Mitch Calvert
The Muskie girls’ soccer team knows what it takes—and has a maximum of four games standing in their way of a second-straight appearance at the all-Ontarios.
Two of those games go today in Kenora (at 11:30 a.m. versus the Dryden Eagles and then 2 p.m. against the host Broncos), but the most important ones come next Wednesday (May 27) when Fort High hosts the NorWOSSA playoffs.
The squad suffered their first hiccup of the NorWOSSA season with a 2-0 shutout to the host Eagles last Wednesday, but they rebounded with a 3-0 blanking of the Broncos in their second game of the day to sit comfortably in first place at 3-1.
Courtney Roach, Jolene Stahn, and Paula Vangel were the goal scorers against Kenora.
The Muskies hold their fate in their own hands—needing at least one win today to secure the top seed and a bye to next week’s final.
The Broncos and Eagles (both 1-2-1) will look to sneak into that spot.
The black-and-gold went to last year’s OFSAA tournament in Collingwood which much the same nucleus in place, led by Nicole Mueller on the front end and keeper Taylor Meyers in back.
The Muskies battled host Jean Vanier to a 1-1 tie last year, and nearly stole one from St. Jean de Brebeuf before falling 2-1.
Fort High has compiled a 5-6 record so far this season, including tournament and exhibition play, but has learned valuable lessons against elite teams in Winnipeg and Thunder Bay.
“NorWOSSA games are what really count [while] weekend
tournaments are bonus game experience for our team,” Muskie coach Sarah Noonan reasoned.
“Although we are on track right now, there are still some things we need to work and improve on, but each game teaches us a new lesson,” she added.
Mueller and Kelsey Quibell lead the Muskies with two goals apiece in NorWOSSA action going into today’s games in Kenora.
If the black-and-gold do advance, they won’t have to travel far to this year’s OFSAA tournament, which is set for June 4-6 in Kenora.
And since the Broncos do get an automatic bye as tournament host, the Muskies potentially could finish second in NorWOSSA and still earn a berth in the provincial showdown.
