With just 10 games left in their season, the Oxford-Avondale United Hockey squad struggled to remain competitive this past week with its continually undermanned squad. Picking up three losses last week, the boys played Clarkston, West Bloomfield, Alliance and Grand Blanc.

On Jan. 12, the boys took a 9-0 mercy to Clarkston after just two periods. From the start, Clarkston controlled the puck and OA spent most of the first period defending its own net. Preventing OA from making any offensive efforts, Clarkston scored four points during the period.

Though sophomore goalie Austin Spivey made a total 31 saves by the end of the second period, it was to no avail as Clarkston put five more pucks in the net and ended the game in a mercy.

Going into the weekend on Jan. 11, the boys fell to West Bloomfield for the second time this season in a 5-0 match. OA, namely senior goalie Aaron Angelo, made it through the first period with a strong defense, but could not hold up the rest of the night. Angelo blocked all 12 shots on goal during the period.

West Bloomfield struck early in the second period and caught momentum, ending the second up 3-0. In the third period, the OA boys put 13 shots on goal, but couldn’t get any past West Bloomfield’s goalie. Meanwhile, West Bloomfield struck twice and wrapped up the game 5-0.

Throughout the night, Angelo made 36 saves. Senior forward Ben Pratt and sophomore forward Jake Billis put in 15 shots together, and Billis played through an injury.

On Jan. 9, the boys travelled to take on Alliance, a game they would drop 7-3. Alliance has proved to be a fierce competitor for OA, beating the hometown boys the last four times they’ve met.

Alliance kicked off the game with a goal just a few minutes in. But, Billis and Pratt went down the ice together, with Billis making a goal and Pratt getting the assist. Going into the second period, OA held a lead for a short time with senior forward Zach Rauh getting a goal. But by the end of the second, Alliance managed to get up 3-2.

After that, the team was never able to catch up. Billis grabbed another goal with the help of freshman forward Brian Budde. But, Alliance pulled its goalie to hammer OA with three goals in the game’s final minutes.

A few nights earlier on Jan. 7, the boys suffered another tough loss to Grand Blanc 4-2. Angelo, playing as a forward for the night, scored one of OA’s goals during the first period. The goal marked his first as an OA hockey player.

Later in the second period, Pratt skated past two Grand Blanc players to score OA’s second goal of the night unassisted to tie up the game 2-2. But, Grand Blanc put two pucks in the night to overcome OA for the second time this season.

Despite the loss, sophomore goalie Brett Dinges made 38 saves throughout the night, some of which were visibly frustrating for the Grand Blanc skaters.

The boys are now 3-13 overall. After playing against Birmingham away on Jan. 15, the team will travel to Marysville tonight, Jan. 16.