The Wildcat hockey team has fallen on hard times recently, as the team lost their third consecutive game on Jan. 17 to Rochester United Stoney Creek by a score of 11-5. The loss drops the Cats’ record to 3-7-2 for the season.
On Saturday, Oxford only managed two shots on goal for the entire first period, while the visiting team fired 21 shots at sophomore goaltender Kyle Geiger, who stopped 17, but allowed four goals. Of Oxford’s two shots on goal, one found its way into the Rochester net off the stick of JT Anderson, which tied the game momentarily before Rochester United scored thrice more before the end of the period.
In the second period, Junior Brian Beaupied replaced Kyle Geiger in net. Beaupied, however, did not fare much better, stopping 12 of 17 shots, but giving up 5 goals. The Wildcats were again badly outshot, this time by 17-6. Oxford Senior Rob Szczepankowski scored twice in the period less than two minutes apart.
In the third, Oxford’s coaching staff decided to put Geiger back in goal for the remainder of the game. The sophomore faced 16 shots in the final period, allowing only two goals.
Szczepankowski scored his third goal of the game at 13:04 for the hat trick, and defenseman Kyle Ignagni scored on the powerplay with 53 seconds remaining. In the end, the Wildcats were outshot by a dismal 54-14, and lost the game 11-5. The loss extended the team’s winless streak to five games, the longest in Oxford’s four-year history.
The Cats were scheduled to play at home against the Lapeer West Panthers on Jan. 14, but the game was cancelled due to weather conditions. Oxford’s next match-up will be on Jan. 23 when they host the Linden Eagles. Puck drop will be at 8 p.m. at the Polar Palace. Oxford plays again the next day at 7:30 p.m. against the Goodrich Martians.
Mike Stechschulte is a junior at Oxford High School who plans to major in the field of journalism.