COMING UP: vs. College of Idaho, Friday, 2:30 p.m.; vs. Eastern Oregon, Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
 
GAME DAY INFORMATION:  Both weekend games will be streamed on the Owls Sports Network – with women's soccer head coach Tom Moore and Lady Owls leading scorer Kiana Jacobson calling the action on Friday, with Mike Safford handling the play-by-play on Saturday. Both matches will have Live Stats available through OIT's SIDEARM Stats Portal.
 
MULTIMEDIA: All photos from the 2024 season will be posted online via the OIT Men's Soccer Flickr Page, while highlight clips will be posted online via the OIT Men's Soccer YouTube Channel. In addition, full home game replays are available on the Owls Sports Network under the Live tab.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – COLLEGE OF IDAHO: Tech returns home Friday afternoon, hosting College of Idaho, the defending Cascade Conference Tournament champs. The Coyotes (5-1-1, 3-1 CCC) have the top offense in the league – scoring at least three goals in each of their last five matches – leading the circuit in shots per game (17.12) and goals per game (3.43). All-CCC forward Jorge Fernandez (4 goals, 2 assists) anchors the attack, with Eric Hornung (6 goals, 1 assists), Keidin Green (5 goals, 1 assists) and Pol Romero (2 goals, 1 assist) key options. Keeper Matej Hron (1.35 GAA) and All-CCC center back Grant Embree patrol the defensive third. C of I holds an 18-4 all-time series lead, but Tech has wins in two of the last three meetings.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – EASTERN OREGON: Saturday, Eastern Oregon makes their appearance in the Basin, as the Mountaineers (4-1-1, 3-0-1) are off to their best start in program history – with their lone loss at Hope International. Defense is EOU's calling card, allowing just three goals through six matches and just eight shots per game. Four players have shouldered the scoring load – Daniel Kropf (3 goals), Angel Sandoval (3 goals, 1 assist), Milton Hernandez (3 goals, 1 assist) and Jesus Alvarez (3 goals) – with the Mounties using three keepers, but Anthony Lemus (0.68 GAA) posting the most time in goal. Tech is 4-0 all-time vs. Eastern in Klamath and hold a 7-1-2 all-time series lead, with the two teams playing to a scoreless draw last season in La Grande.
 
EARLY GOALS HURT TECH: The road swing to the Willamette Valley was a tough one for Tech, dropping a 3-1 decision at Corban and a 2-1 decision at Bushnell. Early goals proved to be the difference – as Corban struck for two goals in the opening six minutes and Bushnell scored just eight minutes into the game. Over the past six matches, the Owls have failed to score first – with OIT last scoring the opening goal of a match on Sept. 5 at The Masters.
 
FINDING THE FRAME: OIT currently ranks No. 4 in the Cascade Conference in shots per game, averaging nearly 14 shots a contest – however, the Owls rank 14th in the league in shots on frame – putting 38-percent of their attempts on goal. Five players have recorded 10-or-more shots in 2024 – Cash Cota (20), Kevin Rodriguez (17), Andrew Pasang (16), Wolfgang Alvarado (14) and Lennyn Solis (11).
 
PASANG TIES RECORD: After being held out of the points column over the first six matches in 2024, forward Andrew Pasang has posted a point in three-straight contests. The senior assisted on the Owls lone goal at Corban, pulling one helper away from the all-time OIT record, with Pasang converting the seventh penalty kick at Bushnell, tying Jake Mitchell's career record and moving him one goal scored away from the all-time goals record.
 
IRON MEN: Through nine matches, both keeper Ryan Solis and center back Cooper Hunt have yet to come off the field, playing all 810 minutes during games. Two other players – Sylver Schweiger (741 minutes) and Bridger Meyer (804 minutes) have each played 700-or-more minutes.
 
PLAYING AT HOME: Since the OIT Soccer Field was transitioned from natural grass to an artificial turf surface in 2017, the Owls have posted a 38-11-4 record on their own pitch. Since 2020, Tech has dominated foes, recording a 29-6-3 home record, including a 2-1 mark this year.
 
HOME SHUTOUT STREAK: The Owls head into weekend games with College of Idaho and Eastern Oregon riding a streak of 24-straight home games scoring a goal. The last home shutout of Tech occurred in 2021, a loss to Southern Oregon.
 
AROUND THE CONFERENCE: Last week saw two road teams complete sweeps – as Eastern Oregon claimed wins at Rocky Mountain and Walla Walla, with Carroll earning victories at Warner Pacific and Multnomah. Heading into the week, 13 of the 14 teams in the league have at least one point in the table – with Walla Walla the lone team without a win or draw. This week, along with OIT and Southern hosting C of I and Eastern, Northwest and Evergreen State head to Warner Pacific and Multnomah, Bushnell and Corban make the trip to Carroll and Providence, with Rocky playing at Walla Walla.
 
TOURNAMENT TO BE PLAYED CLOSE TO HOME: After a nine-year run in Springfield, the Cascade Conference Championships has changed venues – with the 8-team event heading to Medford and the Lithia & Driveway Fields Complex. Quarterfinal dates are set for Sunday, Nov. 10, semifinal games will be played Tuesday, Nov. 12, with the title game set for Thursday, Nov. 14. All CCC Tournament games will be streamed through Table Rock Sports.
 
LEAGUE LEADERS: As a team, the Hustlin' Owls rank No. 4 in shots per game (13.67), No. 5 in corner kicks per game (5.11) and shutouts (2), No. 6 in goals against average (1.67) and fouls per game (12.67), No. 9 in assists per game (1.11) and No. 11 in goals per game (1.33). Individually, Ryan Solis is No. 3 in shutouts (2) and No. 9 in goals against average (1.67), with Cash Cota No. 7 in shots (20) and Kevin Rodriguez No. 10 in shots (17).
 
MCMANAMON CLOSING IN: Head coach Sean McManamon heads into weekend play with a career record of 28-13-3 – the second-most wins in program history. The third-year skipper is four victories away from setting a new OIT men's soccer coaching wins record, as Matt Munhall won 31 games from 2012-18.
 
RECORD BOOK: Three players are currently ranked among the Top-20 the OIT all-time career record book. Andrew Pasang shares the all-time record for penalty kick conversions (7), ranking No. 2 all-time in goals scored (26), assists (19), total points (71) and game-winning goals (9), ranking No. 5 in total shot attempts (122); Ryan Solis is No. 4 in shutouts (9) and goalie wins (12), ranking No. 9 in saves (82); with Kevin Rodriguez No. 10 in assists (10).
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Owls will make the 2,000-mile round trip next week – playing a Friday date at Walla Walla, before heading to the Yellowstone River Valley to meet Rocky Mountain.