First year Varsity Girls Soccer head Coach Larry Ferris knows a good soccer team when he sees one.
And he sees this year’s team as complete without any weaknesses.
After previously coaching under a state championship team and a state runner-up team at Rochester High School, he brings his coaching knowledge to Oxford, hoping to turn around a program that has seen four coaches in four years.
‘They had four coaches in four years, and I’m hoping I can break that chain and be here and let them get some stability and let them get used to my style,? said Ferris.
Ferris brings a defensive minded approach to the game. ‘You can put all the balls you want in the net, but if you can’t stop them from putting it in, it’s no good.?
He expects his defense to be the strongest part of the team.
The 16 member team, composed of three seniors, seven juniors and six sophomores, according to Ferris, are very dedicated to the game.
Ferris admitted that the number of girls is light for a soccer team, but he did it that way to ensure everyone is playing.
‘As a varsity coach, you have to get a rhythm out there and you don’t want to be pulling people out every so often. You want them to be able to play,? he said.
He noticed the girls attitude about the program from day one.
‘I like their attitude. They want to win,? he said. ‘They are tired of four coaches and hopefully I can show them the same commitment they have shown me. I am committed to this team and I want them to do well and succeed,? he said.
The team is led by their two senior captains Sarah Ricketts and Kelsey Littmann and fellow senior Joy Grabenstein.
Ricketts was hoping that this was a year they could make an impact.
‘We’ve got a great group of girls…I’m hoping as a senior and as a captain I can be a leader and build our team from the defense up and keep us strong both defensively and offensively,? she said.
Ferris said that the girls have been very committed and were very strong in organizing and taking charge of the girls
He said Ricketts and Littmann showed they were captains from day one because of their level of commitment and attitude to the program.
Ferris indicated that the girls size, speed and skill level are going to give them an advantage over their opponents.
However, he noted that they needed to work on things due to transitioning from indoor to outdoor soccer.
‘They have very strong skills but we are still working on some of the rusty things. They are coming from indoors, where they go from turf to grass to turf and we are hoping to get the kinks out.?
One way Ferris hopes to overcome those kinks is with the addition of Junior Varsity Coach Bernard Kanjoma, who will work on the technical side of the game.
‘Bringing Bernard in, he is very technically sound,? said Ferris. ‘We’ve been working together in Rochester for the last couple of years and he played freshman soccer for me (at Rochester),? said Ferris.
Kanjoma currently plays soccer at Rochester College on a soccer scholarship and plays for a club in Sal Paulo, Brazil and on a under 20 team in Malawi, Africa.
Ferris wants to see the girls go out and win the league championship in their final season in the Flint Metro League. ‘I would love for them to bring some hardware home to their school…they (the players) would love it.?
‘That is my goal, for them to walk out and say, man we had a great season,? he said.
They started their season on Friday, March 26 against Andover High School, where they lost a close 3-2 decision.
The Wildcats built a two-goal lead into halftime, but Andover responded with three straight goals in the second half to hand the Wildcats a loss in their opening game.
Oxford’s goals were scored by Rickett and Littmann.