Both Muskie soccer teams are preparing to play four games each in Dryden this weekend—the last tournament before the NorWOSSA later this month in Kenora.
Both teams will play against Sioux Lookout, Beaver Brae (Kenora), St. Thomas Aquinas (Kenora), and host Dryden.
“I think they’re ready,” boys’ coach Rick Chambers said of his team.
The veterans on the boys’ team had two games against players from the local men’s league over the past week while the girls played two games against the boys’ rookies as well as one against an Muskie alumni squad on the weekend to help them prepare for Dryden.
“The men’s team did a really good job of bringing their level up,” said Chambers. “It picks up their intensity.”
Chambers still has his team working on moving the ball and getting their shots on net, but said he was pleased with the way the season has been going so far.
“They seem to be practising very well,” he remarked. “I think they’re ready.”
On the girls’ side, coach Struchan Gilson is very confident of his team’s chances of success.
“If we don’t win NorWOSSA with this team, I’ve done something terribly wrong,” he said. “I personally think we’re very strong this year.”
In fact, Gilson said this girls’ team may be the best of his long coaching career.
Char Bliss also has been working as an assistant coach with the team and has devised a program to keep them in top shape. Gilson also is getting help from Caroline Spencer, who resigned as an assistant coach this year but found one day a week to help out.
She works with the keepers every Monday.
“We’re in good shape,” said Gilson. “This [past] weekend we discovered some technical problems against the alumni.”
During this week, Gilson will be working with his midfielders to get them to shoot more while getting his defence to control the ball better and pass more.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
