WCI Red Devils’ girls soccer team finishes OFSAA on a high note

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

The Woodstock CI (WCI) Red Devils finished their Ontario Federation of Secondary School Athletics (OFSAA) A tournament on a high note.

“They played wonderfully, had a great second day,” said co-coach Crystal Eberhardt-Gwynne of back-to-back provincial championship victories on June 6 in Welland.

WCI had also played well on its opening day but struggled to put the ball in the back of opponents’ nets.

“We definitely had more shots on net,” said Eberhardt-Gwynne of a 1-0 tournament-opening loss to Port Colborne. “Their goalie was on fire. Lots of good strikes from Robyn Wilson, they just didn’t make it into the back of the net.”

A similar result played out in the Red Devils’ second opening-day outing, a 1-0 setback to Kenora St. Thomas Aquinas.

“A good team,” assessed Eberhardt-Gwynne. “But we definitely could have beaten them.”

OFSAA A games were contested in two 30-minute halves, a compressed timeframe emphasizing the value of scoring first. St. Thomas Aquinas managed to do so, putting the pressure on WCI.

“There is no leniency in the short games,” said Eberhardt-Gwynne.

Because of the tournament’s tie-breaking format, the two opening-day losses were an effective roadblock to the Red Devils advancing to the quarterfinals, a fact the coaching staff did not share with the players before their 8 a.m. kickoff the next day against Trenton St. Paul.

“The girls were hungry for a win,” said Eberhardt-Gwynne, citing a quality scoring chance in the game’s first 30 seconds.

The Red Devils kept their momentum going and playing on turf as they had much of the regular Thames Valley Regional Athletics season, fell into a comfort zone after recording their first OFSAA goal. Alex McDonald had two goals and Grade 9 Georgia Zehr a single in a 3-0 victory.

Heading into what would be their final OFSAA game early that afternoon at 12:30, the coaching staff focused on the team’s Grade 12 veterans, playing in their last high school game.

Wilson, McDonald, Zehr and Claire Harmer scored for WCI in a 4-0 win, with keeper Kate Hooker recording her second consecutive shutout.

“She only gave up two goals the whole tournament,” credited Eberhardt-Gwynne.

The game was very emotional, particularly for the Grade 12 graduates.

“They’re all leaving with smiles on their faces,” said Eberhardt-Gwynne. “We wish them the best with their future soccer endeavours and hope they come and cheer us on next year.”

Overall, the coach looked back on a great year in which WCI had achieved its seasonal goal with the school’s first OFSAA qualification.

“I think the girls had fun,” she concluded. “It was an experience they’ll never forget.”