The Oxford Wildcats are getting ready for Regionals next week, and head coach Jeff Wolanin has them playing like they want it. Well, almost.
The Wildcats still are without a win in the Flint Metro-League, but are playing better. Last week, Oxford defeated Lakeville by a score of 10-3, before dropping the next one to the Brandon Blackhawks.
On Wednesday, the Wildcats broke out of a two game slump with a decisive victory over Lakeville. Oxford won the game by a final score of 10-3, outshooting their opponents 68-20, the most shots Oxford has recorded in a game all season.
In the first period, goals came from Sean Degler (2) and JT Anderson, who have both been on fire as of late. In the second, however, is when Lakeville recorded all three of their goals, scoring off quick faceoff wins to beat Oxford netminder Brian Beaupied.
The Wildcats quickly wrapped things up in the third with four unanswered tallies. Other goal scorers included Mike Jacovetti, Johnny Thompson, Mike Lawrence, Paul Weis (2), Mike Szabo and Degler for the hat trick.
On Friday, Oxford could not manage to get their first FML win as they dropped the contest to Brandon 9-2. In the first period, Brandon came out hard, registering 22 shots and four goals on Oxford netminder Mike Stechschulte, who was pulled later in the second. Kyle Geiger, who replaced Stechschulte, stopped 23 of 26 in relief. Oxford’s only goals came off the sticks of Lawrence, scoring his second in as many games, and Degler, who also extended his goal-scoring streak to six games.
The Wildcats will conclude their season this week with two home games. The first will be Feb. 25 at 7:15 against the Lapeer East Eagles, and the second on Feb. 28 at 7:30 against Lanse Creuse. The game against Lanse Creuse will be Oxford’s Senior Night, and all seniors’ admission will be free.
Mike Stechschulte is a junior at Oxford High School who plans to major in the field of journalism.