Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. (Oct. 27, 2021) – A collective offensive outpour from the Whittier College men's soccer team led to the Poets exacting a measure of revenge on the University of La Verne, 4-0, in the annual Senior Night game.

The Poets made sure to set a tone early, playing a patient game in an effort to wear down the Leopards' defense. As time ticked away on the first half, Whittier found its opportunity in form of a sophomore attacking midfielder Nainoa Loschky (Bellevue, Wash.  / Interlake). A corner kick from junior midfielder Zach Guarino (Denver, Colo. / Cherry Creek) with 14 seconds to spare helped set up the goal, but an attempt by the Leopards to clear the ball backfired as Loschky took possession and fired the ball into the back of the net, bringing the 10-second countdown to a screeching halt.

Whittier ended up outshooting La Verne 18-3 by the end of the first half, the beginning of what would go on to be the Poets' best offensive showing to this point in the season. While the Purple & Gold have often found themselves a part of games with two fundamentally different halves of soccer, Tuesday's game was a clear exception as they picked up right where they left off during the final 45. It took Whittier just six minutes to double their lead when Loschky deflected the ball to sophomore Tommy Yarbrough (Encinitas, Calif. / La Costa Canyon), who had plenty of space to advance the ball and beat the opposing keeper. The Poets would score again in the 53rd minute when freshman forward Lawerence Dydell (Redmond, Wash. / Woodinville) bagged his fifth goal of the season on a clean pass from classmate Dominic Morello (Redwood City, Calif. / Woodside).

As the Leopards began to sub fresh legs onto the field, the Poets continued to have an answer for everything the visitors offered. Loschky would go on to score his second goal of the game on a wild play that saw the ball ricochet off a La Verne defender and hit the post of the goal before finding its way to Loschky who pressed forward and knocked the ball in from point-blank range. Whittier would go on to finish the game with 35 total shots, 15 of which found a path to the net. As good as the home offense was, junior goalkeeper Teddy Nickerson (Seattle, Wash. O'Dea) did his part by thwarting all three of the La Verne scoring opportunities he faced. Prior to the game, the Poets' six departing players were recognized for their contributions to the men's soccer program: Aidan Fischart (Brisbane, / Australia BSAK), Daniel Hayes (Chicago, Ill. / Northfield Mount Hermon), Parker McDonald (Corona, Calif. / Santiago), Ethan Ryver (Yorba Linda, Calif. / El Dorado), Matt Slee (Bothell, Wash. / The Overlake School) and Banks Telkamp (Seattle, Wash. / O'Dea).

Head Coach Shea Harwell and the Poets will head to California Lutheran University on Saturday, Oct. 30 in pursuit of a season sweep of the Kingsmen in the season finale. 

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