By Teddy Rydquist

Leader Sports Writer

Following a strong showing at the annual Paul Bartoshuk Tournament on Aug. 24-25 at the Detroit Country Day School, the Wildcats’ boys soccer team began league play on Aug. 27.

Facing the Farmington Falcons at Wildcat Stadium, the game was tied at zero at the half. Not happy with what he saw on the field, head coach John Thaler gave his team an animated halftime speech.

Thaler’s tactics clearly worked as junior Luke Huller got the Wildcats on the board less than two minutes into the second half. Almost 17 minutes later, junior Zach Townsend netted the second, and final, goal of the game.

As usual, junior netminder Tristan Bennett was on top of his game. Farmington very nearly took a 1-0 lead in the first half, but Bennett made a tremendous diving save on the Falcons’ header attempt.

In what could have been an ugly scene, Oxford juniors Christian Mendoza and Jack Butzu banged heads going for a ball at the end of the first half. Bloodied, Mendoza left the game and did not return to action. Fortunately, both players are now back to full speed and should not have any limitations moving forward.

With Farmington being a fellow OAA White member, this win helped the Wildcats start their season on the preferred side of the win column.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the result on Thursday, August 29 at Troy High School vs. the Colts was not as favorable.

The top team in the OAA Red at 2-0 in league play, Troy handled the Wildcats, 3-0. Seniors Rafael Khoury, Omar Ibrahim and Ahmad Dakrouni scored for the Colts to move them to 5-1 overall.

The Wildcats will attempt to get back on track when they face OAA White rival Lake Orion at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5. The next day (Sept. 6), the Wildcats have a scrimmage at Fenton High School.