By Krisit McDevitt
Sports Correspondent
Oxford hosted the Fenton Tigers in league action last Monday.
The game got off to a slow start for Oxford’s offense as Fenton got on the boards early with a long range shot that senior goalkeeper Shane Rondy couldn’t handle, and then again ten minutes later to put them up 2-0.
With less than ten minutes left in the first half, Josh Reaume was taken down inside the box and Oxford was awarded a penalty kick.
Senior captain Josh DuVal converted on the penalty kick and put the Wildcats within one.
Oxford came out from the halftime break a totally different team, and as they started competing at their level of play, the Tigers couldn’t hang with our Wildcats.
Junior midfielder Francesco Paese caught the Fenton goalkeeper off-line and chipped a nice shot over the keeper’s head to tie the game at two goals apiece.
Less than ten minutes later, it was Paese who scored again on a solo shot that rocketed past the Fenton defense and keeper to put the Wildcats up a goal.
Within five minutes of Paese’s second goal, it was junior Bryan Ward who stepped up and placed a great shot past the keeper on a corner kick from junior Zac Wasylyna.
With Oxford up 4-2, the Tigers offense didn’t give up and scored off a steal from Oxford’s keeper to stay within a goal.
Finally, with about a minute left in the game, Wasylyna took a nice pass from Paese to score the final goal of the night and defeat Fenton 5-3.
Oxford traveled to Lapeer East last Thursday, and struggled with the Eagle’s game plan.
The Wildcats, used to playing competitive and exciting soccer, were caught off guard by East’s game plan. East, completely aware of Oxford’s offensive firepower packed their defense and waited the game out.
Oxford did control the entire game and out-shot East 16-1, but in the end, Oxford couldn’t score a goal, and with the superstar defense consisting of Wildcats Mark Jones, captain Alex Austin, captain Josh DuVal, Bryan Ward, and Erik Anderson not allowing a goal to the Eagles, the game ended in a 0-0 tie.
Head coach John Thaler credited his defense’s effort noting that they completely shut down East’s offense. Mark Jones was injured in the game, but should be healthy to start play again this week.
Oxford is now 7-1-1 overall, and 2-1-1 in the league.