LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Occidental women's soccer rattled off 11 second half shots, but only one found the back of the net as the Tigers' 2-0 first-half deficit proved too much to overcome in Wednesday, Sept. 18th's SCIAC opener – a 2-1 loss to Caltech.
In the waning minutes, trailing 2-1, Occidental placed two shots on goal, both straddling the goal line. As the ball sought to roll in for a Tiger goal, the Beavers' defense had other plans in mind, clearing each shot in the nick of time to prevent a game-tying goal.
A heart-breaking defeat for the Tigers as they put six shots on goal in the final 45 and controlled possession for nearly the entire frame. It marks the first time in 2024 the Tigers rattled off more shots than their opponents. On Wednesday they did it at a 19-6 clip.
Caltech got on the board first with two scores within four minutes of each other. The Beavers first goal came in the 32
nd minute after Oxy goalie
Melanie Rodriguez punched a corner kick out of the box. Caltech's Juni Polansky gathered it after a pair of touches and fired one over the outstretched leap of Rodriguez to gain the 1-0 advantage.
In the 36
th Caltech came back on the offensive. A steal in the midfield, Jennifer Solgaard took it herself all the way into the box and fired another high arching shot over Rodriguez.
Frustrated after the half, Occidental came out firing, rattling off three shots and a corner in the first five minutes.
Alessia Sacchi knocked in the Tigers' first goal of the season. Sacchi hanging out in the box found the ball off a
Logan Morris cross that rattled around the Caltech defense before finding Sacchi's right foot and the back of the net. This is the second time the sophomore has scored in her career.
Following the loss, Occidental fell to 0-2-1 on the season and 0-1 in SCIAC play. Caltech improved to 2-2-1 and 1-0 on the 2024 campaign.
The Tigers return to the pitch on Saturday, Sept. 21 for another SCIAC contest. This time they'll travel to Whittier to take on the Whittier College Poets at 7 p.m.
