PASADENA (Oct. 25, 2017) – A concerted defensive effort led by defenders sophomore Theo Yang (Columbia, Md. / Long Reach) and freshmen Andrew Larson (Portland, Ore. / Jesuit) and JD Walker (Grand Blanc, Mich. / Grand Blanc) provided Caltech men's soccer with attacking opportunities in Thursday's game against visiting Occidental College. The match was the Beavers' last in SCIAC competition this season.

The young Beavers' play on the back line not only allowed for freshman goalkeeper Joe Como (Glen Cove, N.Y. / Friends Acad.) to make 12 key stops in net, it also allowed for chances on the counter attack that resulted in fouls or shots relative to the net.

The Beavers' greatest chance came on a set piece about 35 yards out from the net in the second half with the Beavers trailing by two goals. Sophomore Kevin Yu (Park Ridge, N.J. / Park Ridge) put the ball right on the head of Nikhil Gupta (Herndon, Va. / Thomas Jefferson Science and Technology) who found freshman Rohan Mirchandani (Pleasanton, Calif. / Foothill) with an open lane to the net. Mirchandani got pulled down in the box, however, setting up a penalty kick opportunity for Yu in which the Tigers' keeper made a tremendous stop to halt the Beavers' chance. Yu led the Beavers with two shots on net while J.D. Walker also had one in the first half on a play in which he joined the attacking rush. Caltech trailed its SCIAC rival 2-0 at halftime.

Head Coach Phil Murray and the Beavers will close out 2017 on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. against visiting Bethesda Univeristy on Senior Day.

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