PASADENA, Calif. — The Caltech men's soccer team protected its unbeaten home record on Saturday as the Beavers scooped a massive 4-2 victory over the University of La Verne in an important in-conference showdown. With the victory, the Beavers improve to 5-1-1 on the season and 2-1 versus opponents in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). 

The two squads would go right to work after the game kicked off shortly after 11 a.m, though it was the visitors who struck first in the early minutes of play. In the fourth minute of the contest, La Verne would set up a quick attack to put one between the goalposts to go up 1-0 on Caltech. 

Despite finding themselves in a one-goal hole, the Beavers stayed focused as they protected their net and created chances on offense. 

The game's momentum would shift in the 19th minute of action as sophomore forward Ishaan Mantripragada drew a foul inside the La Verne penalty area. The Saratoga native would not let the opportunity go to waste as he connected on a perfectly placed shot to the back of the net on the penalty kick to tie the score at 1-1. 

Caltech would produce a number of strong offensive possessions though they were unable to put one in as the half came to a close. 

With the score tied and the players rested following the intermission, both squads began the second half with high energy as they battled throughout the pitch. The Beavers would create their first shot of the period in the 54th minute after junior forward Andy Dimnaku rocketed a shot towards the net, though the La Verne goalkeeper would come up with the key save. Just a few minutes later, senior midfielder Rohan Iyer registered a shot on goal, though it was also saved. 

In the 63rd minute, Mantripragada tried for his second goal of the game as he pushed a shot towards the net, though it was saved yet again by the keeper. 

Just over three minutes later with the Beavers on the offensive, Dimnaku would tap the ball to first-year defender Aaron Henslovitz on the left side of the box. After dribbling the ball to nearly the endline, the rookie sent a cross to sophomore midfielder Etienne Casanova inside the box, who immediately sent it off his right foot past the goalkeeper and into the goal. The crowd buzzed with excitement as they celebrated the perfect pass from Henslovitz and incredibly positioned shot by the Beavers' striker. 

The Beavers would nearly make it 3-1 on a header from Mantripragrada in the 69th minute, though his ball flew just high. 

Not 90 seconds later, however, did the star make another mark on the game. In the 70th minute, the sophomore would draw the defense as he dribbled the ball up to the penalty area before dishing the ball to Casanova, who advanced it slightly before sending it between two defenders and past the goalkeeper for his second goal of the match and seventh of the season. 

With the score 3-1, the Beavers would defend their goal strongly, though they would let one score through in the 84th minute of play. The Beavers would earn an insurance goal just moments later however, as Mantripragada stole an errant pass from the Leopards and immediately made a push towards the net, swerving through the defense and past the goalie into the net. 

The score would remain 4-2 as the final horn sounded as Caltech earned its second straight win and its fifth win in seven total games played. 

Head coach Duncan Gillis expressed his content with how the team performed. 

"Again I'm very proud of the resilience this team continues to show," said Gillis. "We didn't let conceding an early goal throw us off track. We told the boys at halftime to be patient and pick our spots, and they did just that to find three second half goals." 

The Beavers logged 14 shots, with 11 coming on goal; the opponents put up ten shots with seven on goal. Caltech earned three corner kicks. 

The team's four goals are the second-most scored in one game this season. Casanova earned his sixth and seventh goals of the year to lead the team while Mantripragada notched his second and third. 

Senior goalkeeper Derek Ing came up with five saves in the contest. 

Next up for the program is a Sep. 27 road matchup versus the Whittier College Poets. Follow along live at gocaltech.com/coverage. 

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