Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Whittier College Men's Soccer team got back on track Saturday night as they pulled off a huge road win 3-1 over Occidental College.
Following the tough 1-0 loss on the road to Claremont-M-S last week, the Purple & Gold secured another big three points in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Standings. They improve to 4-3, 3-1 SCIAC and currently sit in sole possession of 2nd place in the conference standings.
The last time Whittier beat Occidental was back in 2014, which came at home on September 8 when they won 2-1. Then the last road victory over OXY came back in 2013 on September 14 when WC won 6-1.
"We try to focus on being one game better, one day better, and having everyone focus on improving in the small ways, which contributes to one big improvement as a team," explained Head Coach Shea Harwell. "This group of young men care so much, they invest in supporting each other and playing with purpose. It's exciting to see how the guys are playing and it's a lot of fun to coach a group like this."
They have won three of their last four and finish the month of September 4-2, which includes a 3-1 mark in SCIAC. Senior Matteo Loi (Kirkland, WA) added two of the three connections, the first coming in the 22nd minute, which gave WC a 1-0 lead at the break. Loi received a ball in the middle, which he carried down the near side. He then crossed on top of the box taking a shot, which was blocked by a pair of defenders. He then picked up the loose ball taking it near the end line flicking it up and over the head of Tiger keeper Scott Drazan.
Out of the half Loi added insurance with the eventual game-winner coming in the 49th minute. Whittier earned a throw-in, which was taken by Daniel Hayes. He found the feet of Loi who took it into the box before getting tripped up by an Oxy defender. This gave the Purple & Gold a PK, which Loi would finish top right corner.
The Tigers cut the deficit in half in the 67th minute from Nicolas Eble. A free kick from the 35-yard line was put into the box. It was headed towards the back post to Tye Hernandez who passed it towards Eble in front of the goal for the finish. Whittier looked to add to their lead with twelve minutes left as Ian Nicolas (Concord, Calif.) got a head on a cross but his shot would get stopped by Drazan. Then in the 79th minute the game was put away from freshman Zach Guarino (Denver, CO) who finished a wide open attempt in front of the goal getting fed by Tommy Yarbrough (Encinitas, Calif.).
Teddy Nickerson (Seattle, WA) was solid between the posts picking up the win and finishing with five stops against six shots. Whittier was outshot 12-6 on the game and added three corner kicks. Loi took two shots both being goals and Nicolas, Nicolas Barrera (Bellflower, Calif.), Hayes, and Guarino each added one a piece.
Whittier returns to the pitch next Saturday, October 5 when they host Chapman University beginning at 7:00pm.
