LOS ANGELES, Calif. – After coming off an impressive win over Chapman, the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen struggled to find their groove in a 4-1 loss to the Occidental Tigers, Saturday night. Junior Lucca Rodrigues scored the team's lone goal on the match, his second of the season.
Occidental broke out early, scoring two goals within the first six minutes of action. Their first came just after the three and half minute mark, where Riley McCabe took one touch to bring down the long throw of Nate Dunning before sending it in between the posts.
The second came less than two minutes later with a centering pass from Ethan Glass up to Matthew Labrie who volleyed one over Kingsmen sophomore keeper Antonio Welch to put the Tigers up 2-0.
Cal Lutheran managed to pull themselves within one at the close of the first half though with a header from Rodrigues past the diving keeper to finish a corner kick from junior Aaron Winsick at the 43:35 mark.
However, the offensive woes continued for the Kingsmen in the second period who managed to get off just one clean shot off in the back half of the match.
On the other hand, Occidental's leading scorer, Liam Walsh, notched his seventh and eighth goals of the season in the second period alone to break the game open. His first came in the 61st minute on an assist from Ben Simon and the second just eight minutes later with an assist from Matthew Teplitz.
The Kingsmen's last attempt and lone shot in the second half came from junior Alon Arnaldes at the 87-minute mark that was on target, but blocked by a Tiger defender.
Overall, the Kingsmen recorded five shots on the contest. In addition to Rodrigues and Arnaldes, freshman Gabe Elizondo, Winsick and sophomore Jake Rast each notched a shot apiece.
The Kingsmen return to the pitch Wednesday night, October 10, at Caltech. Kickoff against the Beavers is set for 4 p.m. PST on Caltech's North Field.
Box Score: OXY 4, CLU 1
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Release by Christy Effendie, Assistant Sports Information Director
