PASADENA, Calif. (Oct. 29, 2022) – Caltech wrapped up the 2022 women's soccer campaign with a thrilling finish Saturday morning at the North Field against the visiting University of La Verne Leopards.

Before the match, the team recognized the accomplishments of graduating seniors Eve Fine (Locust Valley, N.Y. / Friends Academy), Reeya Chenanda (Columbus, Ind. / Academy for Science, Mathematics and Humanities), Jackie Wang (Winter Park, Fla. / Trinity Preparatory School), Saskia van Nieuwstadt (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Ann Arbor Huron), and Catherine Kauber (Pleasantville, N.Y. / Pleasantville), and celebrated what was already the most successful season in the program's history.

The match started out calmly for the first few minutes until La Verne fired a couple shots on frame, Fine collecting them a pair of easy stops. The Leopards kept up the offensive pressure throughout the half, aptly timing their runs to remain onside and forcing a total of six saves from the goalkeeping unit; junior Megan Robertson (Nashville, Tenn. / Harpeth Hall) entered in the 34th minute and made a critical save in each half of the match.

The second half saw quite the role reversal from the first, as this time Caltech was on the attack and peppering the La Verne back line with shots, dangerous crosses, and multiple set piece opportunities by earning four corner kicks to none for the Leopards. Further, La Verne's frustration led to numerous eager counterattacks only to be called offside five times in the half, including three in the last 30 minutes.

Finally, in the 89th minute as the guests were threatening in their final third, the Beaver defense intercepted a short pass and floated a long ball from the top of the box up to the midfield as Solgaard picked it up, evaded the defender loosely marking her, chipped it past the Leopard keeper's slide, and buried it into the gaping net, sending her teammates and the numerous fans in attendance into a frenzy. It was her seventh tally of the season, which represents a new program record. Fine and Robertson each earned a share of the combined shutout, the Beavers' fifth of the 2022 campaign. 

"This was a great way for the seniors to go out," Head Coach Jen Clark said. "They have invested so much of themselves in this program and have left a great legacy for the teams following them. When a team invests in the process and is willing to buy in and celebrate the small victories, incredible growth will follow."

The victory marked the program's second-ever defeat of a SCIAC opponent during conference play, with the first occurring on September 28 of this season as another 89th-minute goal from Solgaard ensured a 1-0 win over local rival Occidental College. For now, the Beavers will enjoy some well-deserved rest before gearing up for what looks to be another thrilling season in 2023.