Home is where the heart is, and for Oxford soccer, playing at home resulted in a loss and then a win.
In their most recent game on Sept. 16, the Wildcats continued their six-year domination of the Lapeer West Panthers as they shut them out 2-0. Goalkeeper Tim Bachner earned his second shutout of the season.
Head soccer coach John Thaler described the play as being mainly dominated in the midfield by both teams and that opening up the field meant trying to get the ball outside. Both teams had shots on goal early on, but at halftime there was still no score. Senior Doug Kiracofe was given on a penalty kick but wasn’t able to convert.
Finally, after getting more outside activity to open up space at midfield Kiracofe kicked a shot near the goal that Steven Ferguson was able to send rocketing in for a 1-0 Wildcat lead. Later in the game, the ball was fed into the Panther box and a scramble ensued. Ferguson kicked the ball to Michael Kitchner, who scored to make it a 2-0 lead.
Oxford’s defense held from there.
The win against Lapeer West helped to level things out for Oxford as they lost their home opener Sept. 10 against Kearsley, 3-2.
Ahead 2-0 late in the first half, the Wildcats gave up a goal right before halftime with the Hornets storming back with two unanswered the goals defeat the Wildcats
The first goal came early on when Oxford senior Doug Kiracofe passed the ball to junior midfielder Steven Ferguson. The midfielder shot the ball, but a Kearsley defender tried to kick it away but instead redirected it into his own goal for a 1-0 Oxford lead. Later, just before halftime, the Wildcat defense tried to pass the ball to senior goalkeeper Tim Bachner but accidentally directed it into the goal for a score to make the score 2-1 in favor of Oxford.
The Wildcats scored their second goal earlier when junior midfielder Travis Roth was taken down inside the penalty box. Oxford was awarded a penalty kick, and senior captain Steven Walker converted the kick.
In the second half, Kearsley made another goal to tie the game at 2-2. Later, the Hornets earned a free kick and swerved a 25-yard shot past Bachner to go up 3-2.
‘We dominated the second half but couldn’t convert on numerous breakaways,? said Thaler. ‘Kearsley played well and made the most of their opportunities.?
Currently, the Wildcats are 2-6-2 overall and 2-1 in Flint Metro League action.