If the first game of the Oxford boys varsity soccer season is any indication of what’s to come, their future looks bright.
The Booters kicked off their fall season with a 5-3 win last Wednesday against Waterford Kettering. Not bad for a season opener.
Returning senior Francesco Paese dominated the net with three goals and senior captain Zak Wasylyna had two.
Coach John Thaler said it was tough to get the team to flow together at first, but he knew they could pull together to get the win. This is Thaler’s fourth season as coach for the varsity team, helping them reach either third or second place in the Flint Metro League, to district finals and even regional finals.
‘I want us to win league outright this year,? he said. ‘It’s gonna be tough because the teams get better and better.?
Thaler is looking to this years returning seniors, Brian Ward, Erik Anderson, Mark Jones, David Hayward and Paese to be leaders at the net.
The Booters will be led by captains Jones, Anderson and Wasylynak. Senior Alex Mckeown is a new addition to the team this year as goal keeper, as well as Nick Henry.
Not only are the upperclassmen showing their impeccable skills, but Thaler said to look out for sophomores Doug Kiracofe and Steven Walker and their awesome potential. ‘I’m looking to these two guys to be the building blocks of the future,? Thaler said.
Thaler said the teams to beat this season are Linden and Brandon, but he feels better about the later, as the Booters overpowered them 3-1 at last Saturday’s soccer invitational at Oxford High School.
The coach is ‘looking forward? to coaching his team because they’re ‘a great bunch of kids.?
‘Each group is different from the rest,? Thaler said. ‘As long as we stay a team, we’ll be OK.?