The first week of the 2011 varsity girls soccer season went much smoother than the start of last season.
‘No injuries,? joked varsity head coach Larry Ferris.
Oxford made it through the first week of the season healthy and without a loss, as they beat Ferndale 5-0 on Thursday, March 31 and tied Birmingham Groves at zero in their season opener on Tuesday, March 29.
Four players tallied goals for the Wildcats against Ferndale.
Senior Amanda Roth had two goals and two assists, senior Beth Downs added one goal and one assist, while junior Chelsea Johnson and senior Taylor Healy each had one goal.
Senior goalie Sarah Stroope made 10 saves for Oxford.
‘We played very much as a team, which I enjoyed,? Ferris said. ‘I really thought they gelled as a team in that game…it was a very good, solid performance and we are defending very well.?
Last season, Ferndale finished fifth in the Oakland Activities Association White division.
Ferris liked the way his team battled Groves to a 0-0 tie.
‘We played with them and last year they finished fourth. We walked away with a good effort…we did have some good opportunities to score, but we kept hitting the ball right at the keeper,? he said.
Stroope made 10 saves in the game.
Up next for Oxford is an away game against Farmington High School on Tuesday, April 12 before back-to-back homes games against West Bloomfield on Thursday, April 14 and Rochester High School on Friday, April 15.
Both homes game start at 7 p.m. at the soccer field behind Oxford Elementary School on Pontiac St.