COMING UP: at Menlo, Saturday, 4 p.m.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION: Saturday's match will be carried live on the GSAC Sports Network (PPV - $4.99), with Live Stats available through OIT's SIDEARM Stats Portal.
 
MULTIMEDIA: All photos from the 2023 season will be posted online via the OIT Men's Soccer Flickr Page, while highlight clips and interviews will be posted online via the new OIT Men's Soccer YouTube Channel.
 
SEASON OPENERS: In the 15 years of men's soccer, the Owls are a combined 7-6-2 in their opening game of the season – posting a 5-2 record at home and 2-4-2 on the road. It marks the fifth time the team has started the season in California – playing at Simpson in 2014, 2015 and 2022, opening the year at The Master's in 2018.

GAMES IN AUGUST: OIT will begin the season in August for the 13th time in 16 years (2009 season started on Sept. 1 and in 2021, the Owls began on Sept. 2, with the 2020 season played during the Spring). Tech has played 15 matches in August, with the earliest start date on Aug. 21 (twice) – combining for a 4-9-2 record in the month – including a 4-match unbeaten streak dating back to 2018.
 
ABOUT MENLO: Tech opens the year against an experienced Oaks (1-0-1) side, coming off a 7-5-6 record in 2022. Menlo opened the new year with a scoreless draw vs. UC Merced before rolling to a 5-0 victory against Simpson. Midfielders Dennis Vanin (2 goals, 2 assists in 2022) and Levin Ledergerber (5 goals, 2 assists) are key to the Oaks success – Vanin an All-GSAC selection, while Ledergerber scored two goals and assisted on a third in the win over Simpson. Forward Oliver Mayer (5 goals, 5 assists in 2022) is the top returning scorer, while keeper Jo Krumsvik (1.42 GAA in 2022) has yet to allow a goal in 2023. Menlo takes a 13-match home unbeaten streak, dating back to 2021, into Saturday's contest.
 
SERIES HISTORY: The two teams are meeting for the seventh time, with Menlo holding a 3-2-1 series edge – including a win in the lone game at Wonderlich Field, a 5-1 decision in 2017. Last season, Tech earned a penalty kick with 20 seconds left, with Andrew Pasang converting from the spot, helping the Owls salvage at 1-1 draw in Klamath Falls.
 
AGAINST THE GOLDEN STATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: The Owls have played four members of the Golden State Athletic Conference in program history, recording a combined 5-6-2 record. Tech has a 3-1 record vs. Jessup, 2-3-1 vs. Menlo, along with 0-1 records against Hope International and The Master's.
 
THE GSAC IS CHANGING AGAIN: Saturday's matchup marks the final time OIT and Menlo will meet as NAIA members, as the Oaks will be transitioning to the NCAA Division II in 2024. Fellow GSAC members, Jessup and Vanguard, will join Menlo next season in the Pacific West Conference – a league that features six former NAIA squads (Fresno Pacific, Concordia-Irvine, Point Loma, Azusa Pacific, Biola and Westmont). Only two schools that comprised the GSAC in 2010 remain – Hope International and The Master's.
 
HUSTLIN' OWLS PICKED THIRD: OIT earned the highest men's soccer preseason conference ranking in program history, as the Hustlin' Owls were picked third overall in the 2023 Cascade Conference preseason poll, announced earlier this month by league office. Tech received 161 voter points from the 14 league coaches - trailing only preseason favorite and defending champ, Warner Pacific (187), along with rival Southern Oregon (173). College of Idaho (151) and Rocky Mountain (130) rounded out the Top-5. WPU was the lone CCC team to crack the Top-25 poll at No. 19, with SOU receiving votes.
 
BIGGEST ROSTER IN PROGRAM HISTORY: The Owls head into the season with the largest roster in program history – 32 players, including four keepers and 28 field players. The team has one graduate student (Brock Rideout) and three seniors (Rosendo Juarez-Flores, Sean Burcin, Yuki Enomoto), along with 16 juniors, eight sophomores and four freshmen.
 
EXPERIENCED CREW: Four returning All-CCC players will anchor the Hustlin' Owls, led by outside back Brock Rideout, who earned NAIA All-America honors last season after tying a school-record with eight assists. Running mate, Ryan Pearson, started all 20 games as the left outside back, pushing forward to record six assists. In the midfield, both DeShone Myles and Andrew Pasang are back – Myles is one of the more athletic defensive midfielders in the CCC, while Pasang ranked second on the team in scoring 10 goals and adding six helpers. In all, 10 different goal scorers return, as do 13 players who tallied at least one assist.
 
REPLACING FOUR SENIORS: Tech lost four players from a 2022 team that posted a 13-3-4 record and qualified for their second-straight NAIA Championships – all key leaders from the squad. The production of forwards Cade O'Neill and John Sarna will be difficult to replace – O'Neill earning All-CCC honors after setting a school-record with 13 goals, while Sarna is the OIT all-time leader in points and assists. Two-year starter and former All-America keeper Joel Witts, along with center back Reilly Combs, have each moved into a coaching role with the program.
 
NEWCOMERS SET TO MAKE MARK: With such a deep returning roster, a group of 10 newcomers have an uphill challenge to get extended playing time in 2023 – but the talent level of the recruits will put pressure on the coaching staff from Day 1. Transfer keepers Ryan Solis and Juan Hernandez are squarely in the mix for the open spot in goal – Solis an All-NWAC performer at Walla Walla CC, while Hernandez was the starter at Rogue CC. Transfers Lennyn "Kiko" Solis and Curtis Vang will help in the midfield, as will Yuki Enomoto in the defensive third – Solis scored 11 goals last season at Walla Walla CC, Vang was a starter at Folsom Lake CC, with Enomoto transferring from Menlo College. Of the freshmen, 6-foot-4 forward Dalton Rideout, will be a key option in a forward position.
 
SEASON PREVIEWS:  Part 1 – Goalkeepers/Defenders    Part 2 – Midfielders/Forwards
 
AROUND THE CONFERENCE: Two CCC teams opened the season 2-0, as Bushnell earned wins over Simpson and George Fox, while Northwest topped both Fraser Valley and Linfield. Eastern Oregon has the top result, playing Northwest Nazarene, ranked No. 6 in the NCAA Division II, to a draw. Key matchups this week include College of Idaho at Jessup and Simpson, Southern Oregon hosting Embry-Riddle and Carroll traveling to Whitworth.
 
RECORD BOOK WATCH: Brock Rideout heads into the season the school record-holder in game-winning goals (8), while nearing three major milestones. Rideout has 19 career goals (two away from Trinidad Flores' school record of 21), 16 assists (one away from John Sarna's school record of 17) and 54 points (one away from Sarna's school record of 55).
 
NEXT WEEK: OIT will open the home schedule on Friday (Sept. 1) afternoon, hosting Simpson University in their lone home non-conference contest.