Women’s lacrosse wins come-from-behind thriller

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women's lacrosse team won a late-game comeback thriller earlier this evening against the visiting Stevenson University (1-6). The Panthers (1-6) were led by junior Danielle Zahn and sophomore Alexandra Callaway, who each scored a hat trick in their 11-9 victory.

Sophomore Allie Qualman gave Chapman an early 1-0 lead less than four minutes into the game, but the Mustangs answered back with five straight goals to take a 5-1 lead with just under 19 minutes left to play in the first half. Just 40 seconds later Zahn ripped a shot in the back of the net off a pass from sophomore Michaela Lopez.

Senior Stacey Zuppa followed suit nearly seven minutes later, scoring her first goal of the game and cutting Stevenson's lead to two goals. After a free position shot goal from Mustang sophomore Carly Bowes, Lopez, Callaway and sophomore Leah Donnelly scored back-to-back-to-back goals to tie the game up at six at halftime.

Stevenson scored two goals early in the second half to take another two-point lead. Callaway responded with a goal to cut the lead down to just one goal. After another goal by Bowes just 33 seconds later, it was all Panther action. Chapman denied the Mustangs on defense for the rest of the half, forcing them to run out the shot clock twice and turn the ball over. This defensive push helped spark the offense into action.

Zahn scored the first goal in the Panthers' comeback effort on an assist from Zuppa, cutting Stevenson's lead to just one goal. Zahn struck again less than four minutes later with the tying goal. Cue Zuppa with a rocket into the back of the net to score the game-winning goal and give Chapman their final lead of the game. Callaway finished the game with 3:12 left to play, scoring her third goal to put the sweet cherry on top of the Panthers' first victory this season.

Freshman Taylor Hextrum continues to impress in goal, tallying seven saves in 60 minutes of play tonight. Junior Shelby Thompson was lights-out on defense, forcing five turnovers and picking up six ground balls. On top of her three goals, Zahn also caused three turnovers and picked up four ground balls.

The Panthers head out on the road to face Claremont-Mudd-Scripps next week but return home to Wilson Field on Saturday, March 24 to play Whittier at 11 a.m.

by Katie Bell
Sports Information Assistant

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