OCCIDENTAL 1, CAL LUTHERAN 1 2OT

LOS ANGELES — Tod Kawada scored his ninth goal of the season in the first half and the Tigers led for most of the game.

But Zack Larson scored the equalizer in the 79th minute and the Tigers had to settle for a 1-1 draw in 2OT with Cal Lutheran at Jack Kemp Stadium on Monday.

The Tigers had won five in a row and seven of their last eight.

With three games to play, Oxy (8-4-1) sits in second, just one point behind Pomona-Pitzer (8-3-2) in the SCIAC standings.

In the 20th minute, Kawada received a through ball at the top of the box, calmly dribbled around charging Cal Lutheran goalkeeper Jack Duncan and put in the game's first goal. Kawada ranks second in goals (8) and points (22) in SCIAC play.

Larson, who had been impressive all game, finally evened the game at one with a shot that ricocheted off of the Oxy defense, throwing Oxy goalkeeper Theo Atkinson off balance. 

Overtime: Oxy had the lion's share of the opportunities in overtime, with five heart-wrenching shots that were either saved or missed just high. Kawada, Morgan Bennett-Smith, Grayson Burdon and Santiago Bedoya-Gallego each had one shot on goal during an exciting 20 minutes. 

1st half Chances: The Tigers had chances to open up a big lead in the first half, but couldn't convert their opportunities into goals. Bedoya-Gallego dribbled around Duncan in a play that was similar to Kawada's goal, only to take one touch too far to the left of the goal.

Connor Freeman, who scored three goals last week, had three solid chances for scores. First he had a shot saved by Duncan that came right back to his foot, but he also missed the second attempt just over the crossbar.

With 5 seconds left in the half, Freeman broke loose on the right side and drilled a 25-yard shot that forced a diving save by Duncan. 

Clutch Defense: Ryan Barnard ruined one of Cal Lutheran's best chances on a pretty play in the first half. Kingsmen forwards Bryan Hulse and Larson had a nice give-and-go, but Barnard blocked Larson's shot with a sliding tackle.

Stat of the Night: The Tigers finished with 17 shots on goal to Cal Lu's six. 

Next Game: The Tigers finish the regular season with two of their last three games on the road, starting with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Saturday at 7 p.m. Oxy then plays at Chapman on Oct. 29 before concluding its schedule at home against La Verne on Nov. 1.