The Muskie girls soccer team have proven to be the class of NorWOSSA so far this season, finishing atop the standings after two tournaments and now head into this weekend’s playoff as the number-one seed.
But head coach Struchan Gilson knows full well the playoffs are a much different story–recalling a pair of recent collapses in consecutive years at the hands of Beaver Brae (Kenora).
But he feels this will be the year they turn it around–at least, that’s what he hopes.
“We know we are a good team and we’re happy to defeat [Beaver Brae] 1-0,” said Gilson. “So far, the soccer gods have been smiling on us and we’ve been scoring on our chances.”
The Muskies did plenty of scoring at the second tournament in Kenora last week, earning three wins and a tie to finish the final standings with a 6-0-2 record, tied with Thomas Aquinas (Kenora) for top spot.
But the black-and-gold were given the top seed heading into the NorWOSSA playoffs Friday and Saturday at Westfort due to their better goals for and against ratio.
Beaver Brae (Kenora) ended up finishing in third spot overall, followed by Sioux Lookout, Red Lake, Dryden, and Rainy River.
The Muskies opened action last Wednesday with a 6-0 rout over Dryden, paced by a two-goal effort by Laureen Cousineau and singles by Lynn Pollard, Lindy Holt, Tanya Hughes, and Carrie Selin.
Then after playing Thomas Aquinas to a 0-0 draw later Wednesday (Gilson said his team outplayed Kenora throughout), the black-and-gold blitzed Sioux Lookout by another 6-0 score Thursday.
Selin scored twice while Caylee Brow, Cousineau, Christin Thomson, and Sarah Vanderplaats added singles.
But Gilson said the key game of the tournament was the 1-0 shutout over Beaver Brae later Thursday, which not only lifted them into first place overall among the seven teams but also gave them a huge psychological lift heading into this weekend.
“It was an intense game which we played in a blinding thunderstorm, and even though they dominated play in the second half while we were playing into the wind, we still didn’t give up a goal,” he enthused.
After Cousineau scored on a breakaway midway through the first half, Beaver Brae got most of the scoring chances. And while the defence may have begun to bend at times, they didn’t break.
“I guess our girls played in a bit of a defensive shell, which isn’t the way I like to play defence. I like to play defence with the ball in the other team’s end,” admitted Gilson.
“But we still didn’t allow a goal all weekend.”
Brow, in her fourth year with the Muskies, said the key for them defensively is to play “tough” in the middle and move the ball to their speedy wingers.
When they do that, she said they have the confidence–and ability–to beat anyone this weekend.
Gilson agreed the key to the team’s defensive prowess continues to be their midfield led by Karma Chudobiak, Amy Wilson, Brow, and Hannah Carter.
And up front, there’s no question the Muskie offence centres around the goal-scoring ability of Cousineau.
“Laureen is like an old Phil Esposito in that she’s a big controlling forward, not fast, but quick in short distances, and strong,” described Gilson.
“She’s a big, tough, strong player. We’ll need her to score goals,” he added.
The Muskies head into this weekend grouped in Pool ‘A’ along with Sioux Lookout and Rainy River. Pool ‘B’ will feature Thomas Aquinas, Beaver Brae, Red Lake, and Dryden.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semi-finals Saturday, with the top team playing the second-place one from the other pool.
Those two winners then will meet in the NorWOSSA final later Saturday, with that winner hosting the NWOSSAA showdown for a chance to advance to the all-Ontarios.
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