KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Brock Rideout celebrated Senior Day with his second career hat trick, as Oregon Tech recorded their most prolific offensive outburst of the season in a 7-0 victory over Northwest University at the OIT Soccer Field.
 
The Hustlin' Owls (9-4-3, 7-3-2 CCC) locked themselves into the No. 4-5 match-up in the upcoming Cascade Conference Championships and a date with Carroll College a week from Monday – regardless of the outcome of tomorrow's match-up with Evergreen State and Carroll's game at Providence.
 
On a day Tech celebrated 13 senior student-athletes, Rideout put the outcome of the game out of reach in the first 25 minutes – scoring three times to the delight of a raucous home crowd.
 
"I am just beyond happy for everyone today," said OIT head coach Sean McManamon. "We showed what we are capable of and are ready for a challenge against Evergreen. I am very happy for our seniors and the journey they have had."
 
Rideout opened the scoring in the sixth minute, as Yuki Enomoto played a cross from the left side of the field to the back post – with the fifth-year senior heading home the counter. Tech scored off a set piece in the 22nd minute, as Dylan Nakagawa played a corner to the near post, with Rideout flicking home the feed. Less than two minutes later, Rideout was in the right spot – redirecting a rebound of an Enomoto shot into an open net for a 3-0 lead.
 
Just before the break, the Owls reserves contributed – as Curtis Vang played a ball into the 6-yard-box, finding an unmarked Dalton Rideout for the freshman's fifth goal of 2023.
 
It was all that senior Connor Caslin needed in goal, earning the first clean sheet of his career – turning away a pair of shots on frame.
 
OIT added a flurry of goals over a five-minute span of the second half – including a brace from Andrew Pasang. The junior touched home a corner kick from Kevin Rodriguez in the 72nd minute and made a nice move off a Rideout thru-ball in the 74th, rocketing a left footed shot into the net.
 
Tech capped the scoring in the 77th minute, as senior Sean Burcin jumped on a failed clearance just outside the Eagles (7-6-3, 4-5-3) box and touched home his first career goal.
 
OIT dominated the match – holding a 20-8 edge in total shots and taking all eight corner kick attempts.
 
The Hustlin' Owls close out the regular-season tomorrow, hosting Evergreen State at 12 p.m. NU heads to Southern Oregon for a must-win match – clinching a playoff bid with a victory, but a draw or loss ends their season.