Penalty shot bounces Muskie boys in semis

To say a single penalty shot cost the Muskie boys’ soccer team their season would be a little ridiculous.
Unfortunately, it was the play that propelled the Dryden Eagles to a 2-0 upset win over the top-ranked Muskies in the NorWOSSA semi-finals last Thursday in Kenora.
But the team is holding its head high, knowing they controlled most of the game.
“We were controlling the field so much,” said Muskie centre-midfielder Adam McTavish, even though Dryden had scored on a broken play early in the game.
“We just couldn’t buy a goal.”
It was incidental hand contact by a Muskie defender in front of keeper Dan Poperechny mid-way through the second half that gave the Eagles the insurance marker.
McTavish admitted he and the whole team were a little rattled. “We were trying to climb from behind and got into a panic situation,” he remarked.
Despite winning two exhibition games against Dryden earlier in the season, the top-ranked Muskies had their toughest matches against the Eagles, who were ranked fourth going into the NorWOSSA tourney.
“The standings didn’t reflect their team,” noted McTavish. “Dryden has always been dangerous.”
Despite the unexpected exit, Rick Chambers first year as head coach was a strong one. The Muskies had been perfect in exhibition play against league opponents earlier in the season, and had finished second at a tournament in Winnipeg.
And Fort High started off action last Wednesday by dumping Sioux Lookout 8-1 and Red Lake 2-0 in pool play to advance to the semi-finals against Dryden.
McTavish, Nathan Miller, and Matt Basaraba led the attack with two goals each, while Bryce Witherspoon, Jamie Algie, Rick Ricard, and Kyle Perry added singles.
The Muskie boys have not qualified for NWOSSAA since 1998. Last year, the team lost in the NorWOSSA final 5-2 to Kenora, who once again captured the gold medal on home turf last week.
“We’ve been close for the last few years,” said McTavish. “It’s unfortunate because we had a really good team this year.”
But there will always be that silver lining known as “next season.” Even though McTavish will be lost to graduation, he likes the team’s chances.
He noted returning students Jeremy Wilson and Basaraba as the most likely to lead on offence next year.