BOYS SOCCER: Grand Blanc holds off Oxford for district title
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
GRAND BLANC — Graduating 15 players and still perform at a high level is never easy.
Somehow Grand Blanc has done just that on the soccer pitch.
State semifinalists a year ago in Division 1, the unranked Bobcats advanced to the regional semifinals with a 2-1 district finals victory over visiting Oxford Thursday in a game where Grand Blanc was outplayed for long stretches of the contest.
The Bobcats will play in Tuesday’s regional semifinals against third-ranked Novi (17-1-2) at West Bloomfield High School.
“To be able to win this district is a testament to the kids. We graduated 15 players and had basically 15 new players on our roster and only, I believe, seven players (came in) with varsity experience at the beginning of the season,” said veteran Grand Blanc coach Greg Kehler. “We’ve played a tough (non-league) schedule and that prepared us for this. We won the South (Division) of the Saginaw Valley and beat Midland Dow for the Saginaw Valley tournament title, 4-1, when they were ranked fourth in the state, and now the district. But it has not been easy at all. We had to work in a bunch of new players at the beginning.”
It marked Grand Blanc’s 13th district crown in the past 18 years and fifth straight. Grand Blanc last tasted defeat in a district finals back in 2014 — and that was to Oxford by the same 2-1 score.
Grand Blanc (15-3-4), which recently captured the SVL-South Division (5-0-0) and SVL Tournament titles, scored a goal in both half and had to keep Oxford at bay down the stretch. The Bobcats have outscored the postseason opposition, 15-1.
The Wildcats (11-10-0) scored a goal in the 76th minute to trim the deficit down to just a goal. Oxford could not net the equalizer despite carrying the play for long portions of the game.
“It was tough. We knew going into this game we had a few things we had to adjust, we did it and unfortunately it wasn’t enough,” offered Oxford coach John Thaler. “We made our adjustments, but we just couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net. Unfortunate calls, but that’s the name of the game.”
After Oxford junior goalkeeper Tristan Bennett recorded a save on a penalty kick in the 26th minute, Grand Blanc began to apply some pressure and netted the first goal with 12:53 to go in the first half.
Junior midfielder Brenden Gervers slotted the ball into the box and junior forward AJ Maxwell tapped the ball just over the goal line before Oxford’s defense could clear the ball in time.
“It sure was a relief. We needed it. I could tell there was a chess match thing going on, back and forth a little bit. I thought both teams were a little bit tight,” said Kehler. “I thought we were really tight, that’s a credit to them — they out-possessed us for big stretches of time, made us chase them around a lot, got us out of shape. To get that first one was huge.”
Grand Blanc scored the eventual game-winner with 23:45 to go in the contest. Sophomore forward Dylan Hertzberg scooped up an Oxford clearing attempt and laced a 35-yard laser into the upper 90 of the net. Bennett had no chance on the shot that gave the Bobcats a two-goal cushion.
“That was a great goal. I don’t know of many goalkeepers who would have saved that one,” said Kehler. “We needed it because Oxford kept coming at us, even down a man.”
It was barely enough for Grand Blanc, which had to withstand quite a bit of pressure down the stretch.
Oxford outshot Grand Blanc 17-13, although the Bobcats actually had a 10-6 edge with shots on frame. Oxford also held a 7-6 edge on but could not convert on any of them.
Oxford junior forward Zachary Townsend finally put the Wildcats on the board with a nice individual effort in the waning minutes. Dribbling through a host of defenders, Townsend eventually unleashed a bending left-footed shot into the corner of the goal from 25 yards out.
Time was not on the Wildcats’ side, as they could not penetrate the Bobcats defense again. Oxford picked up a red card with 25:22 remaining and played a man down before Grand blanc also picked up a red card ejection as well with 10:12 to play.
Bennett made eight saves for Oxford, including tipping a blast aside that was destined to the right corner with 35 minutes to go.
“He’s been making save like that his whole career. He keeps us in every game,” added Thaler. “The two goals they scored were not his fault.”
Seniors Jack Anderson (five saves) and Nick Perry recorded the win in goal for Grand Blanc, which is now two wins away from a ninth Final Four appearance. The Bobcats, who have won some 25 district titles in school history, reached the Final Four in 1985, 1987, 1989, 1993, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2018.
“Novi is ranked really high and they are always really good,” said Kehler. “We’ve got to play a better game to have a chance.”
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