Panthers will take on Puget Sound in '08 season debuts

ORANGE, Calif. -  The Chapman University men's and women's soccer teams will face the University of Puget Sound (Wash.) as both teams open the 2008 season this weekend. The Panther men will host the Loggers on Friday night at 7 p.m. in the first-ever athletics event held in the newly built Ernie Chapman Stadium. The 1,923 seat stadium is part of the Lastinger Athletics Complex which was completed in July.

The Chapman women will travel to Tacoma, Wash. to face the Loggers on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Panthers will then take on Whitworth College (Wash.) on Monday at 11 a.m. in Tacoma.

Men's head coach Eddie Carrillo is excited about the blend of youth and experience his team brings to the table this season. The Panthers return seasoned veterans in Josh Boland (Sr., D), Jeff Shah (Jr., M) and Matt O'Leary (Jr., D), as well as newcomers Cody Mansfield (Fr., D) and Dean Sewitz (Jr., F/M). Sewitz is the twin brother of Chapman junior Alex Sewitz (Jr., F), who led the Panthers with five goals scored in 2007.

The women are hoping to improve on last year's 8-8-2 record - a year when they spent most of the season ranked among the top-eight in the West Region. The Panthers return all eight of their top points scorers from 2007, including Claire Callister (Jr., F) and Alicia Fraticelli (So., F) who led Chapman with seven goals apiece. Brittni Marciano (Sr., GK) and Madison Coffin (Sr., GK) combined for three shutouts a year ago and a sub-1.00 goals-against average. Head coach Courtney Calderon is also carrying one of her largest rosters ever: 27 players, giving her many options throughout the season.