Story by Billy Lopez and Sebastián Abdón Ibarra

LA VERNE, CA — The University of La Verne Leopards men's soccer team dropped one at home against the visiting Caltech Beavers, 4-1. 

Caltech nearly scored in the second minute of the match after a miscue by La Verne's defense gave Rohan Mirchandani a chance to put one past freshman goalkeeper, Logan Reese, of La Verne. Mirchandani beat Reese but was denied by the left post. 

The Leopards had their chance to find the back of the net off their first corner of the match. Freshman forward Sanders Esplin had his left footed strike blocked by a Beaver defender inside the box. 

With the game still scoreless, Daniel Israel of the Beavers had a ball bounce out of the penalty box and gave a shot near goal that bounced off the top of the crossbar and in to put the Beavers on top 1-0. Caltech added another goal in the 43rd minute off a free kick by Rohan Iyer from 22 yards out to take a 2-0 lead into the break. 

The Leopards came out strong in the second half. After only amassing one shot in the first half, the Leopards fired three shots in the first five minutes of the second half and scored in the 50th minute. 

The Leos had one of their best sequences of the season in the 50th minute when they struck quickly on the counterattack with a long pass from the backline, a headed pass at midfield to Owen Osagiede, who delivered a nice pass to Angel Loza and was capped off with a strike to the back of the net by James Coe. That goal cut the Beaver's lead to 2-1, and the Leos attempted to mount a furious comeback as 12 of their 14 total shots came after Coe's goal.

Unfortunately, another miscue by La Verne resulted in a penalty which Caltech's Samir Johnson would convert on in the 66th minute to once again put the Beavers up by two goals at 3-1. Frustration set in for La Verne as they would be down a player which allowed Caltech to notch a fourth goal of the night scored by Anas Zouhar in the 84th minute.

Reese finished the game with 10 total saves in this game.

Caltech picked up their first win of the season improving to 1-9 on the year and 1-7 in SCIAC. La Verne dropped to 2-9-1 on the season and 1-7 in SCIAC. 

La Verne is slated for another home game this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. when they take on the Chapman Panthers.