Saglimbeni nets two to upset No. 8 Captains

ORANGE, Calif. –  Senior Marco Saglimbeni netted a pair of goals to lead the Chapman University men's soccer team to a 5-3 upset over No. 8-ranked Christopher Newport on Sunday afternoon at Wilson Field.

With just under 12 minutes left in the match, Saglimbeni scored back-to-back to goals to lift the Panthers to a 5-3 victory. Saglimbeni scored the game-winner off a cross from freshman Justo Garcia.  Freshman Jonah Tipp earned the assist on the insurance goal with a soft pass to the middle when Saglimbeni fired a shot that deflected off the defender and into the back of the net, sealing the win.

The Panthers and Captains traded leads twice before the Panthers earned, ending the Captains six-game winning streak.

Christopher Newport was the first to strike in the first half at 15:42 off a rebound shot at the top of the box from their senior Jimmy Grace. The senior netted the goal after the ball bounced around inside the box, finishing it into the left side of the goal just under the diving Sean Augustine to give the Captains a 1-0 lead.

Trailing 1-0 with just under three minutes left in the first half, senior Sam Rudich netted the penalty kick to tie the game up 1-1.

Tied 1-1 in the second half, senior Cole Peters moved the Panthers to a 2-1 lead, scoring of a cross by junior Grant Fremmerlid at the 59 minute mark.

Less than a minute later, the Captains fired back with a goal of their own when Zachary Ballard scored on a cross from Grace to even the score 2-2.

The Panthers answered back just a minute later at the 60' when sophomore Bennett Close fielded a free ball and passed to Sidney Ecoiffier who struck net sailing the ball over the keepers head from the 20-yard line.

However the Captains weren't done scoring yet, with Hunter Johnson evening the score 3-3 at the 74 minute mark on a pass by Samsu Sallah.

Augustine (3-1-1) finished the match with seven saves including, two diving and two leaping blocks at the net.

The Panthers return to SCIAC play to host Pomona-Pitzer Sept 19, Monday night at 7 p.m. at Wilson Field.

by Katie Bell & Raquel Rinauro
Sports Information Intern/Sports Information Assistant

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