LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Sept. 6, 2010) – On a gorgeous Labor
Day at the Lower Soccer Field, senior Deryck Lim
wasted no time getting the Occidental College offense started, but
a hat-trick by Soka freshman Akari Takahata sparked the Lions to a
4-3 victory over the host team in the season opener.
Just 55 seconds into the 2010 season, Lim found the back of the
net in unassisted fashion on one of his three shots, two on goal,
in his last first game for the Black and Orange.
Soka's forward responded with back-to-back unassisted scores in
the fourth and 23rd minutes, respectively to give Soka a
2-1 advantage. The first he just punched into the net when Oxy
senior goalie Ian Powell was
out of position following another Soka shot.
Oxy knotted things at 2-2 when freshman Ian
Silverness found sophomore Ben Murray.
Takahata notched his hat-trick in the 65th minute on
an afternoon in which he took seven shots, five on goal. The fourth
and final goal came by way of Ichiro Kobayashi
Late life for the Tigers came from the foot of Rob Riccardi,
whose 73rd minute goal was the final scoring play of the
game for Occidental.
The Tigers out shot the Lions 27-17, with 14 shots on goal to
Soka's five SOG. Powell finished with five saves, three in the
first half. The Black and Orange also earned more corner kicks than
Soka, 8-5.
Taking the field for the first time of his collegiate career
today were Oliver Field
and Alexander
Duvoisin, who started at forward and midfield,
respectively.
Occidental will be back on the field Thursday, Sept. 9 when they
host La Sierra University at 5:00 p.m. on the Lower Soccer Field in
the second of a three-game home stand for the squad.
Article by Tracy Maple, Sports Information Director
