Alfonso's two goals help Chapman escape with 3-2 win over Whitman

ORANGE, Calif. –  In its last two games dating back to 2011, the Chapman University men's soccer team had not registered a goal, but that changed as the team pulled out a 3-2 win over Whitman College on Sunday afternoon at Wilson Field for its first win of the season.

Chapman (1-1) narrowly escaped after what would have been a game-tying goal by Whitman sailed high with 20 seconds remaining. The Panthers held on after senior F Mauricio Alfonso put the team ahead 3-2 with a goal off a rebound in the 77^th minute. Alfonso, also a kicker for Chapman's football team, scored two goals roughly 12 hours after he kicked two field goals in the football team's win over Puget Sound on Saturday night.

In the 17^th minute, Whitman (2-3-1) junior M Junpei Tsuji scored the first goal of the game on a penalty kick to take a 1-0 lead. Nearly 14 minutes later, Alfonso scored his first goal of the game from in front of the net off an assist from junior M Nick Velasquez on the left wing. With just over two minutes remaining in the first half, sophomore M Duncan Capriotti gave Chapman a 2-1 lead as he evaded a Whitman defender and scored from the left wing.

All game, Whitman senior F Leland Matthaeus put pressure on Chapman's defense and freshman GK Dean Meltz as he attempted eight shots. In the 65^th minute, Matthaeus finally connected for a goal on a direct kick to even the score at 2-2 and it remained tied until Alfonso's game-winner.

Meltz finished with three saves in the first win of his career, while Whitman goalie Michael Bathurst registered seven saves on the afternoon.

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/msoc/2012-13/boxscores/20120909_x2fn.xml

by Chris Watts
Sports Information Assistant

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