By Kristi McDevitt
Sports Correspondent
Following orders from head Coach John Thaler last week, the Ladycat kickers put the loss to Lake Orion behind them and were geared up to take on Lapeer East in league action April 18.
The Ladycats came out kicking, creating many opportunities to score in the first half. Junior Jennifer Hewett made her varsity debut on the field and came up with a big play when she made a beautiful throw-in into the six-yard box. The throw landed close enough for sophomore Sam Bono to make a pass to junior captain Gena Nelson. Nelson’s goal attempt deflected off an Eagle defender and pass East’s keeper for the score. Oxford was up 1-0 going into halftime.
Thaler’s squad came alive in the second half and began making a lot of runs, which led to many scoring opportunities. With 20 minutes left in the game, Bono passed the ball to senior captain Christine Fortier, who calmly shot the ball past East’s goalkeeper. Oxford was up 2-0.
With seven minutes remaining in the game, a desperate East team came alive and scored a goal, making the score 2-1. The pressure was on Oxford to keep their one goal lead and win the game. Keeper Kelly Henry came up big with a few saves and Oxford emerged victorious over Lapeer East. The win improved Oxford’s record to 3-2-1 overall, and 2-1-1 in the FML.
Next up was Brandon, and Oxford traveled to Ortonville to face the BlackHawks in FML action.
Facing a team they had not beaten in a very long time, and playing in 40-degree weather did not deter the Ladycats from their quest for a win. Oxford took control of the game right at kick-off. In the first five minutes of play, the Ladycats had a few opportunities to score, but could not convert.
Midway through the half, freshman Alexandra Johnson found a wide- open Christine Fortier who kicked in the goal. With ten minutes left in the half, senior Darci Kujawa slotted a great pass to Sam Bono for the score. It was Bono’s fourth goal of the season. Brandon scored a goal late in the first half making the halftime score 2-1. In the second half, Oxford’s offense didn’t waste any time putting the pressure on the Brandon defense.
The Ladycats relentless efforts in the BlackHawk’s territory were rewarded when Junior Gena Nelson fed a great pass on the left side of the field to Fortier, who curled in a great shot past Brandon’s keeper, scoring her second goal of the night and her fifth of the season. Head coach John Thaler praised the efforts of his defenders, Ashley Marshall, Chelsea McIntosh, Jolene Patterson, Jackie Patterson, and Annaliese McKeown in shutting down the BlackHawks offense in the second half. Sophomore goalkeeper Kelly Henry had nine saves on the night and disrupted many breakaways throughout the game. Oxford improves to 4-2-1 overall, and 3-1-1 in the FML.
Oxford hosted the Carmen-Ainsworth Cavalier’s last Friday for their second non-league this season. Despite the blustery weather, Oxford took control of the game from the start. The Ladycats had command over the ball in Cavalier territory for three-quarters of the first half. Their relentless pursuit of a goal was rewarded when Gena Nelson sent a cross kick on the left side of the field to sophomore Sam Bono, who volleyed in a shot for Oxford’s first goal. It was Bono’s fifth goal of the season. Less than ten minutes later, it was Bono again, this time sending a pass to Junior Lisa Reile. Reile dribbled around two Cavalier defenders and chipped the ball over the goalkeeper’s head for Oxford’s second goal. The half ended with the Ladycats up 2-0. The Cavaliers stepped up their game at the start of the second half and scored on a breakaway. Just five minutes later, they scored again on a corner kick and tied the game 2-2. Stunned by their opponent’s comeback, Oxford buckled down their defense and focused on creating opportunities to score and break the tie, but couldn’t convert. The game ended in a tie, 2-2. Oxford’s overall record is 4-2-2, 3-1-1 in the FML.