Now eying WOSSAA
soccer gold
Both Dorchester teams and Parkside's ladies advance to WOSSAA
after winning their respective TVRA South-East soccer finals
Wednesday May 30, 2018
By Rob J. Ross
ST. THOMAS - The Parkside Stampeders return to WOSSAA (Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association) with eyes on a fourth consecutive appearance at OFSAA.
The Dorchester Beavers girls' team return to WOSSAA facing the same challenge as a year ago. Meanwhile, Dorchester's boys head to WOSSAA for the first time in many years.
All three of these teams won their respective Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TRVA) South-East soccer finals, Tuesday, at Athletic Park.
Parkside took care of the East Elgin Eagles, 3-1, in the AA final. Zoe Gubinczki struck once in each half, sandwiching a goal by captain Kaitlin Ellery. The Stampeders led 1-0 at half.
"It was hot today, but we always show up to play no matter what," said Ellery. "Everyone picked up the pace (second half), realizing we had to get a few more to make sure we got the spot (at WOSSAA). Everybody worked hard even though it's hot and we finished the chances we had."
The Stampeders are the reigning WOSSAA champions and won the consolation title last June at OFSAA. In 2016, Parkside won the OFSAA AA gold medal.
Parkside faces Stratford St. Mike's in the semifinals, with the winner playing the winner of London Bessette or London South, in the final.
"There's good competition so everyone needs to be on their game and play the ball to feet and don't miss any opportunities," Ellery said.
Lord Dorchester's boys have been to the WOSSAA but it has been many years.
The Beavers dumped the West Elgin Wildcats, 4-1, in the South-East boys' A final.
Jacob Finch scored twice, including the goal that had the Beavers up, 1-0, at half.
"We had a bunch of shots but we just couldn't finish in the first half. It was clean game up and down the field. Both goalies stood on their heads. It was hot," said Finch. "We weren't talking that much in the first half. Then once we started talking everything started to click.
"We pushed it up the side and crossed it in and pressured. That's how we got to the goalie. Then we shot hard and low. Shoot and got to the rebounds."
Mirsad Novak and Kayden Synders also scored in the second half.
"We hope to stay undefeated at WOSSAA," Finch said. "Communication (is key) and when we take more shots they have to be on target, because a lot of our shots in the first half and some in the second half were not on target at all."
Jakob Anderson scored for West Elgin.
Dorchester held off the Woodstock CI Red Devils, 3-2, in the South-East girls' A final.
Captain Lauren Gellner, Hannah Vickers and Katie McDonald, with the winner, scored for Dorchester.
"We played well as a team and won the battles. In this heat, it was a really tough game for both teams," said Gellner. "Being up 2-0 (at half) was a bit of a comfort. When they scored we knew we had to push even harder."
For the Dorchester ladies, they face the same dilemma as last year, playing at WOSSAA the same day as the school's prom.
"It will be really hard because half of our team will be at prom. The girls who will be there will have to step up and work really, really hard. We won't have many subs," Dorchester captain Lauren Gellner said. "Many of us moved our appointments for prom back so we can go to the morning game, but if we win we'll have a game at one."
Twelve months ago, Dorchester lost in the WOSSAA A gold medal game to Goderich, with just nine players on the field.
In the boys' AA final, the Tillsonburg Glendale Gemini edged the East Elgin Eagles, 2-1.
Griffin Simon and Ryan Moore scored for Glendale, while Mac Van Os replied for the Eagles.
The WOSSAA semifinals, bronze and gold medals games, for both A and AA, are at the Windermere and Stoneybrook fields in London, on Thursday, May 31.
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rob@hometownplay.ca