LOS ANGELES — Welcome back Tod Kawada.

The Oxy sophomore star forward, who has missed most of the first six games with a lingering injury, made his first mark on the Tigers' season, scoring the game-winning goal in the 58th minute to lead the undefeated Occidental men's soccer team to a 2-0 win over previously undefeated La Verne on Wednesday night. 

The Tigers improve to 6-0-1 overall and 3-0-1 in SCIAC play, sitting alone in first in the conference standings. La Verne is dealt its first loss of the season, falling to 5-1 and 2-1.

Kawada, an All-SCIAC and All-West Region selection last season, has had La Verne's number, to say the least, scoring five goals with two assists in his last two games against the Leopards. Last season he famously scored four goals and had an assist in a game at La Verne, including scoring a hat trick in less than 1 minute.

His goal on Wednesday came on a beautiful combination play, that went from Connor Freeman to Valdair Martins-Lopes and then to Kawada who finished it first touch with his right foot, rattling in a shot in the top right corner at the far post. 

Kawada returned the favor to Martins-Lopes in 78th minute, playing a through ball that Martins-Lopes carefully tucked into the net.

Martins-Lopes leads Oxy with four assists on the season. 

First Half: Both teams had limited opportunities to take the lead in a mostly flat looking first half.

The only great chance of the 45 minutes came from Zack Conrad, who missed a knuckling shot from 30 yards out, off of the cross bar in the 27th minute.

Next Game: The Tigers return to action on Sept. 21, hosting Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 7 p.m. at Jack Kemp Stadium.