Lucas Punkari
They still may be looking for their first win in NorWOSSA play as they travel to Dryden today, but the Muskie girls’ soccer team has come a long way from where they were when the season began two short weeks ago.
That seemingly night-and-day difference was on display here over the weekend as the black-and-gold kicked their way to a 2-1-1 mark in a five-team exhibition showdown.
“We’re almost a completely different team now than what we were at the start of the season,” Muskie head coach Sarah Noonan lauded.
“Our passing and our defensive play has been much better lately, and that all comes down to development, which is what weekend like this are all about,” she added.
That improved play also is allowing the squad to generate more scoring chances on offence, with Sara and Courtney Roach being the main benefactors of those increased opportunities.
“Our crossing and our communication skills are probably what has led to most of those increased opportunities,” Courtney Roach reasoned.
“We’ve also created a lot of chances off our corner kicks,” added Sara. “And everyone is getting a lot of playing time, as well, which is a big help.”
Sara Roach scored twice Friday afternoon as the Muskies opened play with a 2-1 triumph over NorWOSSA rival Dryden, who they had lost to by a 4-2 score in league play last Wednesday in Kenora.
“That win over Dryden was huge for us, and it helped gave us that little bit of confidence that we were looking for,” noted Noonan, whose team also lost 3-1 to host Kenora last Wednesday.
After giving up two second-half goals in a 2-1 loss to St. Patrick’s (Thunder Bay) later Friday, the black-and-gold bounced back Saturday morning with a 1-1 draw against the Hanover (Manitoba) Soccer Club.
Then they followed that with a 2-1 triumph over Hammarskjold (Thunder Bay), with birthday girl Wynona Kavanaugh netting the game-winner.
“We had a little bit of luck on our side against Hammarskjold as they really pressured us at the end, but we were able to hold them off,” Noonan recalled.
One of the key factors in that victory was the performance in the late going by keeper Erika Moffitt, who made a number of big saves in the final minutes and also cleared a ball off the goal line that had bounced off the crossbar.
“She held her composure really well out there,” Noonan said. “She has been a bit more of a timid goalkeeper at times, but she’s really starting to come into her own.
“She’s more aggressive and she’s challenging for the higher ball now, which is usually out of her comfort zone,” Noonan added.
Another strong performance over the weekend came from the Muskies’ defensive back line, which was anchored by Grade 12 player Sara Kellar.
“She plays that sweeper position really well, and other players are having a hard time trying to get past her,” Noonan lauded.
“We’ve stuck to our 4-4-2 formation and now it’s really starting to pay off as we’re allowing a lesser amount of goals,” she noted.
That improved play on both sides of the field, coupled with a strong showing in their home tournament on the weekend, has given the Muskies extra confidence heading into today’s set of games in Dryden, where they’ll look to improve on their 0-1-3 mark heading into the NorWOSSA playoffs next Wednesday in Kenora.
“Dryden knows that we’re going to be coming out really strong after we beat them here, and that should give us a really big advantage going into those games,” Sara Roach enthused.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to continue to have those scoring opportunities, and we should be able to pick up those victories,” added Courtney Roach.
Before the black-and-gold prepare for the NorWOSSA playoffs, however, they’ll be heading to Duluth this weekend for a trio of exhibition games.
“Because our league is so compact, with a lot of games in a very short period, it’ll be important for the girls to keep stepping their game up against the club teams we’ll be facing [in Duluth],” Noonan explained.
“The girls are pretty pumped up, though, about playing on the same field as Minnesota-Duluth plays on, and we’ll also be getting a tour of the university, as well, which will be really nice,” she added.
