Sebastian Romero
For the first time in its history, the Occidental men’s soccer team clinched a 3-0 win over the University of Redlands in the 2023 SCIAC Championship match Nov. 4. Center back Sebastian Romero (senior) scored the first goal of the game with a backwards header, making it the second-fastest opening goal in SCIAC history and earning him Most Outstanding Player, according to the Oxy Athletics website.
“It was great to be able to score and put our team in a good spot going into halftime,” Romero said. “There were big emotions and we’re happy to have finally [won SCIAC championships] for the first time.”
Romero’s athletic career at Occidental began in his sophomore season due to the pandemic cancelling his first-year season. As a junior, he and his team lost in the SCIAC championship finals. Romero said he was slightly nervous about the game, as the Tigers lost the SCIAC championship his junior year to Chapman University. But, he said he was confident going into the Nov. 4 match because the team beat Redlands twice before.
“[My goal] came out of complete shock for me,” Romero said. “When the ball went off my head, I thought the keeper was going to easily catch it and I was going to have to sprint back.”
According to center midfielder Ethan Carr (first year), Romero made significant contributions to the team throughout the SCIAC playoff games and created many chances for the team.
“Every time we had a set piece, it was [Romero] getting on the end of it. He had the header that went in, another header that almost went in, and he even attempted a bicycle kick at one point,” Carr said.
Center back Evan Karp (senior) said both Romero’s passion for the game and his skills on the field was a big contributor to the team’s success.
“[Romero] is a force. You can see [his passion] in the way that he defends and the way he celebrates his goals,” Karp said. “He’s a monster defensively and he is an incredible source of positive energy for everyone around him.”
The team’s championship win advanced Occidental to the 2023 NCAA DIII Men’s Soccer Championship in San Antonio, Texas. Nov. 11-12, Occidental beat the University of St. Thomas (Texas) 2-1 and Trinity College (Texas) 4-1, in the first and second rounds, respectively, of the 64-team tournament. Occidental will play Amherst College Nov. 18 in Massachusetts in the third round.
Romero said the team’s mindset going into the championship bracket is to stay focused and give their best.
“We’re excited, we’re feeling good,” Romero said. “We don’t want the season to end so we’re just going to take it one game at a time.”
Toni Thompson
Occidental’s women’s basketball team won their first game of the season 66-57 against the University of Saint Katherine Nov. 4. Guard Toni Thompson (senior) was the highest scorer of the game with 22 points and 9 rebounds, according to Oxy Athletics.
“My initial instinct in [the] game was to get a lot of transition points and have a fast pace,” Thompson said. “What helped amplify that was knowing that my teammates were there to back me up and I was there to back them up.”
Thompson said the game against the University of St. Katherine was her first official game back after a torn patellar tendon injury kept her from competing last year. She said the competitiveness of the other team motivated her to match their intensity and elevate her performance.
“Saint [Katherine’s] was playing really aggressive and you should never play aggressive against me,” Thompson said. “It was just an extra catalyst [for my performance].”
According to guard Gabriela Etopio (senior), Thompson’s energy and competitiveness was especially necessary for the team when Saint Katherine’s started to come back in the third quarter.
“In the third quarter, she took control and started pushing the ball, bringing that assertive energy. Then, we increased the lead again,” Etopio said.
Etopio said Thompson’s drive and leadership skills influence everyone on the team and have a large positive impact.
“[Thompson] is definitely one of our key role-players. A lot of people on the team look up to her energy and her dominance on the court and follow suit,” Etopio said.
Thompson said the women’s basketball team is looking to make it to the playoff games as one of the top four SCIAC teams and compete for the championship.
“Based on our last game’s performance, I think it’s very feasible for us to end up in the top four. I know we have a fighting chance to win the championship and make it to the national bid and I’m looking forward to it,” Thompson said.
Teammate Amaia McCoy (senior) said the Tigers were leading the scoreboard for the majority of the game and Thompson’s performance helped maintain that lead. McCoy said Thompson’s competitive spirit was a big contributor to the game and the team environment.
“When we slow down on offense, she’ll start driving and making buckets. She inspires us to be competitive,” McCoy said. “There’s no such thing as losing.”
Contact Trisha Bhima at Bhima@oxy.edu
