Now that classes have started and students are back on campus, athletics are in full swing at Oakland University. Here’s a look at how the Golden Grizzlies fared in athletics competitions this week (Sept. 3 – Sept. 9).
Women’s Golf
Sophomore Bridget Boczar shot a program-best 65 in Sunday’s first round to help Oakland to a second-place finish at the A-Ga-Ming Invitational. The tournament took place from Sept. 3-4 in Kewadin, Michigan.
Oakland’s 877 (+13) total score over the three rounds comfortably put it in second place (by 10 strokes), but the Golden Grizzlies still finished 16 strokes behind the champion Abilene Christian Wildcats, which shot 861 (-3). Bradley (+23), Bellarmine (+42) and Central Michigan (+45) all finished in the top five in the 13-team event.
The Golden Grizzlies strong, young core of Hannah Kono (freshman), Olivia Hemmila (freshman), Grace Boczar (sophomore) and Nateda Her (junior) all shot better than +15 over the three-round event.
Oakland will compete in the Mary Fossum Invitational hosted by Michigan State Sept. 17-18.
Women’s Soccer
It’s been a rough start to the season for the women’s soccer team, which failed to register a win last week. Oakland has faced a tough non-conference schedule — including 18th-ranked Northwestern — but it had to settle for a tie on Sunday, Sept. 3 against Illinois State in what was a very winnable match.
Illinois State entered the match winless, but an early penalty by the Golden Grizzlies gave ISU a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the game.
The teams traded goals throughout the rest of the game, and Melania Troy scored the game-tying goal in the 71st minute to salvage a tie out of the match.
Oakland’s offense then went cold on Wednesday when it hosted Western Michigan.
The Golden Grizzlies were able to get just one shot in 90 minutes, and the Broncos scored three goals as they asserted their dominance over the home team.
Horizon League play is set to begin on Sunday, Sept. 17 for the Golden Grizzlies, as they host Purdue Fort Wayne.
Men’s Soccer
The men’s soccer team has seen its season begin much like the women’s team.
Oakland still has yet to play a home match. This week, the Golden Grizzlies were in Chicago, Illinois to face Loyola Chicago, where they were out-shot, 22-7.
Luckily for Oakland, the score wasn’t as lopsided as the shots may have suggested. The Ramblers only found the back of the net once, but it was enough to take down the Golden Grizzlies, 1-0.
Oakland bounced back with a Horizon League-opening victory over Cleveland State on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Despite only firing off three shots in the first half, OU found the back of the net with every shot and scored all three of its goals in the first half. The Golden Grizzlies held off the Vikings in the second half to secure the victory.
Oakland is set to host Northern Kentucky in its second league match this season on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m.
Volleyball
Oakland hosted Eastern Michigan, Kansas City and Chicago State in the Golden Grizzlies Invitational over the weekend. The invitational was a Round Robin-style, where each team plays three matches, one against each of the other teams.
The Golden Grizzlies opened their invitational against EMU, which it beat 3-1. Oakland took the first two sets (25-22, 25-19), but the desperation of the Eagles led them to a third-set victory (27-25).
The fourth set was all Oakland, though, and it opened the invitational with a 3-1 victory.
Later on Friday night, at 7 p.m., Oakland was bested by Kansas City, 3-1. Despite winning the first set, 25-21, the Golden Grizzlies failed to carry the momentum into the rest of the match.
Oakland couldn’t rebound with a win on Saturday as it let its loss to Kansas City compound.
Chicago State disposed of Oakland in straight sets to finish off the tournament.
The team will take on UT Martin and Southern Illinois this weekend in the Saluki Invitational.
