Mitch Calvert
If the Muskie boys’ soccer team hopes to advance to the all-Ontarios this year, they are going to have to do it the hard way.
The black-and-gold (1-3) can finish no better than second in the NorWOSSA standings no matter how they fare in their final regular-season action today in Kenora (at 11:30 a.m. versus Dryden and then 2 p.m. against the host Broncos).
The Broncos lead the way at 3-0-1, but the Eagles (1-2-1) potentially can steal away the top seed heading into the NorWOSSA playoffs here next Wednesday with a pair of wins and two Kenora losses today.
The Muskies will have to play either the Broncos or Eagles in the semi-final game first next Wednesday, then hope to knock off the top seed in the final to advance to OFSAA on June 4-6 in Hamilton.
The beauty of the NorWOSSA season is little matters until the final day, and the Muskies simply are focused on being the best team May 27 on home turf.
The short—but busy—season has taken a toll on the black-and-gold since Day 1, with injuries playing a large part in their rocky 5-8 record (including tournament play) so far.
Both keepers, Matt DePiero and Jameson Shortreed, have spent the bulk of the season on the sidelines, forcing sophomore Cody Vangel between the pipes.
“This short, intense season is tough on the guys, and this year I have seen more muscle injuries than in years past,” Muskie coach Shane Beckett noted.
“We now have to be sure to be healthy for the finals [next Wednesday at Fort High].”
The Muskies had their first full break of the season over the Victoria Day weekend, so they’ll head into today’s games with some fresh legs for the first time in a long time.
The boys trounced the host Eagles 6-1 last Wednesday on the strength of two goals by Mitch Cain, along with singles from Mason McKay, Anniss Seid, Jon Sinclair, and Justin Bujold.
But the black-and-gold once again were stymied by the top-seeded Kenora Broncos, falling for the fourth-straight time by a 2-0 score.
Fort High has yet to score on the Broncos in their four meetings so far this season.
Bujold and Cain each lead the Muskies with two goals apiece in NorWOSSA play.
