bronco player jumped on the loose ball and booted it into the net.
It was the first goal the Muskie girls had allowed during the NorWOSSA playoffs, who advanced to the final after beating Dryden in the semi-finals earlier yesterday.
The Broncos blanked Sioux Lookout in the other semi-final.