KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Oregon Tech clinched a spot in the Cascade Conference Tournament on Senior Day, as the Lady Owls scored three unanswered goals to top their oldest rival, Southern Oregon, 3-1.
 
Ten seniors played their final game on the home turf for OIT (11-4-1, 7-3 CCC), extending an unbeaten streak against SOU to six matches, dating back to 2016.
 
With the win, the Lady Owls will be one of the eight teams to compete Nov. 10-14 in Medford for a spot in the NAIA Championships.
 
Things did not start smoothly, as the Raiders (7-6-1, 4-5-1) had the run of play in the opening minutes – converting on a set piece to take the lead. Following a scrum in the box off a corner kick, a Tatum Curtis touch was redirected to Frida Vargas, who headed home the opening goal of the match.
 
OIT picked up the intensity and turned the tide quickly. Seniors Shalynai Naputi and Kayla Ness connected in the 14th-minute, as Naputi made a great run down the right side, looping a cross to the middle of the 6-yard-box, with Ness slotting home the equalizer.
 
Less than 10 minutes later seniors Kiana Jacobson and Brianna Lewis set up the eventual game-winner – Jacobson playing a quick ball to Lewis, who sent a high cross to the back post – with Solei Elletson converting the sitter for the 2-1 lead.
 
Naputi converted a much-needed insurance goal early in the second half – as Kaylie Hashizaki played a through-ball behind the SOU defense to a hard-charging forward. Naputi drew the Raiders keeper Ashlynn Hernandez out of the box, driving a shot into the upper right corner of the net for her third goal of 2024.
 
The Tech defense did the rest, surviving five Southern set pieces in the last 20 minutes.
 
SOU finished with a 11-7 edge in total shots, but OIT held a 5-1 edge in corner kicks.
 
Both teams hit the road to Washington next weekend to close out the regular season with games at Evergreen State and Northwest.