First 10 minutes doom Panthers against San Marcos

ORANGE, Calif. - A fast start from the visitors provided all the difference on Wednesday night. Cal State San Marcos scored two goals in the first 10 minutes and held on to defeat the host Chapman University women's soccer team 2-1 at Wilson Field. The loss was the Panthers' second in a row and third in their past four games - all coming at home.

It was all Cal State San Marcos (7-4-4) in the first half as the Cougars kept Chapman on the defensive for much of the period. San Marcos out-shot the Panthers 11-2 in the first 45 minutes, including goals from Lauren Johnson and Arielle Cohen, and built a 2-0 lead early in the game. Chapman sophomore GK Chloe Canta faced the onslaught of shots and equaled her season-high with 11 saves in the match - six of those coming in the first half.

Led by Canta, the Chapman defense held San Marcos in check throughout the second half, limiting the Cougars to just five shots on goal, all of which were turned away by the Panthers' keeper.

Chapman (12-6) got on the board late on a goal by sophomore F Marin Chambers - her first career goal. Chambers gathered a serve from sophomore D Krisen Franco and was persistent in the goalie box, dribbling it past Cougars' GK Kaycee Gunion and following it with one final finishing shot to break up the shutout.

The Panthers will try to end the regular season on a high when they host West Region independent rival U.C. Santa Cruz on Sunday at noon in a game that has huge playoff implications for both sides. Chapman fell to 6-5 at Wilson Field with the loss on Wednesday.

Box Score: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wsoc/2009-10/stats/csusm-cu.htm