Sarmiento's early goals lift men's soccer over No. 11 Redlands

ORANGE, Calif. – Senior Jake Sarmiento scored twice in the first 15 minutes to give the Chapman University men's soccer team over No. 11 Redlands on Saturday. With the win, Chapman stays in the top-4 in the SCIAC with just two matches left to play.

Sarmiento put the Panthers (11-4-2, 8-4-2 SCIAC) on the board right before either team broke a sweat on a hot day on Wilson Field. Chapman put together a crisp attack in the eighth minute with fellow senior Sam Rudich playing a through ball to Sarmiento. With one touch, Sarmiento fired it past the keeper to the far post and a 1-0 Chapman lead.

The excitement was short lived as the SCIAC-leading Bulldogs knotted the match right back up at 1-1 just two-and-a-half minutes later. With hopes of securing a conference title with a win today, Chase Boone was able to create enough space around a Chapman defender to bank in a rolling shot off the far post to make it a 1-1 match.

The early scoring spree continued as the Rudich-to-Sarmiento connection struck again in the 14th minute. This time a ball over the top created a foot race to the high bouncing ball between Sarmiento and the Redlands' keeper. Sarmiento just beat the keeper with a leaping kick that lofted a shot over his head and into the netting for his second goal.

Despite no goals being scored, the second half wasn't without some exciting moments. Chapman earned a penalty kick that was struck just over the crossbar. Redlands hit both posts in a matter of seconds as one shot hit the near post and a strike off the rebound hit the far post. Redlands' Josh Haskill made a pair of spectacular saves to keep his team down by just a goal.

The Panthers were able to hold off Redlands strong push forward to grab the much-needed three points in the standings and stay in the top-4. The Panthers momentarily move into second place with La Verne and Pomona-Pitzer still needing to play tonight.

The Panthers return stay at home for Senior Day and their last home match of the season on Monday against Caltech. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

by Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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