Oregon Institute of Technology Athletics

COMING UP: vs. Menlo, Monday, 11 a.m.; at Evergreen, Friday, 3 p.m.; at Northwest, Saturday, 3 p.m.
 
WATCH LIVE: For fans unable to attend Monday's match, the game will be streamed live on the Owls Sports Network with Mike Safford and Mike Garrard on the call. Live Stats will also be available through OIT's SIDEARM Sports Portal. Saturday, both Live Video and Live Stats will be provided via the Northwest Stretch Internet Portal. Unfortunately, Live Video and Live Stats will not be provided for Friday's match at Evergreen.
 
HOME OPENERS: OIT is 9-5 in home openers dating back to a 2-0 victory over Menlo on Aug. 30, 2008. It marks the second time that the Owls have opened their home schedule vs. Menlo – picking up the win in 2008, along with a 7-0 decision in 2010.
 
UNBEATEN STREAK ON THE LINE: Friday's win over Jamestown extended the longest unbeaten streak in program history, now at 16-straight matches. OIT finished the 2021 campaign on a 14-match unbeaten streak – winning nine matches in a row, before alternating draws and wins over their last seven contests played (including the 0-0 draw vs. Lyon at the NAIA Championships) – and the two matches this season. Tech has not lost a match since Sept. 24 of last season – a 1-0 decision at Southern Oregon.
 
HOME STREAK STILL ALIVE: In addition to the overall unbeaten streak, OIT will take an 11-match home win streak Monday's match, dating back to the 2020 season. The Owls recorded a perfect 8-0 mark on their own pitch in the Fall of 2021, with their last home loss coming March 7, 2021, against Warner Pacific.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – MENLO: The 3-game week starts with a home date against the Oaks (3-1), as the Bay Area squad has outscored their four opponents, 14-2. Menlo earned lopsided wins over Pacific Union, Antelope Valley and Westcliff, while losing a 1-0 decision to UC Merced. Keeper Ben Fish (0.52 GAA, 11 saves) has been outstanding, with All-GSAC midfielder Levin Ledergerber (2 goals) returning after scoring four goals with four assists last season. Mattia Celant (1 goal, 2 assists) and Basil Merk (2 goals, 1 assist) both are back after combining for nine goals in 2021. It is the sixth all-time meeting, with the Oaks holding a 3-2 series edge, including 3-straight wins dating back to 2014.
 
OPENING OF CASCADE CONFERENCE PLAY: The 13-game Cascade Conference table begins Friday to determine the eight sides which will play this November in the CCC Championships. Two teams head into the week with unblemished records – as Corban sits at 5-0, posting quality wins over Northwestern and Concordia to climb into the Top-25, while Multnomah (off to their best start in program history), as is Warner Pacific – averaging four goals per game. This week, Walla Walla and Carroll travel to Corban and Bushnell, Multnomah and Warner Pacific head to College of Idaho and Eastern Oregon, while Providence and Rocky Mountain meet in a travel partner showdown.
 
HEADING NORTH: The Owls will make the long journey to Washington for road dates at Evergreen and Northwest – a trip that has been difficult during the 14-year history of the program. OIT has swept the weekend just once (in 2009), with the squad 2-5-2 all-time at Evergreen and 4-7-1 at Northwest – but the Owls have won the last three overall meetings against both schools.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – EVERGREEN: Tech opens the trip against a Geoducks (1-2) side that has dealt with a 52-11 shot discrepancy against a trio of Division III foes – earning a win vs. Pacific, while losing matches against Puget Sound and Whitman. Returning keeper Colin Hauser (1.67 GAA, 22 saves) was an All-CCC pick in 2021, with Zack Schmidt (1 goal) the top offensive option. TESC holds an 11-6-3 all-time series lead over the Owls.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – NORTHWEST: The Eagles (2-1-1) played Bryan (Tenn.) to a 2-2 draw after winning back-to-back games over Northwestern (Iowa) and Pacific. NU returns the CCC's leading scorer from 2021, Elliot Misic (15 goals in 2021), along with fellow All-CCC picks in Gian Herrera (3 goals, 1 assist in 2021) and keeper Alexander Thiehofe (1.58 GAA in 2021). Newcomer Tyler Hopp (3 goals) is the Eagles top scorer in 2022. NU holds a 13-7-2 all-time series edge vs. OIT.
 
PLAYING ON GRASS: OIT will play both matches this weekend on grass – as the Evergreen campus features four full grass fields and Northwest competes on the former Seattle Seahawks training facility. Tech will play two other matches on natural surfaces – road dates at Walla Walla and Carroll.
 
WITTS TIES WINS MARK: Keeper Joel Witts picked up his 18th career victory with the win over Jamestown – tying former teammate Mitchell Jillson for the top spot. The senior faced 11 shots but made just one save to complete his ninth career clean sheet – three away from Jillson's school mark of 12.
 
3 GOALS, 3 SCORERS: The Owls showcased their depth against Jamestown, as three different players tallied goals in the victory. DeShone Myles earned the game-winner, heading home a Ryan Pearson corner in the waning moments of the first half. Tech doubled the lead early in the second half, as John Sarna scored his first goal of the year off a feed from Ellis Harwood, while Andrew Pasang got into the act, finishing a nice pass from Brock Rideout.
 
THREE GOALS EQUAL WINS: The win against Jamestown marked the 54th time the Owls have scored 3-or-more goals in a match, with the club 48-6 in such games (with four of the losses actual wins that were forfeited). The only losses on the field when scoring three goals were by identical 4-3 scores in 2008 and 2014.
 
RECORD BOOK: Three OIT players start 2022 among the Top-10 in the program's all-time record book. Both John Sarna and Brock Rideout begin the year tied for the all-time game-winning goals record (7) – with Sarna No. 2 in total shots (124), points (44) and goals scored (16), ranking No. 4 in assists (12), while Rideout is No. 5 in goals scored (15), No. 6 in points (40) and No. 8 in assists (10). Joel Witts is tied for the all-time record for goalie wins (18) and is No. 3 in shutouts (9).
 
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 will return to the Basin to begin a 3-match homestand on Sept. 23 with a 3 p.m. match-up against rival Southern Oregon.