With only 12 players available for their Tuesday match up against Lake Orion, the Oxford varsity soccer team has had a rocky start. The Lady Cats lost 6-1 for the night.
Coach Val Cerato explained that the team was hurting for man power and even had to bring up a junior varsity player for the match, and still she only had two substitutions available. The team had one player out sick, one injured, two ineligible and one red carded from a previous game.
“We were literally exhausted by the second half,” she added.
The highlight players for the night were Jolene Patterson and Jenna Nelson.
Patterson substituted for the team’s normal goalie, and although she let six shots through, still performed well for the number of goal balls hit her way.
“I think she played very well despite the number of goals,” said Cerato. “She really put the effort into it.”
Nelson was the JV player brought up for the night. She aided the team in the outside mid-field and up top.
Other players who put in the effort with little break were Sam Marshall, Christine Fortier and Angela Hendley. Cerato said the three mid-fielders had little down time during the game.
Cerato added that Oxford’s one goal was a story all on its own – the point was actually scored by Lake Orion when the team was attempting a pass back play during the first half.
“We sat 3-1 at the end of the first half,” she said.
The team record sits 0-2 after an early season 5-1 lost to Davison on Thursday. The team played hard against a strong wind in the first half, and lost a key player in the second when the official’s gave a red card with six minutes left.
The Lady Cats compete at home this Thursday against Lapeer East.