COMING UP: vs. Simpson, Thursday, 2 p.m.
 
GAME DAY INFORMATION: The OIT-Simpson men's soccer match will be the debut broadcast on the new Cascade Sports Network streaming platform (https://www.cascadesportsnetwork.com/oregontech/) – which will feature games from 11 of the 13 soccer playing schools in the conference. Live Stats will continue to be available through OIT's SIDEARM Stats Portal - https://oregontechowls.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary.
 
OPPONENT INFORMATION – SIMPSON (1-12-4 IN 2025)
18TH ALL-TIME MEETING | LAST MET IN 2025 | OIT LEADS SERIES 11-5-1: The 2026 campaign begins Thursday at home, as Simpson makes the two-hour drive north to meet the Owls. The Redhawks are coming off a tough season featuring six one-goal losses, with the new team having to replace three Cal-Pac all-stars, including keeper of the year, Jacopo Trolese. Forward Jonathan Garcia Virgan (6 goals) is the top playmaker, earning All-Cal Pac honors last year and is joined up front by seniors David Clavijo (1 goal, 1 assist) and Alan Gonzalez (1 goal). SU returns a pair of key defenders in Jorge Barranco and Ariel Perez-Avilles, each starting 16 matches in 2025. Tech toppled the Redhawks last August in Redding, 1-0, thanks to a first-half goal from Reece Fletcher.
 
STARTING WITH THE REDHAWKS AGAIN: The 2026 opener marks the seventh time that OIT and Simpson have opened the season against each other, with Tech holding a 4-1-1 record. The two squads started campaigns against one another in 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019 and most recently in 2022, a 2-2 draw in Redding.
 
SEASON OPENING STREAK ON THE LINE: The Owls will take a seven-match unbeaten streak in season openers into Thursday's contest. OIT earned wins to start the 2019-21 seasons, while playing Simpson to a draw in 2022 and Menlo to a draw in 2023. In 2024, the Owls went on the road and earned a 1-0 decision at George Fox, while last season, the club posted a late goal to post a 1-1 draw with Benedictine Mesa. Tech's last season opening loss was in 2018 – a 2-0 decision at The Master's. OIT is 8-6-4 in season openers, dating back to the start of the program in 2008.
 
OPENING THE SEASON AT HOME: For the ninth time, Tech will start the season in Klamath Falls, looking to improve a 5-2-1 mark in season openers in the Basin. The Owls posted wins in 4-straight season openers at home prior to last season's draw with BenU – wins over Simpson in 2016 and 2019 and victories over Jessup in 2020 and 2021.
 
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 44-12-8 record on their own pitch. Since 2020, Tech has dominated foes, recording a 35-7-7 home record, including a 4-0-2 mark in 2025.

AUGUST GAMES: Tech will play an August game for the 16th time in 19 seasons (the 2009 and 2021 seasons opened in September, while the 2020 season was played in the spring of 2021). The Owls are 7-9-5 all-time in August games – including a current 10-match unbeaten streak.
 
OWLS PICKED SEVENTH: The Hustlin' Owls were picked seventh in the 2026 Cascade Conference preseason poll, accumulating 94 voter points from the 13 league coaches. The four CCC squads that advanced to last season's NAIA Tournament claimed the top spots – Eastern Oregon (149), Carroll (148), Warner Pacific (147) and Rocky Mountain (133), followed by College of Idaho (116) and Southern Oregon (114) – with OIT hosting each of the sides this season in Klamath. The first NAIA Top-25 poll will be released on Wednesday.
 
SEASON PREVIEW: The 2026 OIT men's soccer season preview was released last week - https://oregontechowls.com/news/2026/8/11/2026-oregon-tech-mens-soccer-preview.aspx.
 
AROUND THE LEAGUE: Seven CCC teams will join the Owls in opening their season this week – starting with Corban hosting Fraser Valley on Wednesday in Salem. Both Carroll and Providence welcome Dordt (Iowa) to Big Sky country, while Rocky Mountain heads to Iowa for three matches (Grand View, William Penn, Mount Mercy). Warner Pacific travels to Arizona to meet Embry-Riddle and Arizona Christian, Northwest travels to George Fox, with Southern Oregon heading to Simpson.
 
RECORD BOOK: Entering the 2026 season, only one player ranks among the OIT Top-20 in the career record book, as Dalton Rideout enters the season No. 19 in program history in goals scored (9).
 
NEXT WEEK: Tech heads to Arizona for a pair of matches – playing Aug. 28 at Benedictine Mesa and Aug. 30 at Embry-Riddle.