Oxford’s varsity boys got back to their winning ways this week following victories over Oakland Activities Association Blue Division leader Birmingham Seaholm and Lapeer West.
The Wildcats climbed back in the OAA Blue division race following a hard fought 2-1 victory over the Birmingham Seaholm Maples on Tuesday, Sept. 27.
Playing in the rain, the Maples came out and used their speed to create multiple scoring chances in the opening half. However, senior goalie Ben Magdaleno was up to the challenge, saving every single shot he faced and keeping the Wildcats in the game.
Tied at zero starting the second half, the Maples scored within the first 10 minutes to take a 1-0 lead. Their lead wouldn’t last long as senior captain Doug Klimbal would score on a header following a corner kick.
The Wildcats would take the lead when senior Marshall Versteeg broke in on the Maples goalie and blasted a pass from fellow senior Marco Bonfiglio into the back of the net.
Following a lengthy injury timeout with less than five minutes left in the game, Magdaleno would come up huge again as he stopped three point blank shots to preserve a 2-1 Wildcat victory.
With the victory, Oxford improved to 5-2-2 in the OAA blue and moved to within two games of Birmingham Seaholm, who fell to 7-2.
Oxford then ventured up to Lapeer on Thursday, Sept. 29 for a nonleague match-up against former rival Lapeer West. The Wildcats would blank the Panthers 4-0.
Junior Paul Tomaka scored the game’s only goal of the first half, and added the game’s second goal when he took a feed from Sean Hazen and slotted it in the back of the net. Sophomore Rolland Giberson scored to make it 3-0 Oxford before Bonfiglio tallied Oxford’s fourth and final goal.
Bonfiglio also had two assists for Oxford.
With the victory, Oxford moved to 8-3-2 on the season. They travel to Pontiac High School on Tuesday, Oct. 4 before reuniting another Flint Metro League rivalry on Thursday, Oct. 6 when they battle Fenton at Oxford High School.