COMING UP: vs. Warner Pacific, Friday, 2:30 p.m.; vs. Multnomah, Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
 
GAME DAY INFORMATION: Fans arriving at the weekend games will notice construction along Industrial Park Drive, which (as of Sept. 18) has closed the lower parking lot near the OIT Soccer Field. Fans are asked to park in the upper CEET/Cornet Hall lot and walk down to the field. The game will be streamed live on the Owls Sports Network  (now on YouTube) with Mike Safford on the call, with 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.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – WARNER PACIFIC: Conference play opens this weekend with a bang, as rival Warner Pacific makes the trip down from the Rose City. The Hustlin' Owls and Knights (4-1) played for the Cascade Conference Tournament crown in 2021 and 2022 (each team winning one), with both sides falling last season in the league tournament semifinals. The new WPU squad has quality wins over Missouri Baptist and Saint Martin's, outscoring opponents 11-7 and holding a 29-13 edge in corner kicks, with the Knights returning four All-CCC selections – midfielders Chanin Orlandin (3 goals, 3 assists) and Pedro Calderon (1 goal, 1 assist), along with defender Brendan Leach (1 assist) and 2024 leading scorer, forward Bryce McCole – with the team trotting out a new keeper in Jospher Juarez-Cruz (1.56 GAA, .650 save pct). It is the 26th all-time meeting between the clubs, with WPU holding a 14-6-5 series lead, though OIT has a 3-1-2 record in the last six meetings – including last season's 1-0 win in Portland.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – MULTNOMAH: The Owls will play back-to-back matches for the first time this season, as Multnomah (officially Multnomah Campus of Jessup University – as the school was purchased by Jessup University last spring) searches for their first-ever win on the pitch against OIT (had a forfeit win in 2018). The Lions (2-2) recorded consecutive wins over Lewis & Clark and Pacific Union, but dropped matches against D-III foes in Pacific and Puget Sound – but have outscored opponents, 11-7. Multnomah's leading scorer from 2023 – forward Paul Einero (6 goals) – is back, coming off a 7-goal year, with the duo of Axcele Biteghe (1 goal, 2 assists) and Aghlies Lamara (3 assists) have played well during non-league matches. Four different keepers have taken the field for the Lions this fall, including returner Pablo Mendoza (4.37 GAA, .286 save pct) – who had a 1.45 GAA in 2023. It is the ninth all-time meeting between the schools, with Tech earning a 2-0 victory on the Lions home field a season ago.
 
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE OPENS: The 13-match Cascade Conference schedule begins this week, as the 14 league clubs embark on a seven-week journey to determine two automatic bids to the NAIA National Championships. The Hustlin' Owls will have more home dates than road dates in league play in 2024 – hosting Warner Pacific/Multnomah, College of Idaho/Eastern Oregon and Providence/Carroll, along with hosting travel partner, Southern Oregon.
 
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.
 
ROUGH AFTERNOON IN REDDING: Holding a 2-goal lead in the aggregate of the inaugural Sky Cup series with Simpson, the Hustlin' Owls were in prime position to claim the crystal trophy for the next 11 months heading into last Friday's match-up. Unfortunately, a pair of unlucky bounces went against Tech – as the Redhawks scored two first half goals and the defense kept the Owls from scoring in a 2-0 decision – giving Simpson possession of the trophy (based on road goals scored). SU scored less than a minute into the match, capitalizing on a strong tackle in the defensive third to earn a 1-on-1 attempt, while midway through the period, an OIT defender slipped while marking an attacker, allowing the hosts a second1-on-1 chance. For Tech, it marks the first time since the 2020 season (consecutive matches vs. Corban) that the squad has suffered consecutive shutouts.
 
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 37-10-4 record on their own pitch. Since 2020, Tech has dominated foes, recording a 28-5-3 home record, including a 1-0 mark this year.
 
HOME SHUTOUT STREAK: The Owls will take a 22-match scoring streak in home games into the weekend. The last home shutout of Tech occurred in 2021, a loss to Southern Oregon.
 
AROUND THE CONFERENCE: The final weekend of non-league play saw a mixed bag of results – as both Bushnell (Cal Maritime/Simpson) and Northwest (Lewis & Clark/Linfield) sweep opponents, Eastern Oregon and Carroll split matches in California, while Southern Oregon and Corban close preseason play with losses. The new league slate opens with Rocky Mountain and Walla Walla (who has yet to play a match) traveling to Carroll and Providence, Northwest and Evergreen State trekking to College of Idaho and Eastern, with travel partners Corban and Bushnell meeting in Eugene.
 
LEAGUE LEADERS: As a team, the Hustlin' Owls lead the CCC in shutouts (2), ranking No. 6 in assists per game (1.60), No. 7 in goals against average (1.40) and corner kicks (3.80), No. 8 in goals per game (1.40) and fouls per game (9.00), No. 9 in shots per game (11.00) and No. 10 in saves per game (2.00). Individually, Ryan Solis leads the league in shutouts (2), ranking No. 9 in goals against average (1.40), Wolfgang Alvarado is No. 6 in goals scored (2) and No. 7 in points (5), with both Kevin Rodriguez and Cash Cota No. 7 in shot attempts (10).
 
MCMANAMON CLOSING IN: Head coach Sean McManamon heads into weekend play with a career record of 27-10-3 – the second-most wins in program history. The third-year skipper is five 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 is No. 2 all-time in goals scored (24), assists (18), total points (66) and game-winning goals (8), ranking No. 6 in total shot attempts (111); Ryan Solis is No. 4 in shutouts (9) and goalie wins (11), ranking No. 9 in saves (74); with Kevin Rodriguez No. 10 in assists (10).
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Owls will hit the road next weekend, traveling to the Willamette Valley for matches at Corban (Sept. 27) and Bushnell (Sept. 28).