MSS Mustangs remain confident despite losing opening game of finals
M’CHIGEENG—The Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) Mustangs girls’ hockey team is not discouraged at all, despite losing the first game in their best of three final series against Bishop Carter.
“I believe in this team, they won’t quit; we will come back,” stated Mustangs coach Mike Meeker after his team lost 8-6 to Bishop Carter on Tuesday.
He pointed out the Mustangs started off slowly and nervously, giving up two goals in the first two minutes of the game. However, “these girls never quit. We called a time out to get everyone settled and from there on they played amazing. We were all over them (Bishop Carter) and scored the next four goals.”
“But it didn’t have a happy ending, it was just one of those games,” said Mr. Meeker. “One of their players scored six of their goals and assisted on the other two.”
After the teams were tied 4-4 they traded goals back and forth until the end. “We played a really good game. We outshot them almost double, but missed a lot of good scoring chances and their goalie is really good,” continued Mr. Meeker.
“The girls were disappointed but aren’t discouraged because they played a very good game,” said Mr. Meeker.
The Mustangs finished last in league standings in 2015, and this year they’ve made it to the championship finals. “I’d like to see them win for themselves,” said Mr. Meeker. “And they’re so close to winning the whole thing. If things go our way a little in the next game we could be going back over there (Sudbury) for game three.”
Game two of the series was set for M’Chigeeng at 5 pm on Thursday.
The Mustangs qualified for the finals by winning their best two-out-of-three semi-final series against Espanola in two straight games.
