McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Offense was clicking early for both sides on Sunday morning at the Linfield Soccer and Lacrosse Complex. The visiting Caltech Beavers (2-0-0) held a 2-1 lead into the second half until
Ronan Hodge's goal for Linfield (0-1-1) notched the game at two in the 70th minute. The Beavers scored the last goal of the contest that put them over the top for the 3-2 win in McMinnville.
Seamus Miller fired off five shots with four being on goal and eventually seeing one go in the net. Hodge replaced suspended
Sid Kosaris (red card) at the top of the 'Cats attack and came through to score a goal.
Dylan Watkins accounted for four total saves with three coming in the first half.
The Wildcats were outshot in the first half 9-4 until pulling even with Caltech on shots in the second half 6-6. It took just over six minutes for the first goal to go in with Etienne Casanova delivering the first blow. Only a couple of minutes later, Miller tied the match 1-1 after capitalizing on an awarded penalty kick.
Wilson Duan's goal put the Beavers ahead at halftime 2-1, but the Wildcats later squared the bout at two. Ishaan Mantripragada found his teammate Rohan Iyer for the deciding goal, giving Caltech the 3-2 victory.
Linfield's physicality was definitely felt by the Beavers. The Wildcats were called for 19 fouls and had four players booked for yellow cards.
While Caltech's attack was relentless and led in most offensive statistics. Freshman goalkeeper Alex Crowley stepped in at halftime and had four big saves in the second half to preserve the Beavers win.
NEXT
The 'Cats begin a long road trip at La Verne on Friday, Sept. 8, and follow that with a match at Pomona-Pitzer on Sept. 10. Linfield opens Northwest conference play at Willamette on Sept. 13.
