Senior goalkeeper Sarah Stroope is keeping the varsity girls soccer team in games with her strong play while the offense looks to get on track.
In three games last week against Farmington, West Bloomfield and Rochester, Stroope allowed a total of three goals, all of which came in a 3-0 loss to Rochester on Friday, April 15.
‘It was good for us to play a Red division team to see how we would match up against them, and we didn’t do bad at all,? varsity head coach Larry Ferris said. Stroope made 20 saves against Rochester.
Oxford battled to a 0-0 tie against Farmington on Tuesday, April 12. Stroope made 11 saves, including a penalty kick save, during the game.
‘It was a pretty well played game…we lasted longer in the game,? Ferris said. ‘Our strength is stronger and the conditioning we did in the offseason is really paying off.?
The Wildcats again played to a 0-0 tie against West Bloomfield on Thursday, April 14.
Ferris said the girls created a lot of scoring chances, but they were just not able to find the back of the net. ‘We just couldn’t get the ball where we wanted to,? he said.
Stroope made 15 saves on the evening.
‘Right now we are a second half team and we are having a hard time getting our rhythm in the first half,? Ferris said. ‘We are defending and it’s keeping us in the game, but we need to take more chances to make more of those opportunities we are getting.?
Ferris is hoping a system change in the first half can help get their offense going earlier in games.
Currently the Wildcats sit at 1-1-3 overall, and 1-0-3 in the Oakland Activities Association white division. This week they play at Royal Oak High School on Thursday, April 21 before taking on Flint Metro League rival Brandon at home on Monday, April 25 at 7 p.m.