Oxy hands Chapman final loss on 'Senior Day'

ORANGE, Calif. –  The Occidental College men's soccer team came from behind to spoil 'Senior Day' for Chapman University, handing the Panthers a 2-1 loss in the final game of the season for both teams. The loss gives Chapman (8-10-1 overall, 7-8-1 SCIAC) its first losing season since 2007 and a sub-.500 record in its first year of SCIAC play.

Occidental (9-8 overall, 8-8 SCIAC) scored the game-winner in the 75th minute on a goal by Alexander Duvoisin. That snapped a 1-1 tie and gave the Tigers the season sweep over Chapman, also beating the Panthers 2-1 in Eagle Rock earlier this month. With the win, Occidental snapped a five-match road losing streak and also edged Chapman for fifth place in the SCIAC standings.

The match got off to a promising start for Chapman, which scored its only goal in the 7th minute on a corner kick from senior F Mauricio Alfonso. Alfonso's boot might have bent in on its own, but junior F Nick Echeverry was there to aid it along and knocked it in for his third goal of the year. The assist was Alfonso's team-leading 21st point of the year and gives the senior 65 points for his career – tied for ninth all-time in school history.

The Tigers evened the score in the 30th minute when Marcus Brandford back-doored a pass from Jack Day from the left side. Oxy's Keegan McChesney tipped the pass in the goalie box, earning a second assist on the score.

Chapman out-shot Occidental 17-8 in the game, but besides Echeverry's goal none of the Panthers' shots were on frame, forcing Tigers' GK Ian Agrimis to make no saves. Agrimis earned the win to improve to 2-4 this season. Panthers' freshmen GKs Dean Meltz and Nick Berardi combined for five saves and each allowed a goal.

The loss spoiled 'Senior Day' for Chapman, which honored four seniors: Alfonso, Francesco Onorati, Christopher Romanowski and Quinn Murray in a pregame ceremony.

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/msoc/2012-13/boxscores/20121027_qsg6.xml

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

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