Late run sends women's lacrosse into the semifinals

ORANGE, Calif. – A late surge from the Chapman University women's lacrosse team led to a 15-7 win in the SCIAC Quarterfinals over visiting Whittier on Wednesday. Sophomore Stacey Zuppa scored four times to lead the Panthers to the win.

A close game for the first 40 minutes, the lead went back and forth between Chapman and Whittier throughout the first half and early into the second. Whittier went up 2-1 when Rebekah Delledara scored the first of her two goals just five minutes in. Chapman responded with goals by Zuppa and Brooke Martini before Delledara struck again to knot the match at 3-3.Zuppa's free position shot made it 4-3 Chapman.

With just over 10 minutes to go in the first half, Delledara's excellent half continued as she found Angelina Cuevas for the equalizing goal. Delledara found Jess Hansen a minute and a half later to put Whittier up 5-4, which it carried into halftime.

Chapman's defense stepped up in the second half and allowed just two goals on four shots to the Poets. After equaling draw controls at five a piece in the first half, Chapman picked up nine draw controls to Whittier's five and caused a pair of turnovers. Meanwhile, the offense picked up the pace as six different Panthers scored in the second half alone to combine for 11 goals.

Becka Wachtel and Gretchen Rodenberger immediately put the Panthers back on top 7-6 with the first two goals of the second half. After the teams traded the next two goals, Chapman scored the last eight of the contest to run away with it over the final 18:37. Zuppa's fourth goal of the contest started the hot streak, which was also fueled by a pair of goals from Martini and three from fellow senior Kelsey Mackin.

Tara Sonnemaker made four saves in the match while Zuppa picked up five ground balls, four draw controls and caused three turnovers.

The Panthers head to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Saturday for the SCIAC semifinals.

by Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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