Caltech Women's Soccer progressed in 2024, adding three wins to its total from the previous year, as the team began to find its chemistry after high roster turnover in 2023.
The Beavers found a groove with back-to-back wins early in the year. Caltech defeated Life Pacific on September 14 before traveling to Los Angeles and downing the Occidental Tigers 2-1 in the SCIAC opener Sept. 18. After seniors Juni Polanski (Baltimore, Md. / Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) and Jennifer Solgaard (Palo Alto, Calif. / Palo Alto) scored first-half goals to give the Beavers the lead, Caltech demonstrated depth at the goalkeeping position. Sophomore goalkeeper Haleigh Gardner (San Ramon, Calif. / California) and junior keeper Sophia Steven (Broomfield, Colo. / Peak to Peak Charter) combined for six saves to preserve the victory over the Tigers. Steven compiled a remarkable 14 saves against Pomona-Pitzer Sept. 21, breaking the Caltech program record for most saves in a game.
Solgaard directed the offense this past season, trying her own Caltech single-season assists record with three. She also netted four goals in 2024. Her goal total was second on the team behind Sophomore Marie Choi-Schattle (Barrington R.I. / Barrington) who paced the Beavers with seven goals and a program-record 16 points. Choi-Schattle scored on nearly half of the shots she put on net in 2024, earning her the designation of team MVP.
On the defensive side of the ball, Caltech showed promise at times, holding opponents to two or fewer goals in half of their SCIAC matchups. The defense improved as the season progressed, as Caltech held opponents to no more than a single goal in three of its last five matches, including a 1-0 shutout vs Chapman at home Oct. 16 for its first-ever victory over the Panthers. The Institute also held Chapman to a single goal on the road Oct. 23, and La Verne to one goal Nov. 2 in La Verne.
Gardner improved on her previous season in net with a team-high 80 saves, 35 more than her total from a year ago. She racked up an incredible 13 saves on Oct. 19, 2024 against Cal Lutheran. Her 1.83 goals against average on the year brought her career mark in that category to fewer than two goals per contest. The shutout she earned against Chapman was the first of her career.
The Beavers will look to build on the positives in the 2025-2026 season. Keep an eye out over the summer for an official schedule release.
