PASADENA, Calif. — The Caltech women's soccer team hosted the Whittier College Poets on Wednesday in what was the Beavers' first home game against a conference opponent this season.

Both teams hit the ground running as both groups registered one shot a piece within the first five minutes of action. First-year midfielder/forward Beaver Aurelia Kuester fired off the team's first chance of the afternoon, missing just wide right from the top of the box.

The Poets would strike first in the 13th minute of play, though the Beavers tightened their defense for the remainder of the half as they did not let in a second goal for the remainder of the period. The group created a number of strong opportunities on offense but were unable to connect as the halftime horn sounded.

The Beavers began the second period with new energy as they immediately put pressure on the Whittier defense. In the 47th minute, junior forward Jennifer Solgaard rocketed a shot towards the net, though it was blocked by a Poet defender.

The group would create an even stronger opportunity less than one minute later, as Solgaard received the ball and drove it towards the opposing goal, drawing several Whittier defenders. Caltech junior Georgia Malueg took advantage of the open field and dove to the net before Solgaard delivered a perfect pass her way; Malueg received the ball near the top of the box before launching it past the goalkeeper and into the net.

The crowd and bench celebrated as the score became 1-1, however this soon changed as Whittier nabbed an impressive goal to go back up 2-1.

The Poets added to their score later in the period, though the Beavers were not done scoring themselves. First-year midfielder Louise Marie Choi-Schattle earned the team's second score for Caltech as she found the back of the net in the 86th minute. A Solgaard drive near the goal would again draw the Whittier defense, who successful pried the ball away from the standout but sent it towards the direction of Choi-Schattle. The first-year jumped on the opportunity as she sprinted towards the ball and fired it towards the net from just inside the box. The crowd watched as the ball soared over the goalkeeper's head and into the net, giving Caltech its second score of the day.

The Beavers put up a strong fight in the remaining minutes though were unable to score again as the clock reached 90 minutes.

Malueg and Choi-Schattle both notch their first goals of their careers; Solgaard picks up her second assist of her career. The striker registered seven shots on the day, five coming on target.

First-year goalkeeper Haleigh Gardner recorded 12 saves in goal.

Next up for head coach Emmy Meyring and the Beavers is a clash at home against Cal Lutheran University on Saturday, Sep. 30 at 11 a.m. Cheer on the Beavers in person or follow online at gocaltech.com/coverage.

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