Bland tallies career-high 11 saves in loss

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women's soccer team fell 1-0 to the visiting Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Bland posted a career-high 11 saves in the effort.

Bland allowed just one goal over 90 minutes of play as the Sagehens peppered her with shots throughout the match. Pomona-Pitzer out-shot the Panthers 24-9 on its way to victory.

The Sagehens struck early, netting the lone goal in the 12th minute of play after a Chapman-dominated first 10 minutes. Senior Lily Gane received a cross in the middle of the box and laid the ball off perfectly to a streaking Anna Ponzio, who struck the ball low and just past the outstretched arms of Bland.

Pomona-Pitzer and Chapman went back-and-forth for the remainder of the match, with the Sagehens maintaining 58 percent of possession.

The Panthers gained momentum in the final 10 minutes as they pushed hard for an equalizer. The best chance of the match came on a free kick just outside the box with 21 seconds on the clock. Junior Riley Pidgeon stepped up to take the shot, curling the ball around the wall into the upper right hand corner of the goal, but Sagehen goalkeeper Isa Berardo was able to just get a hand on it, knocking it off the crossbar and keeping a clean sheet.

The Panthers put six shots on goal, forcing Berardo to make six saves.

Chapman returns home on Wednesday, Sept. 25 to host Cal Lutheran at 4 p.m.

by Katie Bell
Sports Information Assistant

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