Myer girls off to OFSAA for first time since 2005
The A.N. Myer girls soccer team’s 5-2 victory over the Blessed Trinity Thunder in the Southern Ontario Secondary’s School Association AAA championship game Thursday was a long time coming.
“Our Grade 12s now were very strong in Grade 9 and I knew that when we got to this point with them in Grade 12, that it was going to be one of the strongest teams that I had since the 2005 team,” Myer head coach Joanne Thomson said. “I have been looking forward to this year.”
That 2005 girls soccer squad, which included Myer assistant coach Syreeta Rhoden, was the last Marauder team to qualify for the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations AAA championships.
Thomson feels her team can be more than just a participant at OFSAA.
“I think we have a shot because we are strong everywhere on the field and there’s no real gaps to worry about on the field,” she said. “And we play like a team all the time.”
Grade 12 centre midfielder Brianna Bishop is a big part of the Myer squad.
“She controls everything — midfield, up front and back — and as soon as we got a lead we put her back so that she could be a defensive player,” Thomson said. “She passes the ball though, she’s a playmaker and she’s tough.”
The 18-year-old Bishop, who plays travel soccer for Club Roma, has seen her team get better every years she has been at Myer.
“We have been building the whole four years and we knew it was going to happen one day,” she said. “We thought we had a really good chance last year, but unfortunately we didn’t make it through.”
Last year’s Myer squad lost 1-0 to Blessed Trinity in the SOSSA semifinals.
“We are super pumped to be in this position today and we have been working hard the whole season,” Bishop said. “Everyone has been improving so much and we are really gelling as a team.”
She feels the difference between last year’s Myer squad and this year’s version was the heart and drive to go forward.
“Being the last year, I think it pushed us a lot more because it is our last shot at the title and we really turned it up.”
Bishop hopes her team can continue to keep it rolling at OFSAA.
“If we play like we did today, I think we have a great shot at winning.”
Once this season is over, Bishop will be heading to Laurier after signing a letter of intent to play scholarship soccer at the university.
“It was the sense of community that I felt there and it felt like I belonged as soon as I stepped on the field there,” she said. “I’ve been on a couple of campus tours and it has clicked every since. It’s where I am supposed to be.”
Centre midfield is also where she is meant to be.
“I like being the playmaker and making things happen,” she said. “I think I actually enjoy assisting more than I do scoring. There is just something about it.”
Myer advanced to the SOSSA final with a 6-1 victory over Westdale in the semifinals. Scoring for the Marauders were Sofia Allen (2), Arianna Zumpano, Bishop, Madison Smith and Iudiciani.
The Thunder, who went 3-4 in Niagara Catholic Athletic Association league play, thought they were looking good heading into the second half tied 2-2.
“Momentum was in our favour because we came back from being down 2-0,” Thunder head coach Joe Pagnotta said. “We were rolling, but they buried one and it deflated that momentum.”
Pagnotta gave credit to Myer for its performance.
“We were up against a good team and I think today it could have gone either way,” he said. “We have a good side and they have a good side, but at the end of the day someone has to win.”
Pagnotta was happy with his squad’s performance this season.
“It has been a roller coaster ride all year, but the way we played this morning I thought we had a pretty good shot, but hats off to them.”
Blessed Trinity advanced to the SOSSA final with a 3-0 shutout against Denis Morris. Ella Krushelnicki scored twice for the Thunder, Ava Ricker-Singh added a single goal and Colby Peterson recorded the shutout.
STATS PACK
Marauders 5 Thunder
Johnny Rocco’s/Mick and Angelo’s Player of the Game: Myer’s Brianna Bishop with a goal and a strong game at centre midfield.
For the A.N.Myer Marauders: Goals by Arianna Zumpano (3), Bishop and Emily Iudiciani.
For the Blessed Trinity Thunder: Goals by Lauren Ciccone and Mia DiPasquale.
Up next: A.N. Myer advances to the OFSAA championships June 6 to 8 in Alliston.
