Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Men's Soccer team wrapped up Homecoming Weekend Saturday night with a solid win 4-1 over the University of La Verne.
The Purple & Gold have now won three of their last four and improve to 6-3-1, 5-1-1 SCIAC. They still sit in sole possession of 2nd place in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings hot on the trail of undefeated Claremont-M-S (6-0-1). Coming into the match-up Whittier and La Verne sat at No. 2 and No. 3 in the standings and with the win WC has now handed the Leos their third loss on the season as they drop to 9-5, 4-3 SCIAC.
Whittier got off to a quick start in the opening ten minutes earning four corner kicks, while taking five shots. Hayden Barnouw (Seattle, WA) got the first look with a header back post, which was blocked. Matteo Loi (Kirkland, WA) then got off a shot on the ensuing corner kick and that too was blocked in front of the goal. Barnouw came back a minute later with another header on frame but this time Leo keeper Kevan Rehmani was able to make the stop. The last look during the sequence came from Parker McDonald (Corona, Calif.) who sent his shot wide.
At the 17:35 mark Whittier received another look on frame coming from Matt Urata-Espinosa (San Jose, Calif.), which hit the crossbar keeping the game scoreless. Then in the 26th minute the Purple & Gold finally converted as Alejandro Trujillo (Buena Park, Calif.) would get fed by Banks Telkamp (Seattle, WA) before finishing with a deflection that gave WC a 1-0 lead at the break.
Five minutes into the second period Telkamp added the eventual game-winner receiving a through ball from Loi, which he then took past a defender before finishing. In the 61st minute Whittier looked to add to their lead with Trujillo and Loi going back to back with shots within seconds of each other but both would get stopped by Rehmani. In the 62nd minute La Verne finally made their way onto the scoreboard as Johnny DeRueda finished a bouncing ball in the box, volleying it past Teddy Nickerson (Seattle, WA).
But the Poet offense was too much for the Leopards as the Purple & Gold would tack on insurance within the final ten minutes of the game. Freshman Nainoa Loschky (Bellevue, WA) earned the first capitalizing off a shot from Telkamp, which was saved by Rehmani. It then settled on the right side of the box where RayRay Roberson (Albuquerque, NM) gathered it before sending it to Loschky for the finish. Then in the 87th minute Telkamp put the game away receiving a pass from Roberson from just outside the 30, which he would finish moving the score to 4-1.
Nickerson again played all 90:00 minutes finishing with two saves against three shots.
Whittier outshot La Verne 23-9 and held a 7-4 advantage on corner kicks. Telkamp led the offense with five shots, a pair of goals and an assist, while Trujillo and Loschky each added three shots and a goal. Roberson despite not having a connection did deliver a pair of assists for the game.
Whittier returns to competition this Wednesday, October 16 when they host Cal Lutheran University beginning at 7:00pm.
