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The Pain Court Patriotes are happy just to be going to the OFSAA girls’ soccer A championship.
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Winning a few games would make them even happier.
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The Patriotes have the second SWOSSAA berth for the tournament starting Thursday in Norwood near Peterborough.
This is their first OFSAA appearance since they hosted in 2018.
“Just play and be happy to be there, to have gotten that opportunity, is our primary goal right now,” said coach Alexa Arbour, who played at the 2018 tournament.
“Yes, we would like to make it to finals, but I think, with how we’re getting to OFSAA, (the goal) is just to enjoy the time right now still while taking it seriously.”
The Patriotes lost to the Windsor Lajeunesse Royal 3-0 in the SWOSSAA final May 28 in Pain Court. WECSSAA runner-up Ste. Cecile chose to not challenge Pain Court for the second berth at OFSAA.
The Patriotes have only three graduating players, including captain Keira Rivard, so they hope this OFSAA experience paves the way for a return trip next season.
“We’re a senior team, but we’ve got a lot of young girls,” coach Lauren Roels said. “We’re excited to get them out and playing at a high level and get them ready for next year and we’ll try again.”
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The Patriotes were seeking their first SWOSSAA championship since 2011. They didn’t play against Lajeunesse like their OFSAA spot was already secure, Arbour said.
“They played a very solid game, a very strong game,” she said. “It was exactly what we saw at the LKSSAA (championship) game. They tried their hardest and they did very good.”
Lajeunesse broke a scoreless tie late in the first half on a penalty kick, then added two goals late in the second half. Lauren Livingston, Scotlyn Durham and Avalina Pellarin scored.
The Patriotes allowed only one goal en route to winning the LKSSAA championship. They went 7-0-1 while outscoring teams 32-1 in the regular season and playoffs.
They’re a close-knit team, Arbour said. The bus ride and weekend together at OFSAA is a chance for them to grow even tighter.
“We have a great team dynamic already,” she said. “The girls all respect each other. … They all want to protect each other. They all want to work together.”
Two LKSSAA soccer teams are going to OFSAA. The Lambton-Kent Cardinals qualified for the boys’ A championship in Oakville.
Pain Court’s Jaedyn Payne, left, kicks the ball away from Lajeunesse’s Jennifer Hawkins. (Mark Malone/Chatham Daily News)
Lajeunesse’s Julia Farhat, right, and Pain Court’s Keira Rivard vie for the ball. (Mark Malone/Chatham Daily News)
Pain Court’s Amelia Kearney, right, battles Lajeunesse’s Liliana D’Agostini. (Mark Malone/Chatham Daily News)
Pain Court’s Bailey Williams (4) battles Lajeunesse’s Mila Dacruz. (Mark Malone/Chatham Daily News)
Lajeunesse’s Avalina Pellarin (7) and Jennifer Hawkins (22) celebrate a goal against Pain Court in the second half. (Mark Malone/Chatham Daily News)
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