Opening their season in front of the Claremont faithful in sweltering 100-plus degree temperatures, Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) men’s soccer matched the heat with a 2-0 shutout against Puget Sound University on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 8.
The win came thanks to two goals from Kyle Lau PO ‘24 and a defensive performance that kept the Loggers scoreless, notching the Sagehens their first win of the season after last weekend’s 3-3 draw to Pacific Lutheran.
While the Sagehens ultimately came out on top, chances were few and far between in the first 30 minutes of play. However, with ten minutes left in the first half, a one-touch shot from Lau wrong-footed the Puget Sound goalkeeper and capped off a sharp Sagehen passing play, giving them the lead shortly before halftime.
According to Lau, getting on the scoresheet first proved to be a massive confidence booster for the Hens that allowed them to continue to play with a high level of intensity.
“It was good to get a goal,” Lau said. “Once the first one came, everyone was like, OK, the goals are going to come now.”
The Sagehens capitalized on their momentum and dominated possession throughout the second half, with a close chance shortly after the half. After another fluid passing play, Adam Leikin PZ ‘27 delivered a perfect ball into the box, which Keyon Namdar PO ‘27 centered for Aidan MacLennan PO ‘27.
The Puget Sound keeper ultimately denied MacLennan with a bottom-corner save and a stuck-out foot to stop the follow-up by Kieran Veloria PO ‘27.
Namdar, named 2023 SCIAC Newcomer of the Year and First Team ALL-SCIAC, consistently caused problems for Puget Sound before notching an assist late in the game.
In the 89th minute, after receiving a through ball from Alex Greenstein PZ ’26, Namdar skillfully passed two defenders before squaring the ball to Lau, who converted his second of the day into an empty net.
“The coach told me, ‘Take them, be confident, go down the line,’” Namdar said. “So when I saw the chance, I saw the opening of the lane, I took it, dribbled through, and then we know the rest.”
Though a standout in the game, Namdar attributed much of his success to his coaching staff and fellow teammates.
“It’s a new team, a new staff, and everyone is more as a team, more organized,” Namdar said. “When you trust your coach, it’s a whole different game because you can rely on them on the field and off the field.”
While the Sagehens thrived offensively, Goalkeeper Jasper Broad PZ ‘25 commended the team’s defensive success in keeping the Loggers at bay, especially having conceded multiple goals the previous weekend.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Broad said. “A little bit of a rough weekend down in Santa Cruz, a loss and a draw, but the team has really kept it together. This team really showed today.”
Moving forward, for Head Coach Bill Swartz, who returned this year after a 1.5-year absence, the Sagehens’ goal is to keep building their team and perfecting their possession-based playstyle, while also finishing more of their chances.
“It’s just trying to make a team together,” Swartz said. “I think I know how we are going to play the ball. We had some good chances. Some days they go in, but we got the two we wanted.”
P-P looks to continue its good form during SCIAC play, where, after beating La Verne on the road to improve their record to 2-1-1, they will face Whittier College Sept. 18 away before returning home to face CalTech on Sept. 21.