After a week of dominating league competition, the Oxford varsity kickers split on the field with a decisive win against Lapeer West and a close defeat to Royal Oak Kimball.
The Wildcat soccer team claimed a 4-1 win against the Panthers on Sept. 15. Coach John Thaler stated that Oxford controlled the ball for 90 percent of the game.
The match started off with a great one-time effort shot from Team Captain Paul Ebenhoeh on a pass from Bryan Ward. Top player Zac Wasylyna continued the pace later on and scored his first goal of the night on a beautiful set piece from Captain Joe DuVal. Just minutes before the half, West earned a penalty kick, which they converted into a goal.
The Cats returned to the second half with a vengeance. Wasylyna took off early for a second goal with an assist from Josh DuVal. He netted his third and final goal for the night, and for the Cats, on an assist from Ward. Oxford closed out their first round of Flint Metro League competition 5-1.
‘Oxford’s defense rarely let West get a shot on goal and when they did, they were easily handled by keeper Shane Rondy,? said Thaler. ‘Much credit goes to the defense for doing a superb job. Josh DuVal, Alex Austin, Mark Jones and Erik Anderson have played outstanding in the back.?
On Sept. 20, the Wildcats accepted a difficult 1-2 loss to powerhouse Royal Oak Kimball, recently ranked one of the top 10 teams in Division II competition.
Oxford got off to a slow start, but the Wildcat kickers made Kimball work for the two goals they earned in the first half. In the second half, the Cats came back to play hard and were rewarded when substitute first-year-varsity player and senior Andrew Scott placed a chip over the keeper’s head, who was off his line, for the team’s only goal.
With the momentum of the goal, Oxford came roaring into Kimball’s territory and pressured their defense until the clock ran out. The team’s overall standing is now 7-3.
Oxford played their first game at home in the Pontiac St. stadium on Sept. 22 against Linden, the only school to defeat the Wildcats in league competition. On Sept. 25, the team hits the road again to face off against Goodrich, and then return home on Sept. 27 for a league matchup with Holly.