COMING UP: at CCC Championships (Springfield, Ore.) – vs. Carroll College, Monday, 2 p.m.
GAME DAY INFORMATION: All OIT games from the CCC Championships, will be carried live on the
Owls Sports Network (produced by the CCC - $8.95 PPV). Live Stats will also be available via OIT's
SIDEARM Stats Portal. For fans making the trip to Eugene-Springfield, admission prices are $8.00 per day for adults.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT - CARROLL COLLEGE: Carroll makes their fourth appearance in the CCC Championships and their first postseason trip since 2018. The Fighting Saints (8-3-4) closed the season going 1-1-2 over their last four matches played (also had a forfeit win over Providence), as the squad is anchored by a defense that allows just eight shots per game and outscored foes 25-14. Enrico Paparelli (6 goals, 2 assists) is the top offensive option, with Michal Mojzis (3 goals, 3 assists), Caleb Hoxie (3 goals) and Luke Rosenberger (3 goals) all key attackers. Keeper Juan Navarrette (0.75 GAA, 29 saves, .763 S%) is among the league leaders in goals against average.
HISTORY VS. THE FIGHTING SAINTS: OIT takes a three-match unbeaten streak against Carroll into the match - including a 2-2 draw last month in Helena, Mont. - a match that featured a pair of own goals. The squads have split the first eight meetings, both teams winning three matches, with two draws. The Owls are 2-1-1 against the Saints away from the State of Montana.
A LOOK AT THE TOURNEY: The Carroll-OIT matchup is the No. 4-5 seed quarterfinal pairing, as Southern Oregon earned the first automatic bid to Nationals with their regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in the tournament (meeting No. 8 seed Corban), with the tourney champ earning the CCC"s second NAIA bid. Warner Pacific earned the No. 2 seed and will meet No. 7 seed Providence, while third-seeded College of Idaho matching up with No. 6 seed Evergreen State. If there is an upset, the highest remaining seed will face the lowest seed in the semifinal round.
POSTSEASON HISTORY: OIT has clinched a spot in the Cascade Conference Championships – the seventh-straight postseason appearance by the club. The Owls made their postseason debut in 2016 (Tech failed to qualify for the playoffs the first eight seasons of the program) – losing CCC quarterfinal matches in 2016, 2017 and 2018, while dropping a 2019 quarterfinal game in penalty kicks. Tech swept their way to the tournament title in 2021 and lost in overtime in the title game last season – pushing their tournament record to 4-4-2.
10-WIN SEASONS: With their win over Evergreen State last Monday, the Hustlin' Owls earned their tenth victory of the season - the third consecutive 10-win season. Prior to 2019, OIT did not win more than nine matches in a season, while over the last five years, Tech has four 10-win seasons (with the team winning seven matches during the shortened 2021 spring season).
PLAYING WITH THE LEAD: A lead in a game has been critical for the Owls, as OIT has allowed just two goals this season while holding a lead. Tech has scored first in eight matches – posting a perfect 8-0 mark in the games – surrendering only single goals in wins over OUAZ and Walla Walla.
SUCCESS ON THE TURF: Since the OIT Soccer Field was transitioned from natural grass to an artificial turf surface in 2017, the Owls have posted a 36-10-4 record on their own pitch. Over the last four seasons, Tech has dominated foes, recording a 27-5-3 home record, finishing with a 5-1 mark in 2023.
CONFERENCE NUMBERS: As a team, Tech ranks No. 2 in the CCC in shutouts (8), No. 3 in assists per game (1.87), No. 4 in goals per game (2.47) and goals against average (1.06), ranking No. 9 in shots per game (12.94). Individually,
Andrew Pasang is No. 3 in points scored (29) and No. 4 in both goals (11) and assists (7);
Ryan Solis is No. 2 in shutouts (7) and No. 5 in goals against average (1.14), with
Ryan Pearson No. 6 in assists (6).
RECORD BOOK: Four players rank among the Top-10 in the career men's soccer record book – led by
Brock Rideout, who holds the OIT mark for career points scored (72), goals (26), game-winning goals (10), assists (20) and games played (83).
Andrew Pasang is right on Rideout's heels, ranking No. 2 in points scored (63), goals scored (23) and assists (17), with
Ryan Solis No. 4 in shutouts (7) and
Ryan Pearson ranking No. 6 in assists (13). Pasang has recorded 29 total points (11 goals, 7 assists), establishing a new OIT single-season points record.
