top of page
Writer's pictureDan Stickradt

BOYS SOCCER: Oxford finds bonding, winning touch, championship hardware on northern Michigan road trip







MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK: MSN NEWS: www.michigansoccernetwork.com/msnnews



BY DAN STICKRADT

WEB AND CONTENT EDITOR | DIRECTOR OF NEWS

Michigan Soccer Network | Premier Media Group and affiliates

BUSINESS LINE: (248) 525-2349

CELL PHONE: (248) 884-1051

TW/X: @msn_stickradt @LocalSportsFans @MiSoccerNetwork

 

PETOSKEY, Mich. – There’s something said to be able to go on a road trip for some good old fashioned team bonding. There’s another element and that is returning home with some championship hardware.


Oxford did that recently by earning the Petoskey Invitational title with a pair of wins.

After battling state powerhouse Traverse City West to a 1-1 non-league tie on Friday, the Division 1 state-ranked Wildcats were able to topple both Marquette (1-0) and host Petoskey (5-0) to win the invitational. It marked the second straight campaign that the Wildcats came home from their trip with a trophy.


Against Marquette, one of the top teams each year from the Upper Peninsula, Luca Erskine booted home the game’s only goal in the first half and Nolan Mauser, an All-State Third Team selection last season, recorded the shutout for Oxford (5-0-1).


After a break, Oxford came back and recorded its 5-0 clean sheet over the hosts Northmen.

Ryan Clark scored twice, with Jonah Forgaciu, Pedro Mota and Tristan Warthun also had single tallies for the Wildcats and two different keepers shared the shutout, Mauser and Zahary Evans.


“This is a great weekend for us every year – a great way for us to go north and play some respectable teams and really come together as a team. It’s worth it,” said Oxford coach Adam Bican. “In all of the years that I’ve coached, and at three different schools, I always try to take the boys up north for one weekend early in the season. And it’s a bonus that we ended up winning a tournament.


Oxford had now outscored the opposition 17-3 heading into an OAA-Red Division showdown with Rochester Adams on Tuesday. The Wildcats, the defending OAA-Red champs, have posted three shutouts on the season and didn’t allow a goal in the four-team invitational. Oxford only allowed one goal in the three-game, up north road trip.


“We have 13 seniors on this year’s team, including an exchange student, and we have some very talented young guys. We were able to get everybody a lot of minutes,” added Bican, who returns 13 letterwinners this season but also welcomes in 10 new players to the varsity ranks. “So far this year we’ve had a chance to play a lot of guys, play some different teams from different areas of the state. Plus, going up north every (August) to play in one of these tournaments is a win-win for everyone, regardless of the results. For us it’s a great bonding event. The kids love it. The parents love it. And also the teams up here are always looking for quality matches against good programs. I think that’s why places like Petoskey and Traverse City (West) like to host tournaments and bring some teams up from the Detroit area or Grand Rapids (area).”


Last year Oxford had its best start in over a decade with an 8-1-1 record. The Wildcats were able to maintain it with a 16-5-1 record, a 5-2 record in a loaded OAA-Red Division, and eventually winning both a league and district championship. One would have to go back over 20 years for the last time Oxford won both a league and district and this was the first time that Oxford was able to win the OAA-Red.


(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)

 


 

MICHIGAN SOCCER NETWORK ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter/X: @MiSoccerNetwork, @msn_stickradt


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------







                                                         

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 


 

(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)




-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Michigan-based Premier Media Group is expanding ... don't miss out on coverage


SHELBY TWP., Mich. – The Premier Media Group is expanding its broadcast net.


And we want you.


The Michigan-based PMG, founded in 2022, its flagship production the Michigan Soccer Network and all other affiliates, is actively scheduling games in a wide variety of high school leagues and conferences, small colleges, amateur, pre-professional, youth club, and other avenues of the beautiful game in Michigan.


The schedule for the fall semester is starting to fill up across Michigan.

The daily connections are being made and the spreading of our brand has brought in great reviews.


Would the coaches, administration, student-athletes, players and fans like for us to broadcast a game near you?


Regardless of the now-popular remote broadcast games, on-location broadcast games, on-location shows or in-studio daily shows, there is a simple process. Visit the website www.michigansoccernetwork.com or click below for details.



PMG will also be holding various “Win A Free Broadcast” contest at various parts of the fall, winter (indoor) and spring seasons.




"(Michigan Soccer Network) has does a great job making these kids feel special,” offered Michal Hatfield, girls soccer coach at Trenton High School who also coaches in the Detroit City FC youth club system. “The broadcasts were professionally done and we were very pleased when they did our games. They did a great job with (play-by-play), graphics and postgame interviews with the kids. And a lot of people saw it. We had uncles and aunts that have never seen their nieces play get a chance to watch them on YouTube). And all of the kids were able to jump on there (the YouTube channel) afterwards and watch the game.”


The MSN staff had the pleasure of broadcasting multiple games the last two school years for schools in the Oakland Activities Association and have received its fair share of feedback. The goal is to conduct broadcasts of games throughout the state of Michigan, especially in the larger populated regions.


“MSN has done a great job with broadcasts in our league (Macomb Area Conference),” said Trevor Foster, current head coach of the Romeo girls soccer program, goalkeepers coach for Oakland University’s soccer programs, and director at the Michigan Goalkeepers Academy. “I know the girls love it. And I know some of the parents were putting their earphones on and listening to the game when they were (in the stands) and it gives relatives a chance to watch games that they normally wouldn’t be able to.


“It’s as close to professional (broadcast) as any broadcast of high school soccer that you will see out there,” added Foster. “Plus, they do all types of (amateur and pre-professional) leagues out there (in Michigan).”



“We were very pleased, especially with the knowledge of high school soccer in the state of Michigan from the play-by-play announcers and color commentators,” said Todd Heugh, the current director of athletics at Troy Athens High School and a former coach at the school. “They put together a valuable (product) and the games are live on YouTube for everyone to watch, even if you are (a relative or an alumni) not in the area. I know coaches go on there (YouTube), too, to watch games of an upcoming opponent.”


The PMG staff has a goal of 100-plus games this fall from mid-August through November. The Michigan Soccer Network conducted a record 50 remote or in-person broadcasts during the month of June.


PMG also has contacts within Michigan, the Midwest and even in different parts of the U.S. and have become broadcast partners for more than 15 different leagues or franchises within those leagues over the past three years. PMG has multiple broadcasting rights for within the USL-League Two, USL-W League, UPSL, MWPL, NISA, WSPL and more and constantly expanding its web of coverage both on various YouTube channels and on our website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com. It has broadcasted more high school boys soccer and high school girls soccer at more than 75 high schools in Michigan.


“MSN has been a great media partner for the Bucks and AFC,” said Costa Papista, President of the Flint City Bucks and Flint City AFC of the USL-League Two and USL-W League, respectively. “The production and overall quality of our live broadcasts are professional grade. Flint City fans, sponsors and supporters greatly appreciate the MSN quality. We are always receiving excellent feedback and comments from our fans and visiting fans as well.”  


And now the busy season starts in earnest with high school, college and youth club team beginning the 2024-25 school year.




To schedule a game or to consult team members of our broadcast, reach out to the following persons in the PMG family of networks: Broadcast Director Jonathan Turner, 248-525-2083, jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com or new Director of Scheduling / Office Manager Alaina Gagnon, at agagnon@thepremiermediagrp.com and inquire about the broadcast options, packages, special packages and more.


For news on the soccer scene in Michigan, check out the MSN website at www.michigansoccernetwork.com for daily updates, game recaps, feature stories, previews and more for teams, players and coaches from a wide variety schools, amateur teams, colleges and youth club teams.


The PMG and MSN staff will continue to reach for its goal of providing quality broadcast on any network and in-depth coverage and content on it website.


INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE

Interested in internships in broadcasting, communications, journalism, public relations or sales and marketing in the sports world? The Premier Media Group is seeking applications for current college students or students entering their senior or junior years of high school that have a career interest in working in different capacity of a constantly-evolving media world.

Contact both Broadcast Director Jonathan Turner at 248-525-2083 or jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com and Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at (248) 525-2349 and dstickradt@thepremeiermediagrp.com.

 

(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the Michigan Soccer Network regarding club soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with Michigan ties, contact Communications Specialist/Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at stickradt@michigansoccernetwork.com or dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com, or call 248-884-1051 or 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 31-year veteran of the Michigan Media circles and recently joined the staff full time in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/MSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@michigansoccernetwork.com and jonathan@thepremeiermediagrp.com.)



Recent Posts

See All

Comments


GOT A SOCCER NEWS TIP? TEXT 248-617-7715

BOOK MSN TODAY

bottom of page