Soccer boys finish second in the region!

By Ken Johnston
Editor

The Rainy River High School Owls boys soccer team won NORWOSSA silver last Monday in Sioux Lookout.
With the league consisting of only four teams, all of them get to compete at NORWOSSAs. However, league play helps rank them for the playoffs. The boys were ranked 2nd overall after league play, having lost only two games all season.
That set them up to play the third place team, Queen Elizabeth (Sioux Lookout) in their first game of NORWOSSAs.
Coach Martin Williams said, “It was a very physical game and probably really exciting (for fans) to watch!” He said that the Owls have a really good passing game. “We also capitalized on all our opportunities. We had two penalty kicks that we scored on. They had two but only scored on one. To win you have to capitalize like we did.”
The Owls raised the bar at NORWOSSA. “The energy level is so much more intense in the playoffs and our boys were there,” said Williams.
They beat Q.E. Warriors 5-2 to advance to the gold medal game against St. Thomas Aquinas (Kenora). Against T.A. Williams said, “We played well and they played well. It was back and forth the entire game with us both having good passing games.” The Owls were down then rallied back only to have T.A. rally again. “We just ran out of time to rally back and they won 5-2.”
For their efforts they brought home NORWOSSA silver medals. “I am very proud of the boys. They played with all their hearts and should be proud of themselves,” said Williams.
While last year was a rebuilding year, he is confident that this year’s more experienced group will mostly return next year and perhaps be able to bring home gold.

RRHS Owls girls soccer team had a more difficult season. “This was our rebuilding year,” said coach Rebecca Tolen. The team had 12 rookies and only six returning players.
However, she is pleased with the season, noting that they gained valuable experience and had several close games and won one and tied one.
The were ranked fourth going into NORWOSSAs and had to play the top team right off. T.A. was tough, beating the Owls 4-0 and eventually went on to win it all.
With a young team this year, she is looking forward to this “great bunch of girls” improving.