WHITTIER, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2023) – Sophomore midfielder
Rowan Slater led the Whittier College men's soccer team on Saturday afternoon in a game against the University of California Santa Cruz where the Poets scored a pair of goals and gave a great account of themselves in the 2023 finale.
Prior to the game, the Poets honored and recognized their three graduating members: forward Lawrence Dydell, and defenders Saar Swanson and Daniel Ramirez. All three proved to be massive contributors to the Poets' 2023 season in different ways.
As for Saturday's game, Whittier competed well with a Banana Slugs team that has had mixed-to-positive results against SCIAC competition this year. As the Slugs are an independent member of NCAA Division III, much of their schedule was comprised of familiar faces from the SCIAC. Nevertheless, the Poets put forth another strong team effort, a common theme of the team's stretch run this year. As previously mentioned, Slater assisted on both goals, but both came in the second half when the Poets had their collective backs against the wall.
The first came in the 51st minute when Slater cut into the Banana Slugs' back line and found talented winger Nils Degardin on a goal that brought 100+ Whittier fans to their feet. From there, the Poets maintained much improved ball control in their own zone, which led to a huge corner kick opportunity in the game's 66th minute. Here, kicking from the left side facing the goal, Slater delivered a beautiful cross that found Dydell for a one-timer that trimmed the UC Santa Cruz lead to one. While the Poets were unable to find a third tally that would have knotted things at three goals apiece, they did manage to hold the Banana Slugs off the scoreboard in the second half, with goalkeepers Anthony Chavoya and Alex Brown splitting time in net over the final frame to combine for all three of Whittier's saves for the game.
Head Coach Shea Harwell's Poets are expected to return the vast majority of their roster, and with some exciting players to build on, Whittier could be a team to watch heading into the 2024 men's soccer season.
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