Oregon Institute of Technology Athletics

COMING UP: vs. No. 22 College of Idaho, Friday, 12 p.m.; vs. No. 24 Eastern Oregon, Saturday, 12 p.m.

COMPLETE WEEKLY MEDIA NOTEBOOK
 
WATCH LIVE: Fans unable to get to the Basin for the weekend matches vs. Rocky Mountain and Providence will be able to watch the game live on the Owls Sports Network with Mike Safford calling the action. Live Stats will also be available through OIT's SIDEARM Stats Portal.
 
OIT TO FACE BACK-TO-BACK TOP-25 TEAMS: For the third time in program history, the Lady Owls will play back-to-back Top-25 teams, as No. 22 College of Idaho and No. 24 Eastern Oregon make the journey to the City of Sunshine. In 2020, Tech met No. 9-ranked Westmont and No. 16-ranked EOU in the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round in Santa Barbara, while last season, the Owls faced four-straight Top-25 teams – No. 10 Oklahoma Wesleyan, No. 12 Aquinas, No. 2 Spring Arbor and No. 3 Tennessee Southern on their journey to the NAIA national semifinals.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – COLLEGE OF IDAHO: The weekend opens against College of Idaho, ranked No. 22 in the NAIA Top-25 poll and off to their best start in program history. The Yotes (10-1-1, 6-0-1) feature the highest scoring attack in the CCC, scoring three goals per game – thanks to a young offensive minded group, led by freshmen Gianna Yslava (6 goals, 2 assists) and Natasja Davis (5 goals), along with sophomore All-CCC pick Larissa Wegner (5 goals, 3 assists). C of I has clamped down defensively, allowing four goals in their past 11 matches – returning Brynna Herridge and Chloe Teets (1 goal), both All-CCC performers – with keeper Hannah McFadden (0.68 GAA, .843 shot %) handling the duties in goal. It is the 28th all-time meeting between the sides, with C of I holding a 13-9-5 edge, with the two teams splitting 11 matches in the Basin (4-4-3). Tech has won the past three contests, including a 4-1 victory in last season's CCC Championship game.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – EASTERN OREGON: The most dominant program in the CCC over the last eight years makes the trip to the Basin Saturday, as No. 24-ranked Eastern Oregon heads to town. The Mountaineers (8-2-2, 5-1-1) made five NAIA Tournament appearances from 2015-20 and despite graduating four All-CCC performers from last season, are in the mix for another National bid. Defense has been the key for Eastern, allowing just six goals in 12 matches – including nine shutouts – with the team surrendering just six shots per game. All-CCC midfielder Erika Skindlov (4 goals, 4 assists) leads the attack, along with Chloe Marolski (3 goals, 3 assists) and Emmy Williams (3 goals). Defensively, All-CCC pick Yaya Chavarria-Madragon (1 assist) is the anchor, with keeper Madeline Barker (0.65 GAA, .805 save %) a returning starter. The teams have split the previous 26 matches (10-10-3), with OIT holding a 6-3-1 edge in Klamath Falls.
 
LADY OWLS DROP FIRST CONFERENCE GAME IN OVER A YEAR: Soccer can be a strange game, as a team can dominate the statistics, but lose the battle on the scoreboard. Sunday's match at Carroll followed that trend, as OIT held a commanding 22-10 edge in shots and allowed just four shots on frame for the Fighting Saints. However, none of the nine Lady Owls shots on goal found the net, while Carroll struck for a pair of goals in a tough 2-0 setback. It marked the first conference loss for Tech since Sept. 24 of 2021 – as stretch of 381 days between CCC losses.
 
HOME UNBEATEN STREAK: OIT extended their home unbeaten streak to 37 matches with their win on Oct. 1 vs. Providence. The Lady Owls are a combined 103-56-15 on their own pitch since 2000 and have not lost a contest in Klamath Falls since a 2017 setback to Eastern Oregon. Since the new field turf surface was installed on campus, the Owls are a combined 34-2-4 on their home pitch.
 
SURVEYING THE LINE-UP: After battling injuries last weekend, the Owls line-up was closer to their typical starting 11 – as Shalynai Naputi returned after missing the previous two matches. Freshman Miranda Valle made her first collegiate start in a defender role at Carroll, replacing center back Carly Moss. In all, six players have started all nine matches this season, with three others starting eight.
 
SCORELESS STREAK ENDS FOR NAKAMURA: Tech keeper Sydni Nakamura saw her consecutive minutes streak without allowing a goal snapped on Sunday at Carroll, surrendering a goal midway through the second half. It was the first goal Nakamura had allowed in CCC play – ending a string of 466 minutes without a ball in the back of the net. She currently has a 0.64 goals against average – fourth-best in the circuit.
 
AROUND THE CASCADE CONFERENCE: The top two teams in the table, College of Idaho and Northwest, remain tied with three weeks left in the regular-season, with both Eastern Oregon and Carroll sitting one game back in the win column. Along with EOU and C of I traveling to OIT and Southern Oregon, Bushnell and Corban make the long trip to Rocky Mountain and Providence, Northwest and Evergreen head to Warner Pacific and Multnomah, with Carroll having a bye weekend.
 
LEAGUE LEADERS: Four OIT players currently rank among the Top-10 in the CCC statistical rankings following weekend play. Maddie Miller leads the way, ranking No. 2 in shots per game (3.94), No. 3 in goals scored (5) and goals per game (0.56), No. 4 in shots (31) and game-winning goals (2), No. 7 in points per game (1.11) and No. 8 in total points (10). Three others rank in three categories – Kiah Wetzell is No. 4 in game-winning goals (2), No. 7 in goals per game (0.44) and No. 8 in goals scored (4); Sydni Nakamura is No. 4 in goals against average (0.64) and No. 4 in shutouts (4), ranking No. 6 in save percentage (.853); with Sylvia Sloss No. 7 in assists (3) and assist average (0.33), ranking No. 9 in shots per game (2.44).
 
RECORD BOOK WATCH: Senior Maddie Miller currently ranks among the career Top-10 in OIT history – ranking No. 1 in game-winning goals (10), No. 4 all-time in goals scored (31), total points scored (65) and shots (184). In addition, Sydni Nakamura ranks No. 8 all-time in shutouts (5) and No. 9 in goalie wins (7).
 
NEW OVERTIME RULES: The 2022 season will feature a new set of rules for games tied at the end of regulation. Beginning this year, any regular-season match that is tied after 90 minutes will be declared a draw – no overtime period will be played. All postseason games that are tied after 90 minutes will feature two 10-minute overtime periods – that will be played out in its entirety – regardless of how many goals are scored. If the postseason overtime period ends in a tie, a penalty shootout will determine the team that advances.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: OIT hits the road for the final time in conference play next weekend for key match-ups at Corban (Oct. 21) and Bushnell (Oct. 22).