The Oakland University men’s soccer season is over.
There were a lot of ups and a lot of downs for the Golden Grizzlies. It wasn’t a successful season in the textbook sense of the phrase, but it had memories and good moments that players, coaches and fans can all cherish.
The final record of the Golden Grizzlies’ season was three wins, nine losses and six ties overall (3-9-6), with a winning percentage of 33%. In Horizon League play, the Golden Grizzlies had three wins, three losses and three ties (3-3-3), with a winning percentage of 50%.
At home, the Golden Grizzlies had one win, two losses and four ties (1-2-4). On the road, they had two wins, seven losses and one tie (2-7-1). On a neutral field, they recorded one tie. The numbers reflect a team that struggled to find consistency, especially away from home, but still managed to compete in every environment.
The season had its share of highlights.
On Friday, Sept. 5, the Golden Grizzlies honorably tied the University of Michigan — a top 25 team in the nation — with a 2-2 score. It was a hard-fought match that showed Oakland could hold its own against elite competition.
Nearly a full month later, on Oct. 4, the Golden Grizzlies finally earned their first win against the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in a 2-1 battle over the Phoenix.
On Oct. 11, the Grizzlies extended their Metro Series unbeaten streak to 15 with a 1-1 tie against the University of Detroit Mercy. The rivalry matchup brought out the best in both teams and continued a proud tradition for Oakland.
On Halloween, the Grizzlies won 2-1 against Wright State while fans filled the stands in a variety of costumes. The atmosphere added energy to the match and gave the home crowd a memorable win to celebrate.
On Sunday, Nov. 9, the season came to a close when the Golden Grizzlies competed in the Horizon League playoffs against UW-Green Bay. The Grizzlies were scoreless and lost 2-0 to the Phoenix. Oakland had more chances to score than Green Bay but couldn’t capitalize by burying any of its attempts on goal. It was a frustrating end to a season filled with missed opportunities.
Nonetheless, awards were given out at the end of the season. Four Golden Grizzlies players received Horizon League honors.
Senior forward Tim Allos and sophomore defender Jace Foster were both named to the Horizon League All-League Second Team. Midfielder Marco Mazzei and defender Malik Sylvester, both sophomores, earned All-League Third Team honors. Foster was also recognized as a finalist for the Horizon League Sportsmanship Award, highlighting his leadership and character.
On the field, the Golden Grizzlies’ season was less than spectacular. Oakland had chances to win more games than they did but let several first-half leads slip away — often in the final moments — going on to lose 2-1 or tie 1-1.
During games, the benches were not as active as they could have been. Opposing benches were electric, with players and coaches engaged, cheering and encouraging their teams with loud voices and gestures. The Golden Grizzlies’ bench, by contrast, was quieter and less visibly or audibly involved in the flow of the game.
Next season, the team could come to life by playing with a chip on its shoulder and channeling the same energy often seen on opposing sidelines. The building blocks of a successful program are in place, and if Oakland can find an edge to play with going forward, players, coaches and fans could have a lot to be excited about in 2026.