It looked like Oxford would advance to the second round of districts for much of the opening-round district game against Clarkston on Tuesday, May 31.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half, but couldn’t hold on as Clarkston scored three goals to beat Oxford 3-2.
Junior Paige Brinker scored the first goal off of a corner kick in the first 10 minutes of the game, and senior Taylor Healy put the Wildcats up 2-0 when she headed in a volley from senior Beth Downs.
However, Clarkston scored with less than ten minutes left in the first half and scored twice in the second half to defeat Oxford.
‘They played well against a team that just beat them 6-1 about two week’s before,? varsity soccer head coach Larry Ferris said.
‘We got some respect back from them,? he added. ‘We had them on their heels for the first 30 minutes of the game. They were very disorganized in the back, but we couldn’t capitalize.?
Freshman goalie Darien Bandel made nine saves in the game.
Overall, the Wildcats finished with a record of 8-6-3 and 7-1-3 in the Oakland Activities Association white division.
Ferris said he was pleased with the season and was especially pleased with the third place finish in the OAA white division when they were not expected to compete for a league title in their first season.
‘The program is growing and it’s getting better,? Ferris said. ‘It is not going to happen overnight, but I think every step we have taken has been forward…it’s a building process and as long as every step we take is forward, I am okay with that.?