Staff
The Rainy River Owls’ soccer squads found the going significantly easier against their fellow visitors than their less-than-hospitable hosts.
A trip Sunday and Monday to Kenora for NorWOSSA ‘A’ play saw both the girls’ and boys’ teams blanked twice each by 4-0 scores against the St. Thomas Aquinas Saints.
The waters were much calmer against the Red Lake Rams, though, as the girls won 3-1 while the boys battled to a 1-1 tie to give both squads records of 1-4-1 in league play.
Mika Kooistran, Regan Big George, and Paige Anderson scored against the Rams, with starter Madi Whetzel being relieved by Bethany Sinninghe to start the second half as the keepers shared the Owls’ first victory of the season.
“The game was very exciting against Red Lake, with two of the three goals being scored by rookies with assists from senior players,” noted coach Rebecca Tolen.
“The skills we have been working on in practice really crossed over into this game,” she added.
“It was a proud moment for both coaches.”
Tolen said the Owls were in the running against the Saints in both games, trailing only 1-0 at halftime before the hosts pulled away in the second half.
“They just outmanned us and we struggled to keep up,” said Tolen, who played Whetzel between the pipes in the first Saints’ game and then Sinninghe in the second one.
“They are a very skilled team but the girls played hard from start to finish,” she remarked.
Asher Chorney connected for the boys’ only goal in the three games to tie the Rams after Rainy River had pummelled Red Lake 8-1 at home the previous week.
Nick Teeple, who was in net for the first loss to St. Thomas Aquinas, earned the draw against the Rams.
Zak Quran manned the crease in the second Saints’ game.
The Owls headed to Red Lake today for more NorWOSSA action.
