COMING UP: at Eastern Oregon, Friday, 6:30 p.m.; at No. 17-ranked College of Idaho, Saturday, 8 p.m. (MDT)

COMPLETE INTERACTIVE WEEKLY MEDIA NOTEBOOK
 
GAMEDAY INFORMATION: Both weekend games will be carried live on the Owls Sports Network – Friday's match produced by Eastern Oregon (PPV - $7.95) and Saturday's match produced by College of Idaho (PPV - $9.00). Live Stats for both matches will be available via OIT's SIDEARM Stats Portal.
 
MULTIMEDIA: All photos from the 2023 season will be posted online via the OIT Women's Soccer Flickr Page, while highlight clips and interviews will be posted online via the new OIT Women's Soccer YouTube Channel.
 
ABOUT THE OPPONENT – EASTERN OREGON: Tech opens the road swing in La Grande, as Eastern puts an undefeated record on the line. The Mountaineers (4-0-3, 2-0-1 CCC) earned a key home win over Rocky Mountain last weekend – as the EOU defense recorded their third-straight shutout and fifth of the season. The Mounties have outscored opponents 16-2 – allowing a mere 45 total shots through seven matches, while not surrendering a first half goal. Returning All-CCC picks Erika Skindlov (2 goals, 2 assists) and Darby McDevitt (2 goals) key the attack, with Kana Mateaki (4 goals, 1 assist) and Emmy Williams (3 goals) the top scorers.  Keeper Rylee Schei (0.34 GAA, 15 saves, .882 S%) has been near untouchable in 2023.
 
HISTORY VS. THE MOUNTAINEERS: Both OIT and Eastern Oregon started their women's soccer programs at the same time, making their debuts during the 2000 season – with Friday's match-up looking to break a 10-10-4 stalemate in the all-time series. Tech is 4-7-1 all-time in La Grande, but takes a 4-match unbeaten streak against EOU into the matchup – including a 0-0 draw vs. the Mounties last season in Klamath Falls.
 
ABOUT THE OPPONENT – COLLEGE OF IDAHO: The long journey ends Saturday night at College of Idaho, facing a Lady Yotes (7-1-1, 3-0) side currently ranked No. 17 in the NAIA Top-25 poll and coming off a trip to the second-round of the NAIA Championships. Head coach Brian Smith has an offensive juggernaut that is riding a 6-match win streak – outscoring opponents 35-7 this season, while holding a commanding 209-49 edge in shots and 63-12 edge in corner kicks. All-CCC performers Larissa Wegner (4 goals, 2 assists) and Gianna Yslava (1 goal, 2 assists) have been complemented by Natasja Davis (7 goals), Eden Makaafi (6 goals, 4 assists) and Maddie Smith (5 goals, 1 assist), while All-CCC keeper Hannah McFadden (0.82 GAA, 26 saves, .788 S%) returns in goal.
 
HISTORY VS. THE YOTES: Saturday's evening clash against the Coyotes (as the contest was moved 90 minutes later to accommodate C of I's homecoming football game) marks the 29th meeting between the schools, with the Idaho side holding a 14-9-5 series edge. The Coyotes have won nine of the 14 meetings in the Gem State, but the Lady Owls have had recent success on the Simplot Stadium turf – winning three of the last five meetings, including a 3-1 win in 2021.
 
EASTBOUND AND DOWN: The long journey to the Grande Ronde Valley of Oregon and the Treasure Valley of Idaho has not been kind to the Lady Owls – as OIT will be making their 12th trip to face Eastern and C of I on back-to-back days. The two outposts were travel partners from 2001-14 and following a 4-year hiatus (EOU was partnered with Warner Pacific, C of I was partnered with Rocky Mountain), returned to their natural pairing in 2019. Tech has swept the tough trip just two times – claiming both ends of the trip in 2001 (when C of I was known as Albertson College) and again during the 2021 season.
 
AGAINST THE TOP-25: The Owls will meet two teams currently in the NAIA national rankings, as Eastern Oregon is the second team listed in the "others receiving votes" category, while College of Idaho is ranked No. 17. Over the last five years, OIT has played 10 matches against Top-25 sides, combining for a 5-2-3 overall record – posting at least a win or a draw against a ranked team each of the last four seasons.
 
OFFENSE GOES SILENT AT HOME: The goal remained locked throughout their home opening weekend for the Lady Owls – as Tech was unable to find the net in either of their two matches. Against Bushnell, OIT posted 18 shots, including six on frame, while 24 hours later, took 10 shots, including three on target – but none of the attempts crossed the white line. Through seven matches, OIT is averaging 1.00 goals per game, just below the 1.18 goals per game average from 2022.
 
DEFENSE STAYS STRONG: Another weekend, another quality performance by the OIT defense – limiting Bushnell and Corban to a combined 14 total shots and just five shots on frame. Veteran center backs Carly Moss and Karly White, along with freshmen outside backs Kaylie Hashizaki and Chloe Cook, keyed the defensive effort, as the Lady Owls lowered their team goals against average to 0.86.
 
ANOTHER CLEAN SHEET: The Lady Owls earned their fourth shutout of the 2023 season on Saturday, shutting out a Corban side that was picked to finish fifth in the Cascade Conference preseason poll. Keeper Sydni Nakamura made four saves – including two from point-blank range – to preserve the clean sheet. It was the sixth 0-0 final score for OIT in the Owls last 22 matches and the 18th time in program history the squad has played to a scoreless draw.
 
AN ANOMALY: Seven matches into the 2023 season, the Owls have a 2-0-2 record when blanking an opponent, however, OIT is 0-3 when allowing at least one goal. Tech's last win when allowing a goal was nearly a year ago – a 4-1 home decision over Providence.
 
CONFERENCE NUMBERS: As a team, the Lady Owls are No. 4 in the CCC in shutouts (4) and goals against average (0.86), No. 5 in shots per game (12.14), No. 9 in assists per game (0.71) and No. 10 in goals per game (1.00). Individually, Sydni Nakamura is tied for the league lead in shutouts (4), ranking No. 4 in goals against average (0.86) and No. 7 in save percentage (.812); Shalynai Naputi is No. 4 in shots per game (3.29); with Kiana Jacobson No. 5 in goals per game (0.60) and No. 9 in points per game (1.20).
 
AROUND THE LEAGUE: Two weeks into the Cascade Conference season and five teams have yet to lose a match – as College of Idaho and Carroll hold the top spot with 3-0 marks, Eastern Oregon is 2-0-1, while both Corban and Southern Oregon sit at 1-0-2. Things will shake up a bit, as the front-runners will face key challenges this week – as Carroll and Providence head to the Valley to meet Corban and Bushnell, with SOU and OIT making the journey to EOU and C of I, while Northwest and Evergreen State travel to Portland to meet Multnomah and Warner Pacific (Rocky Mountain is idle).
 
RECORD BOOK: Two players currently rank among the Top-20 in the OIT career record book – as Sydni Nakamura is No. 6 in shutouts (9) and No. 8 in wins (9), while Kiah Wetzell is No. 15 in goals scored (14) and No. 16 in points scored (34).
 
NEXT WEEK: The Lady Owls return home next Friday for the lone match of the weekend, a 2:30 p.m. match-up against Rocky Mountain – the only home date in the next month (next home game set for Oct. 29).