Vanguard hands Panthers their first loss of the season

ORANGE, Calif. – All good things must come to an end. And so goes the Panthers' season-opening five-game winning streak. The Chapman University men's soccer team was dealt its first loss of the season, falling 3-1 to Vanguard University on Saturday night at Wilson Field.

Chapman (5-1) also saw its scoreless streak halted at 449 minutes after posting four consecutive shutouts, including three in a row at home. The Panthers' home loss was their first at Wilson Field since Oct. 9, 2010, going 5-0-1 in their past six home matches. Chapman's 5-0 start equaled the best start in school history.

Vanguard (5-3) snapped a scoreless tie in the 29th minute when junior MF Kyle O'Brien buried a shot past Chapman's freshman GK Devin Foy, who was making his first career start. Foy had just made a save, when O'Brien pounced on the rebound, giving Vanguard a 1-0 lead.

The Lions scored 11 minutes later on junior F Kevin Cornwall's first goal of the season. Cornwall took a long pass from the Vanguard defense and got behind the Panthers' back row for a one-on-one scoring opportunity with the keeper and put it past Foy.

Vanguard led 2-0 at halftime before scoring some insurance in the 50th minute. O'Brien and Cornwall both drew Chapman's defense to the left side of the goal before finding a wide open Billy Pellow who finished the play with the Lions' third goal of the game.

Chapman scored its lone goal in the 74th minute courtesy of MF Quinn Murray. The junior took a one-time shot off a cross from the right side from senior MF Chris Duran and found the back of the net for his first goal of the year. The Panthers played a much more balanced second half, out-shooting the Lions 5-4 and holding a 2-1 advantage in corner kicks after being out-shot 10-1 in the first half.

Foy and senior GK Jimmy Adranly combined for five saves for Chapman, while Vanguard senior GK Cody Adams made two saves in the victory.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/msoc/2011-12/boxscores/20110917_sb3a.xml