B1

By Peter Assaff

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For the third time in the last four years, the Ecole Secondaire Népisiguit girls junior varsity soccer team has won a provincial title.

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Contributed photo

Shown in front is keeper Karine Guitard. Second row, from left, Danie Doucet, Amelie Frigault, Melika Theriault, Noemie Chiasson, Karine Roy and Janie Boudreau. Back: coach Alfred Mallet, Crystal Roy, Alexandra LeGresley, Natasha Pitre, Natacha Roy, Vickie Savoie, Kristen Bouma, Melanie Theriault, Caroline Violette, Nyenda Robichaud and assistant coach Paul Theriault.

ESN edged Fredericton High School 3-2 last Saturday in Rothesay to win the title, for players in Grades 9 and 10, under less than ideal weather conditions.

"The wind was a big factor," said ESN coach Alfred Mallet. "It was blowing hard. I told my captains that if they won the coin toss, to pick the wind at their back for the first half. We didn't, and of course their coach said the same thing, so they took the wind at their back."

Despite having to battle the wind, ESN got the games first goal but found themselves trailing 2-1 at the end of the first half.

"They dominated us completely in the first half because the wind was blowing and we had a hard time to clear the ball," said the coach. "We got a break and scored the first goal when Alexandra LeGresley came in from the wing and beat the (FHS) goaltender low on the ground in the far corner."

After tying the game at one, Mallet said FHS took a 2-1 lead on the final play of the opening half.

"We kept giving up a lot of corner kicks because the wind was blowing so hard and they got one more," he explained. "I told Paul (assistant coach Paul Theriault) that the ref was checking his watch. I said, ‘This is the last play, he is just going to let them do the corner kick'. And what did they do, they scored on their corner kick."

With the wind at their back in the second half, ESN tied things up on a goal by Natacha Roy, before LeGresley scored her second goal of the game for the win.

"Natacha took a good shot and scored from outside the 18 (metre box) and that tied the game up," said Mallet. "Then Alexandra put a nice shot in right over the keeper, who had no chance whatsoever, to make it 3-2. Then we just held on for the win."

It was a big day for Roy, who scored all four of ESN's goals in a 4-2 semifinal win over Leo Hayes High of Fredericton earlier that same day.

"All four goals were from way outside the 18 (metre box)," pointed out the coach. "Natacha can kick from way outside the 18, with either foot, and put it in."

Mallet said it was a very satisfying victory for ESN, who lost 2-1 to FHS in the provincial final last year.

"They played hard. They were determined," he concluded. "The Grade 10s, that were back from last year, wanted to beat Fredericton."