LOS ANGELES – Following a three-win, undefeated nonconference schedule to open the regular season, Caltech Men's Soccer played the second leg of a soccer doubleheader Wednesday evening at Jack Kemp Stadium, opening the 2023 SCIAC campaign against cross-freeway rival Occidental College.

The host Tigers set the tone early with a pair of goals in the opening minutes, and a cacophony of bass drum thumps, grogger clacks and vuvuzela blasts resonated from the grandstand across Patterson Field throughout the match. Despite the continuous onslaught, goalkeeper Ethan Hamel recorded a trio of saves in the opening half.

The Beavers were the more disciplined team on the pitch, being called for seven fewer fouls than Occidental, and owing to Caltech's spirited defending, the home side only put six of their 18 second half shots on target, with the rest being blocked or missing the frame entirely.

Head Coach Duncan Gillis and the Beavers will return home to the North Field on Saturday morning for an 11 a.m. match against the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens. Find live video and stats links at https://gocaltech.com/coverage.