REDDING, Calif. – A brace from Hunter Hoogerwerf helped Oregon Tech open the 2022 season with a 2-2 draw at Simpson University.
 
The tie for the Owls (0-0-1) extended a school-record unbeaten streak to 15 matches.

"It's unfortunate we did not get the result we wanted," said OIT head coach, Sean McManamon. "The boys put in a shift to battle all the way through. We had some opportunities to finish the game off, but couldn't find that third goal to seal a win. It was a good test for us to learn from as we progress in our season."
 
The Redhawks (0-0-2) opened the scoring in the 18th minute, as Diego Alvarez headed home a cross into the area from Austin Miller.
 
Hoogerwerf answered twice in a six-minute span to give OIT the lead. The junior tallied an unassisted goal with less than a minute left in the first half to square the match – and in the 51st minute, collected a ball in the box and found the net to give Tech the 2-1 edge.
 
SU earned a point with a late goal from Ramirez Cervantes in the 83rd minute.
 
Simpson held a 9-8 edge in total shots, with both teams attempting four corner kicks. Four Owls had two shots on the day – Brock Rideout, Andrew Pasang, Rosendo Juarez-Flores and Hoogerwerf – with keeper Joel Witts making three saves.

The match marked the debut of McManamon as head coach.
 
OIT returns to the pitch on Friday, traveling to La Grande for a neutral site match-up vs. Jamestown.