WHITTIER, Calif. (Oct. 8, 2022) - In the second match of a home soccer doubleheader vs. Occidental Saturday night, the Whittier men fell, 5-1.

Sophomore captain Lawrence Dydell scored the lone Poets goal in the 75th minute, his first of the season. The play before, Dydell's penalty kick was blocked by the keeper, but the forward got his own rebound, and punched it in for the score. As a freshman last season, Dydell led the team in goals with six.

Although the Tigers pounced early with a goal in the opening 30 seconds, the Poets shut out their SCIAC foes for the next 40 minutes and trailed Occidental 2-0 at halftime.

The second half began with another goal nearly 30 seconds in, stretching the Oxy lead to 3-0.

The Tigers would then go on to score two more goals, in the 51st and 68th minutes, respectively, increasing their lead to 5-0.

Dydell's goal prevented the Poets from being shut out, but it was the closest they would come in the match.

Whittier used all three of its goalkeepers in the game, with senior Teddy Nickerson saving six of 10 shots on goal. Senior goalie Jackson Diamond made his collegiate soccer debut, saving all three shots on goal he faced to close out the match for the Poets.

The Poets' next opportunity will come on the road against the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens Wednesday Oct. 12 at 4 p.m.

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

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