The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Hapnot Kweens continue preparations this week for their upcoming journey to Stonewall to play in the Manitoba high school provincial soccer finals on October 18th and 19th. The Kweens' play so far this season has been very excellent, and they are presently unbeaten. But to meet our own high standards, the play still needs improvement in some areas. The basics are there for a good weekend, but to win provincials you need to bring something special to the table. The Kweens are hoping that the last two weeks of preparation will do just that. Work on set plays, attacking and defensive formations, and fitness are paramount, but so is being in the right frame of mind. Games are won not only on the field, but in the mind, physical strength has to be balanced with mental strength. Concentration by the players on the games, and not being easily distracted by outside influences are vital to success. This is where the experience of the coach comes into play, having "been there before" is important in keeping the mindset of the players in perspective. To lose a game because the minds of the team are not focused on the task at hand has meant that many a coach has ended the season looking for another job. As in most team sports, defences win championships, and the Kweens are lucky to have goalkeeper Jaqui Spence on their team. Jaqui is in her final year of high school eligibility, and stands tall both in stature and quality of play. Fearless when challenging for the ball, organized in Spence and vocal to her defenders, she leads from the back to provide stability up front. When asked about the upcoming championships and the Kweens goalkeeper fullback Kyrra Kosar described Jaqui as "simply awesome, when she gets focused she is the best goalkeeper anywhere." The four girl Spence is led in the middle of the field by fullbacks Zoe Pittet and Kyrra Kosar, these two players anchor a Spence that is rock solid, with first year wingbacks Morgen Bryson and Amy Bradt providing speed, strength and skill that match any wingers that the opposition may have. Defensive sub Michelle Tremblay, though relatively new to soccer, is more than capable of starting in this line up, and provides the coverage that most coaches can only dream of. Kyrra Kosar when asked about the Kweens chances at provincials said that "as long as we keep our heads into it, we have the potential of winning." This is her second consecutive year at provincials, and says that the first year nerves the team felt last year will not affect them this year, "knowing what to expect is important, last year was the first time in a championship for many of us, we did not know what to do or expect. We allowed our emotions to get the better of us, if we can control them and play the way we are capable of we have a good chance of winning." At last year's provincials many of the opposition coaches were surprised by our standard or play, most notable amongst them was Jody Williams of the Swan valley tigers, who stated that the Kweens not only gave his team the game of the weekend, but could, and should have won the championship. With the benefit of last years experience behind them, and one more year of game experience and training, this could be the year when once again Flin Flon becomes the city of champions.
