By Kristi McDevitt
Sports Writer
Oxford varsity soccer team opened their season with the 3rdAnnual Oxford Invitational on Saturday, August 27.
The Wildcats swept the competition and went 3-0 on the day to take home the championship.
In their first game of the tournament, Oxford defeated Flint Kearsley 1-0 on a goal scored by senior Josh Reaume on a throw-in from junior Bryan Ward. Oxford’s defense only allowed Kearsley one shot on goal. In the second match-up, Oxford beat Goodrich 5-0.
Junior Francesco Paese had two goals in the game while senior Dave Kourtjian, senior captain Mark Jones, and junior Zac Wasylyna rounded out the scoring for Oxford. For the championship, Oxford faced off with cross-town rival Lake Orion. In the first five minutes of the game, a collision inside Oxford’s box between senior goalkeeper Shane Rondy and two Lake Orion players took Rondy out of the game for ten minutes.
Senior Rob Stone stepped in to fill the spot and stopped numerous shots. At halftime, the score was 0-0 as the Wildcats veteran defense kept the Dragons out of contention.
With six minutes remaining in the game, junior Zac Wasylyna streaked down the right side, cut back and crossed the ball to the far post to find Kourtjian diving to head the ball in for the goal. Oxford held on to win and go undefeated without allowing a single goal in the tournament. Senior Shane Rondy earned the shutouts and Dave Kourtjian was awarded tournament MVP. The victories improve Oxford’s record to 3-0 overall.
Keeping in stride with their weekend victories, Oxford met up with Davison last Monday, and defeated them 3-0. Oxford got all their scoring out of the way in the first half of the game.
Junior Zac Wasylyna scored on a Francesco Paese assist, then it was Paese scoring on a great feed from senior Dave Kourtjian, and finally Kourtjian scored on a great set-up by Wasylyna.
Back-up senior goalkeeper Rob Stone stepped up big for the Wildcats recording 6 saves and earning his first shutout of his career in his first start in goal for Oxford.
In their first league match-up of the season, Oxford went head to head with the Linden Eagles.
Oxford out shot the Eagles 12 to 6, but couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net.
Oxford took the lead in the first half on a goal by Zac Wasylyna, but the goal was called back due to confusion between the referees.
Both teams went into the second half scoreless, until Francesco Paese scored on a Bryan Ward assist. Linded tied the game soon after off a drive from the left side.
Ten minutes later Linden scored again and would hold on to the lead for the victory over the Wildcats 2-1.
Oxford fell to 0-1 in the FML and 4-1 overall.