WCI girls make it soccer ‘OFSAA-squared’, to the ‘third power’ with 3-1 WOSSAA A victory

Red Devils’ Emma Holm (right) moves the ball toward the wing with a Holy Cross opponent in hot pursuit. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

Robyn Wilson’s room may be her safe space, where the trappings of teenage hood can be tolerated.

“Pretty busy most of the time,” the Woodstock CI Red Devils striker admitted. “My clothes kind of end up on the floor.”

On a soccer pitch, Wilson is a perfectionist who likes to clean up at both the offensive and defensive ends. So much so that after scoring two goals and arguably saving two others during her team’s 3-1 Western Ontario Secondary Schools Athletics Association A championship victory over the Strathroy Holy Cross Centurions on May 28th at Woodstock’s Cowan Park, Wilson lamented the chances she hadn’t buried.

True, she had been denied on a rush into the Centurions’ zone and also had a hard shot sail high-right over the top corner. But Wilson also, with help from her teammates, had provided the margin of victory over an aggressive and talented opponent, earning the Red Devils their first Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) A girls’ soccer berth.

The WCI girls will join their male Red Devils counterparts, also competing in their first soccer OFSAA, June 5 to 7 in Welland.

“It’s pretty exciting,” said coach and math teacher Karis Bracewell, agreeing the rare accomplishment might be termed ‘OFSAA-squared.’ “Perfect,” she smiled.

The Red Devils qualified for the WOSSAA A final with a 2-1 win over Wingham F.E. Madill, subsequently battling a talented and aggressive Centurions squad with an opening that while not negative, wasn’t ‘perfect’ either. Early Strathroy pressure was both relieved and answered as WCI crossed the ball from right to left in its defensive zone, working it forward to Morgan Smith in the middle of the field, who sent a long through ball forward.

Wilson simply outran the Centurions’ defence, forwarded the ball into the clear and deftly finished mano-a-mano against a charging Holy Cross keeper. The Centurions equalized before the half on a long shot off the right wing, potentially aided on a rainy afternoon by slippery field and ball conditions.

WCI adjusted its gameplan at halftime, looking to let the ball rather than their legs do the work, a shift which paid immediate and ongoing dividends in terms of ball control and possession time.

“We just slowed ourselves down, looked and found the open player and it worked out,” said Smith.

What would stand as the game-winner came on a deceptively calm moment, contrasting with a closely fought and at times physical battle. WCI’s Olivia Knopf took the initial shot, which blocked at the defence, rebounded to Wilson with unexpected time and space near the edge of the 18-yard box.

“I like to panic on those ones quite often,” said Wilson.

“Not this one,” countered WCI’s Claire Harmer.

“Just had to stay calm and look where I wanted to put it and finish,” Wilson responded, who turned and capitalized in the bottom, left corner of the Centurions’ goal.

Red Devils’ keeper Kate Hooker, with occasional ‘guest’ support from friends, made the one-goal lead stand up until Alex McDonald added a late insurance marker with a burst of speed down the middle of the field. Maintaining her ‘step’, McDonald perfectly timed her shot prior to an onrushing defender and the keeper’s arrival, elevating the ball over the latter, just under the crossbar.

“I saw over her head and I took it.”

“I thought we put a good effort in,” added Wilson, far more generous in assessing her teammates’ performance than her own. “Ten out of ten - we got the result.”

The first half in particular illustrated a tough game, ‘well fought,’ credited coach Bracewell, whose halftime ‘ask’ was for her team to be first to the ball.

“And I think we did that.”

For some Red Devils, including Harmer, the provincial A soccer championship represents the third OFSAA team final for 2024-25, beyond OFSAA-squared to the power of three via appearances with the basketball, volleyball and now, soccer teams.

“Three-peat baby!” smiled Harmer, who is looking for the Red Devils to continue to play ‘their game.’

“Let’s go, bring on the energy,” she concluded. “Nothing’s going to change.”