Mustangs net first win in provincial tournament

Princess Margaret ends opening day of 2A senior girls provincial soccer championship play with win

PRINCESS MARGARET Mustangs forward Nicole Mann (left) and Smithers Gryphons Ann Marie Bradford battle for ball control during action in the opening game of the B.C. high school girls provincial championships Thursday at King’s Park. Smithers handed the host team a 1-0 loss. The tournament continues through Saturday with the championship game at 11:30 a.m. at King’s Park. Check the Western News website for updates and final coverage in Wednesday’s issue.

PRINCESS MARGARET Mustangs forward Nicole Mann (left) and Smithers Gryphons Ann Marie Bradford battle for ball control during action in the opening game of the B.C. high school girls provincial championships Thursday at King’s Park. Smithers handed the host team a 1-0 loss. The tournament continues through Saturday with the championship game at 11:30 a.m. at King’s Park. Check the Western News website for updates and final coverage in Wednesday’s issue.

UPDATE — The Princess Margaret Mustangs are 1-1 in the 2A senior girls provincial championship after defeating Nelson’s L.V. Rogers Bombers 3-1 Thursday afternoon.

Nicole Mann netted a pair of goals for the Mustangs, while Danielle Ruocco scored the other goal.

The Mustangs next play Friday against the Mark Isfeld Ice at 9 a.m. at King’s Park. In the Ice’s first game, they settled for a 3-3 draw against the Bombers. The Ice then defeated the Smithers Gryphons 1-0. The Mustangs lost their first game to the Gryphons.

Mann is fourth among the top scorers with two goals. Emma Entzminger of Lambrick Park leads with six.

To stay up to date on the provincials, check http://aabcseniorgirlssoccerprovincials.weebly.com.

Also check www.pentictonwesternnews.com for more coverage.

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The Princess Margaret Mustangs senior girls soccer team got bit early by the Smithers Secondary Gryphons in the 2A senior girls provincial championship.

The Mustangs, who hadn’t conceded a goal in nine games, allowed one early in a 1-0 loss to the Gryphons at King’s Park Thursday morning.

Mustangs coach John Buckley said his team had a strong start, but a penalty resulting in the lone goal put his team on their heels.

“We tried to regroup and came back with a good effort in the second half,” said Buckley. “We didn’t play our best soccer that we’re capable of playing.”

The Mustangs coach and his players said they had chances, especially in the final five to 10 minutes, but couldn’t finish. Mustangs co-captain McKenzie Ricard said the group felt stress after the early goal.

“We just needed to step up to it,” she said.

“We had a good warm up. We were feeling good,” said Jesse Olfert, the Mustangs other co-captain. “Just that last five to 10 minutes of desperation knowing that we needed to get a goal. The chances were all there.”

The Mustangs face Nelson’s L.V. Rogers Bombers at 3 p.m. today.

In other action, the Vancouver Island champs, Lambrick Park Lions rolled over the No.3 Okanagan George Elliot Coyotes 5-0, Vancouver/Richmond No.1 Little Flower Academy Angels and Fraser Valley No. 3 Surrey Christian Falcons battled to a scoreless draw, North Shore No.1 St.Thomas More Knights defeated North Central’s Duchess Park Condors 2-1 and Okanagan No.2 Valleyview Vikes edged Fraser Valley No.2 Sands Scorpions 2-1.

 

Penticton Western News