The Lady Booters? season came to end after the Wildcats were shut down 7-0 against Stoney Creek in the OAA District Finals on May 27.
Knowing that Stoney had edge in about every area, than Oxford, Wildcats Head Coach Robert Euashka said the game plan was simple.
‘We didn’t want to sit in a shell and hope, we wanted to attack them while keeping them in front of us,? Euaska explained. ‘We played a 3-4-3 (three forwards, four midfielders, and three defensive backs) and decided to see if on that night we could out compete a superior opponent. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for us?
While the Lady Cats were unable to put a single point on the scoreboard, their coach was proud of them.
‘The girls? never quit working hard and that has been how we have defined ourselves this year, so it was good to go out in a similar way,? Euaska added. ‘We have greatly improved this year, started some program norms that will continue on, and won some epic games. Though we lost on this night, it was in the mold we had created all year long, which I was proud of.?
The girls finished their season with 6-8-4 season record and a 4-5-3 league record and finished in fifth place out of seven in the league.
While it’s his first year as head coach for Oxford, Euashka said the first season was ‘overall a ‘good one, but not a great first year.?
‘Though we had 9 seniors rostered, we are a very young team starting six or more 9th/10th graders each night. I think great would have been beating Bloomfield in one of the games we tied and lost and not having the lack of effort night when we tied Clarkston,? he added. ‘That would have put our win total at 8 and could have been looked at as a great year for us.?
What made this year special though is that the ‘whole program went through a total transformation in the way they worked, looked and expectations of performance.?
‘It took a bit to adjust to it, but now the players are loving the business-like/professional approach to oxford varsity soccer and that will grow over Into club season and our offseason together,? Euashka noted. ‘We changed a culture this year and that grand effects of that won’t really be seen until next year when it is natural.?
Highlight players of the season begins with Senior Captain and four-time letter winner Samantha Medici, who Euashka described as playing ‘exceptional all year long and led us into this transition with class and fire.?
He also pointed to Seniors, Haley hill and Sammy Pastewski.
‘They also led well and gave a lot of grit and passion as leaders on and off the field,? he said.
Other great efforts on the field came from the Freshman players Kenzy Eschberger and Jade Schramm, Emma Gordon; Sophomores Christina Medici, Karina Parker, and Katrese Moll.
‘Our starting goalkeeper this year was new to varsity as a sophomore, Tori Funke, and had an incredibly strong season.? he added. ‘As a team we only gave up 1 more goal than last years team who had an exceptional goalkeeper who won oxford women’s athlete of the year in 2014 but couldn’t play due to volleyball commitments. That is an impressive first year.?
Looking ahead to next year, Euashka believes the youth from this current team will shine, especially when they add some players from the JV squad, who are well deserving of a varsity spot, but ‘got caught in the numbers game.?
‘Next year we will be mostly lead by sophomores and juniors who are extremely fast and overall better on the ball than oxford teams in the past have been,? he said. ‘Likely next year has the chance to be something special with the mix of talent and the acceptance of the work rate this program depends and the players are now craving.?