May 26, 2022 – It’s a goal…and a gold! Glengarry District High School (GDHS) played host to the 2022 Eastern Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association (EOSSAA) soccer championships this week, with the girls’ team earning an EOSSAA gold and a spot in the Ontario Championships.
The two-day event, held May 24 and 25, saw 12 teams from across Eastern Ontario vie for the covenant title, trophy, and to move onto the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA). Upper Canada District School Board was represented by both GDHS senior boys and girls and Rideau District High School (RDHS) varsity girls’ teams.
Day one saw fierce competition from all the girls’ and boys’ respective squads. GDHS girls won each of their games and advanced to day two of the semi-finals. RDHS left it all on the field in both of their games, but could not pull off a win and their season came to a close. GDHS boys tied both of their games, but had enough points to advance to day two.
GDHS girls swept the competition with a win in the semi-finals, advancing to the finals for an impressive victory over MacKenzie Community School 5-0.
Coach, Kathleen Tonkin, says the girls gave it their all from the beginning of the season through to the finals.
“It was a very successful season, from the start, the girls only gave up two goals, and my pep talk to them before we started playing in the finals was that they’re all good individually, but together, we’re great.”
A proud Tonkin says that the two-day event was intense as they were faced with injuries, leaving the team with no substitutes on top of the heat of the days. “They’re a very self-motivated team of girls,” she explains. “They really wanted this and came together as a team. They all support each other and now we’re bringing it to OFSAA!”
GDHS senior boys met fierce competition in the semi-finals against École secondaire publique L’Héritage, ending the game with a 3-0 loss. Coach and convener, Glen Campbell, says it was a hard-fought season for the boys who found their way to the championships by way of a wildcard and had to play eight games in four school days. “I am incredibly happy with their performance. They worked hard, they played good defence. We just met a very talented team in the semi-finals, L’Héritage, and they are very strong. They were the top team in our league during the season as well.”
GDHS senior girls will compete in OFSAA taking place June 2-4 in Windsor.
