Dramatic comeback win advances Panthers to SCIAC Tourney final

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Chapman University men's soccer team scored a big upset, defeating top seed Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges 2-1 in the semifinals of the SCIAC Postseason Tournament at Pritzlaff Field on Wednesday night. The Panthers rallied from a goal down to score the game winning goal with 87 seconds remaining in regulation.

Fourth-seeded Chapman (12-7-2) will travel to third seed Cal Lutheran on Saturday to face the Kingsmen in the SCIAC Tournament final. The winner will earn the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA playoffs.

Junior F Gabe Recht-Appel pounced on a loose ball in the goalie box and buried it for the game-winner in the 89th minute. The goal was set up by senior F Nick Echeverry who played the ball from the left corner of the field that slipped into and out of the hands of the Stags' goalkeeper. 

The goal completed the Panthers' comeback from a one-goal deficit in the first 52 seconds of the match. Claremont's Mehran Adbi slipped one past Chapman sophomore GK Nick Berardi after a long run up the middle.

Claremont dominated the pace of play for much of the game, out-shooting the Panthers 22-9, including 16-5 in the second half. Berardi made seven saves in goal to keep Chapman within striking distance.

That strike came at the start of the 73rd minute when freshman M Sam Rudich was fouled in the box by a Claremont defender, awarding the Panthers with a penalty kick. Echeverry knocked in the ensuing PK for his team-leading 14th goal of the season to tie it at 1-1. Echeverry's 14 goals are the most for any Panther in a single season since 2000.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/msoc/2013-14/boxscores/20131106_hwmx.xml

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